Monday, January 28, 2013

More Moves

Philles bring back righty Chad Durbin on a one-year $1.1 million deal with a club option for 2014 and up to $350k in incentives. Durbin was on the team from 2008-2010 and has since played for the Braves.

They also signed utility infielder Yuniesky Betancourt to a minor league deal with an invitation to camp. Still, Galvis & Frandsen will make the active roster IMO.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Meet The Non-Roster Invitees

Before we begin, the Phillies made a roster move:

They signed right-handed hitting outfielder and 2012 ALCS MVP Delmon Young to a one-year, $750k deal with incentives that could push the deal to $2MM. He'll play right field and come off the bench. This move gives the Phillies seven outfielders competing for five jobs in Spring Training. The others are CF Ben Revere, Domonic Brown, LF-1B Darin Ruf, OF-1B John Mayberry, OF-1B Laynce Nix, and Rule-5 pick Ender Inciarte (from the D'backs' system). Ruf & Inciarte look to be the odd men out.

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Here are the 17 players invited to spring training as non-roster invitees:

Righties:
  • Kyle Simon
  • Justin Friend
  • Aaron Cook
  • Juan Cruz
  • Rodrigo Lopez
Lefties:
  • Adam Morgan
  • Cesar Jimenez
Catchers:
  • Tommy Joseph
  • Humberto Quintero
  • Steven Lerud
Outfielders:
  • Joe Mather
  • Jermaine Mitchell
Infielders:
  • Cody Asche
  • Pete Orr
  • Michael Martinez
  • Andres Blanco
  • Josh Fields
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Source: Jay Floyd of PhilliesNation.com & PhoulBallz.com

This info supplements the "Spring Training Preview..." article published on Jan. 5th. Combined with the roster info on Phillies.com you now know the Phils' spring training roster "like the back of your hand."

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Spring Training Preview & The Seventh OF

Happy New Year from JBreezy Phillies. Let's hope this is a better year for you, your family and the Philadelphia sports world.

Well, the Phillies' 2013 Roster is pretty much set, which has been the case ever since the signings of Adams & Lannan and the non-acquisitions of Swisher & Ross. Here's who they have (I didn't include ALL the invitees):

Pitching:

The rotation consists of Hamels (L), Halladay (R), Lee (L), Kendrick (R), and Lannan (L). This is the order I'd put them in if I were Charlie. We're hoping for bonce-back seasons from Lee and especially Halladay. Kendrick is in the rotation unless (1) he's too inconsistent & (2) Tyler Cloyd dazzles.

The bullpen has four occupants: right-handers Papelbon (closer), Adams (set-up man), & Cloyd (long-man/ spot-starter), and left-hander Antonio Bastardo. There are three spots left: at least one righty & one lefty. On the depth chart, the righties are Aumont, De Fratus, Stutes, & Schwimmer (in order of most likely to make it); the lefties are Horst, Valdes, Deikman, & Savery (again, in order of decreasing probabilities of making the cut). I leave out middle-relievers B.J. Rosenberg (R) & Robles (L). They'll most likely be in the minors.

Erik Kratz will handle most of the catching duties and Quintero & Lerud will compete for the April back-up as Ruiz serves his 25-game suspension for Adderal use. Ruiz will be allowed to play in Spring Training, practice with the team before each game, and spend the last 4-5 days of his suspension "rehabbing." In the minors are Sebastian Valle & Tommy Joseph: Valle is on the 40-man roster.

Infielders:

The core will be Ryan Howard at first, Chase Utley at second, Jimmy Rollins at shortstop, and Mike Young at third. Kevin Frandsen & Freddy Galvis will be on the bench, with Mike "Mini-Mart" Martinez invited to spring training. We are hoping for a full season from Howard & Utley and bounce-back seasons from all of them. Howard should be ok; Rollins doesn't need one DEFENSIVELY; Utley is keeping up with baseball activities over the winter; and Young, while not a great defender, SHOULD provide value offensively.

Outfielders:

The only sure "roster lock" is CF Ben Revere, acquired from the Twins for Worley & May at the tail end of the Winter Meetings. Domonic Brown has nothing left to prove in the minors and will almost certainly (99.5%) get his shot at the everyday right-fielder job (power & routes to balls needed). Darin "Babe" Ruf looks to play left field & provide depth at first base (an 87.5% chance of making it). If the Phils do not acquire a veteran corner OF, Mayberry ($500k), Nix ($1.35M), and Rule-Five pick Inciarte will compete for the other two spots: Inciarte is most likely to go (offered back to the D'backs); Mayberry has some (but not a lot of) trade value; and Nix can be released or put on waivers with the Phils swallowing his salary.

For me, Brown must have the opportunity to get 300 PAs from Opening Day through the All-Star Break (96 games) and be on-pace for over 15 HRs. Otherwise, we should just trade him. With that said, I'd like to sign or trade for the veteran corner OF: according to MLB.com/ Phillies' Beat Reporter Todd Zolecki, FA Scott Hairston & Angels OF Vernon Wells are two names being tossed around.