The Phillies designated outfielder Grady Sizemore for assessment on Friday. Doing so, the Phillies freed up a roster space for outfielder Cody Asche. By "designating" a player for assignment later, the team is given a 10-day window to make a final decision as to where the player is going. The team could work out a trade, attempt to put a player through waivers and assign him to the minor leagues, or, could outright release him.
Today the Phillies gave Sizemore his unconditional release:
After being designated for assignment on 5/29 the #Phillies have released OF Grady Sizemore.
— Phillies (@Phillies) June 1, 2015
The Phillies did not wait all 10 days for this decision.
The move may have been a favor to Sizemore. With the unconditional release, Sizemore is free to latch on with another organization almost immediately. The Phillies could have wanted to keep Sizemore in the organization, but Sizemore might have told the team that he would refuse any assignment to the minors, which is his right.
Sizemore's goal is probably to find another major league assignment. If he does not, he would probably try to sign with a team that gives him the best opportunity to get to the majors as quickly as possible. That could be the Phillies, but Sizemore might see Domonic Brown at AAA as getting in the way of his opportunity.
Sizemore batted .245 in 98 at bats for the Phillies in 2015. Sizemore joined the Phillies after being released by the Red Sox in 2014 and then re-signed with the Phillies in the offseason.
