Phillies Events on November 25

  • November 25, 2009 – The Phillies signed free agent catcher Brian Schneider to a two-year deal. Schneider became the team’s backup catcher and provided veteran depth behind Carlos Ruiz.
  • November 25, 2013 – Free agent outfielder Marlon Byrd signed a two-year contract to return to Philadelphia after previously playing with the team in the early 2000s, giving them a power bat in right field.
  • November 25, 2014 – The Phillies traded reliever Antonio Bastardo to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Joely Rodriguez. This move was part of the team’s early rebuilding efforts.
  • November 25, 2015 – Philadelphia acquired pitcher Jeremy Hellickson from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league pitcher Sam McWilliams. Hellickson became a stabilizing veteran presence in the rotation.
  • November 25, 2005 – Philadelphia traded Jim Thome to the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named later, Daniel Haigwood, and Aaron Rowand. Pitcher Gio Gonzalez became the player to be named later.

Phillies Figures Born on November 25

  • Seranthony Dominguez (born 1994): Dominguez debuted in 2018 as a power arm out of the bullpen. The Phillies dealt him and Cristian Pache to Baltimore for outfielder Austin Hays in July of 2024.
  • Jimmy Paredes (born 1988): Played briefly for the Phillies in 2016 as a utility man. He was acquired midseason and provided depth off the bench.
  • Mark Whiten (born 1966): Outfielder who played with the Phillies in 1996. Best remembered for hitting four home runs in a single game with the Cardinals, he had a short stint in Philadelphia, playing in 120 games in 1995 and 1996.
  • Mike Ryan (born 1941): Catcher who played for the Phillies from 1968 to 1973. Later served as a longtime Phillies coach, making him a significant figure in team history.

A DEEPER DIVE… Trading Jim Thome

When the Phillies traded Jim Thome to the Chicago White Sox on November 25, 2005, it marked the end of one era and the start of another. The move didn’t happen in a vacuum. It was the result of shifting needs, a changing roster, and the sudden emergence of a young first baseman who had seized the city’s attention. By the time the deal was completed, both teams walked away believing they had addressed important needs, though the trade looked different for each club in the years that followed.

Thome had signed with the Phillies before the 2003 season as the franchise’s flagship free agent. At the time, he symbolized the organization’s turn toward competitiveness as they prepared to move into Citizens Bank Park. For two years, he delivered the star-level production the team had hoped for. The challenge came in 2005, when Thome struggled with injuries and ultimately played only 59 games. While he was limited, Ryan Howard’s breakout happened right in front of everyone. Howard mashed his way through Triple-A and then took advantage of regular playing time in Philadelphia, eventually winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

With Howard ready for a full-time role and Thome owed a significant amount of money, the Phillies faced a difficult but unavoidable choice. They could not keep both players at first base, and the National League had no designated hitter to help them finesse the problem. Moving Thome became the logical solution. The decision wasn’t about dissatisfaction. Thome was universally respected in the clubhouse and the city. It was about timing and roster construction, and the Phillies needed to pivot toward the younger, cheaper, and surging Howard.

Chicago entered the picture because the White Sox, fresh off a World Series title, were in need of a middle-of-the-order bat. Frank Thomas was nearing the end of his run with the team and dealing with injuries of his own. The American League gave Chicago the flexibility the Phillies lacked. They were to plug Thome into the designated hitter role, reduce his physical strain, and maximize his offensive output. Thome also had deep ties to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén, which helped build trust on both sides.

The Phillies received center fielder Aaron Rowand and two pitching prospects, Daniel Haigwood and Gio Gonzalez, though Gonzalez was later sent back to Chicago in a separate deal. Rowand addressed a major need for Philadelphia. They wanted a dependable defender in center and a steady presence in the lineup. Rowand brought both. His all-out style quickly won fans over, especially after his famous collision with the center-field fence in 2006. Even though his time in Philadelphia was relatively short, he played an important part in stabilizing the team as younger players grew into leadership roles.

For the Phillies, the trade opened the runway for Howard to become the face of their lineup. Without it, Howard’s record-setting 2006 season might not have happened in the same way. The move also helped reshape the team’s identity. The roster that developed over the next few seasons became the core of the 2008 World Series champions, and the Thome trade is often viewed as one of the early steps that made that transformation possible.

On Chicago’s side, the trade worked in a different way. Thome rebounded immediately and delivered a strong 2006 season, hitting 42 home runs with an OPS well above .900. His bat gave the White Sox the power they wanted, and he remained a productive hitter throughout his time in Chicago. The cost in prospects did not dramatically set the White Sox back, and adding Thome reinforced their lineup at a moment when they were determined to stay in the championship mix.

In the end, both teams walked away having solved specific problems. The Phillies clarified the path forward for a rising superstar while filling a defensive need. The White Sox gained a veteran slugger who performed the way they hoped he would. Trades don’t always satisfy both sides, but this one came fairly close.