Phillies: Pitchers for a 40-Man Slot
By Tal Venada
While auditioning hurlers at the Bank were toeing the rubber without fanfare, general manager Matt Klentak and other decision-makers on the Philadelphia Phillies were making notes, written and mental.
Who’s Out:
Determining another’s fate can lead to a positive or negative outcome affecting more than just one or two people.
Before last year, the faithful expected a Rule 5 selection or two on the last day of the Winter Meetings in mid-December. But rebuilding has stocked the farm system to the point of only swapping for Single-A talent with development time remaining because other franchises could claim any unprotected player: only 15 spots in addition to the active 25. In other words, the Phils are keeping their top prospects, which is why they didn’t call up youngsters not needing a spot until after the 2019 campaign: second baseman Scott Kingery and righty Thomas Eshelman. Why burn a roster slot?
As for the total to whittle down to 40, Klentak has 24 pitchers and 19 position players not including veterans with expiring contracts.
Regarding the starters, the ones on the club for two summers or more and flamethrowers except for Mark Appel are not trade chips. Moreover, a control pitcher like Jake Thompson could be part of a package to receive a mid-rotation piece. Currently, the numbers involve eight arms who appeared last season on the five-man staff.
As September ended, five relievers were successful and ready to keep earning their seat in the bullpen. However, three others had many opportunities to impress the higher-ups for a spring training invitation: right-handers Yacksel Rios, Victor Arano and Ricardo Pinto. But keep in mind, Arano relies primarily on his slider, while Rios and Pinto are the power arms.
Relieving Stats:
- Arano: 10 Gms., 10 2/3 Inn. and a 1.69 ERA.
- Rios: 13 Gms., 16 1/3 Inn. and a 4.41 ERA.
- Pinto: 25 Gms., 29 2/3 Inn. and a 7.89 ERA.
With sharp evaluations, management will decide the moundsmen to carry, which means a preference for fireballers. Even so, Appel could be in a trade with Hernandez for a two-slot starter.
"GAME PLAN: “I was three-quarters down the list of guys I would be facing in my first game when I realized I was looking at our own roster.” – Glenn Healy"