Joyce announced his retirement from professional baseball Aug. 1, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 38-year-old spent parts of 14 seasons in the majors with the Tigers, Rays, Angels, Pirates, Athletics, Braves, Marlins and Phillies, compiling a lifetime .242/.342/.425 slash line with 149 home runs and 35 stolen bases over 1,400 career games. He made the lone All-Star appearance of his career in 2011 with Tampa Bay.
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Matt Joyce: Released by Phillies
Rotowire
Joyce was released by the Phillies after passing through waivers Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Joyce looked set for a part-time role for the Phillies as a pinch hitter and possible platoon bat, as he produced at close to a league-average level for the Marlins last season, but he wound up falling far short of expectations in limited action. He received just 69 plate appearances in between multiple trips to the injured list, hitting a miserable .091/.261/.218. Now 37 years old, it's possible this season marks the end Joyce's big-league career.
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Phillies' Matt Joyce: DFA'd by Philly
Rotowire
Joyce was designated for assignment by the Phillies on Sunday.
Joyce was activated from the 60-day injured list Sept. 11 after missing three months with a back injury, and he went 0-for-5 with two walks, an RBI and a run in seven appearances following his return. Right-hander Hans Crouse had his contract selected in a corresponding move and will make his major-league debut Sunday versus the Pirates.
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Phillies' Matt Joyce: Activated Saturday
Rotowire
Joyce (back) was activated from the 60-day injured list Saturday.
The veteran outfielder hit .241/.385/.483 with two home runs in 11 rehab games. Travis Jankowski (foot contusion) was placed on the 10-day injured list, so Joyce could slot into the fourth outfielder role.
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Phillies' Matt Joyce: Struggling in rehab games
Rotowire
Joyce (back) has gone just 3-for-17 at the plate in seven rehab games for Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Joyce was supposed to serve as at least a useful bench bat for the Phillies this season. Injuries have limited him to just 62 plate appearances in which he's hit a miserable .100/.258/.240. He's been out with a lower-back strain since mid-June, and while he's been able to get into game action, he's given the Phillies no reason to rush him back.
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Phillies' Matt Joyce: Transferred to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Joyce (back) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Joyce has been sidelined since mid-June due to a lower back strain, and he remains without a timetable to return. He'll be unavailable until at least mid-August following Friday's transaction, while the move will help make room for Travis Jankowski, who was reinstated from the COVID-19 IL on Friday.
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Phillies' Matt Joyce: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
Joyce was placed on the 10-day injured list with a lower back strain Saturday.
Joyce returned from a calf injury in mid-May, but he saw sporadic playing time recently. He went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter Friday, but he's now dealing with a back issue that will force him to spend more time on the injured list. Matt Vierling's contract was selected by the Phillies as part of a corresponding move.
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Phillies' Matt Joyce: Back from injury
Rotowire
Joyce (calf) was activated off the 10-day injured list Friday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Joyce has struggled at the plate in his infrequent opportunities this season, hitting .100/.289/.133 in 38 plate appearances before suffering a calf injury in early May. He should return to his bench role now that he's healthy. J.T. Realmuto (hand) landed on the injured list in a corresponding move.
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Phillies' Matt Joyce: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Joyce (calf) began a rehab assignment with Low-A Clearwater on Tuesday.
Joyce has already missed the minimum 10 days with his calf issue, but it doesn't look as though he'll miss too many more. He should return to his bench role once healthy.
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Phillies' Matt Joyce: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
Joyce was placed on the 10-day injured list with a calf injury Wednesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Joyce had gone hitless with two runs, three walks and three strikeouts in his last nine games, but he's been bothered by calf and ankle injuries. Mickey Moniak and Scott Kingery were called up after Joyce and Roman Quinn (finger) were placed on the injured list.
Joyce is out of lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Joyce started in both of the last two games, but he'll head to the bench with Bryce Harper (wrist/face) checking back into the lineup. The 36-year-old has picked up just 32 plate appearances on the season and will likely fill a limited bench role now that the Phillies have both of their everyday corner outfielders (Harper and Andrew McCutchen) healthy.
Joyce was told Friday that he'd won a roster spot, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Joyce joined the Phillies as a non-roster invitee in February and evidently did enough to earn a bench spot. He's limited defensively to the outfield corners, so he won't find himself in the lineup on a regular basis unless Bryce Harper or Andrew McCutchen get hurt, but he should still help the Phillies as a bench bat.
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Phillies' Matt Joyce: Leading candidate for bench role
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Joyce has a strong chance to win a bench spot this spring, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Joyce is in camp as a non-roster invitee, but he made Gelb's projected Opening Day roster, which is based on conversations with scouts and team officials. Joyce won't be stealing many at-bats in the outfield corners from Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen, but he fits in well as a pinch hitter. He'll have to do enough in camp to convince the Phillies to designate someone for assignment to make room for him, but starting spring training by going 5-for-10 with three walks certainly doesn't hurt.
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Phillies' Matt Joyce: Invited to Phillies' camp
Rotowire
Joyce signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Wednesday as a non-roster invitee, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Joyce will join his fourth team in as many seasons and will compete for a platoon role on the major-league roster heading into the 2021 campaign. The 36-year-old appeared in 46 games for Miami last year, slashing .252/.351/.331 with two home runs and 14 RBI.
Joyce will sit for Game 3 of the NLDS against the Braves on Thursday, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.
Joyce sits even with a righty (Kyle Wright) on the mound for Atlanta. Jon Berti moves out to right field in his absence, with Jazz Chisholm getting a start at second base.
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Marlins' Matt Joyce: Sits against southpaw
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Joyce will be on the bench for Game 1 of the NLDS against Atlanta, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
As usual, Joyce hits the bench with a lefty (Max Fried) on the mound for the opposition. Lewis Brinson starts in right field in his absence.
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Marlins' Matt Joyce: Sitting versus lefty
Rotowire
Joyce is out of the lineup Friday against the Yankees, Andre Fernandez of Sirius XM Radio reports.
Joyce will once again take a seat with left-hander J.A. Happ starting for the Yankees. Lewis Brinson receives the start in right field for the Marlins.
