Roster Whys for Phillies’ Final Spots
While 25 players are in the clubhouse, many fans don’t completely know all the details of the camp-ending decisions that came down to the wire for general manager Matt Klentak of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Unknown Pieces of the Puzzle:
If you add the information you missed to your current knowledge, you can understand how even one obscure point can change your conclusion.
When GMs finalize their active 25 for Opening Day, writers find out rules regarding certain players like Luis Garcia and Chris Coghlan. And missing those few roster moves led to a question from Double D, a poster from another site. Well, firstly some are also unpredictable and no amount of available information will matter because management factors in other considerations. For instance, after the skipper uses his one infield reserve – not including those for first base – he has to make two substitutions for a second bench replacement.
Regarding Garcia, his third option ran through April 9, which means the Phillies can recall him, but he must clear waivers to return to Triple-A. Usually, scribes refer to the three options as protection for a player: Pitchers – in this case – cannot permanently block Garcia from another major league opportunity. But the rule also guards general managers for roughly the first week of the season if an athlete makes the team with a solid spring but struggles in the initial days of a new campaign. That stated, Garcia showed enough for another chance because he developed a splitter and only had difficulty in his two February outings, not five of his other six appearances buying himself some time. He had a 2.08 ERA for those 8 2/3 innings.
Double D, Coghlan had a complicated free-agent deal: It involved Article XX (B) regarding his contractual status. But, additionally, he had an opt-out date of March 26, and he would have received a $100,000 retention bonus if the Phils didn’t cut him by March 28 or promise him a spot on the 25-man roster at $3 million. So, even though he could play left field, second base and third base, Klentak declined the risk involved because he finished behind Brock Stassi and Daniel Nava with a .231 average. What was also a major factor regarding his release? $3.1 million.
IN OTHER WORDS: “Building a baseball team is like building a house. You look for the best architects, the best builders – and then you let them do their jobs.” – Pat “Stand Pat” Gillick
As a meeting progressed in the last week of camp, the brain trust covered the final three candidates: Nava, Stassi and Jesmuel Valentin. And even though Valentin, 22, hit .366 in spring training, the first-base coach pointed out his three errors. However, another former infielder replied that two booted plays were during his second game on February 27, and Valentin only had one miscue for his final 19 contests. But Klentak noted that Scott Kingery must earn a promotion to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and J.P. Crawford needs a regular keystone partner. On the other hand, Valentin – the GM reasoned – went from .276 for the Double-A Reading Fightin’ Phils to .248 at Lehigh Valley. And the kid needs more time.
As the powwow continued, Nava and Stassi were the only two remaining possibilities but the decision-maker had no room on the 40-man roster. And three coaches reminded Klentak why the skipper will have to make two moves if he needs a fifth infielder to man second, short or third. And – the third-base coach chimed in – the squad has Maikel Franco, Freddy Galvis, Cesar Hernandez and Andres “Whitey” Blanco; but Howie Kendrick can also play second base. That said, the bench coach stated how Kendrick could switch to second and Aaron Altherr, Nava or Stassi could replace Kendrick in left field. Ergo, musical chairs.
Depth chart:
- Second base: Hernandez, Galvis, Blanco and Kendrick.
- Shortstop: Galvis, Blanco and Hernandez.
- Third base: Franco, Galvis and Blanco.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “It is the nature of being the general manager of a baseball team that you have to remain on familiar terms with people you are continually trying to screw.” – Michael Lewis
With Nava and Stassi needing roster spots, Klentak traded right-hander Alec Asher to the Baltimore Orioles for a later-named player, which means Klentak accepted Baltimore’s list of minor leaguers for a future selection. Obviously, Double D, the exec wanted a piece down the road because he needed slots now for Nava and Stassi; and Klentak will see what he needs later before deciding on that MiLB prospect. And he also dropped Tyler Goeddel – who had all three options remaining – to create a second spot because the red pinstripes already have outfielders with a higher upside on the IronPigs.
Next: The “What Is a Phillie?” Answer
Because the Philadelphia Phillies had no room on their 40-man roster for Asher and Goeddel, it shows the franchise has a stockpile of potential stars and their top two picks in the MLB Draft from the last two Junes. Too much talent?