The 40-Man Roster: A Reformatted Break-Down

MLB Rotation

Cole Hamels (L) - opening day nod?

Roy Halladay (R)

Cliff Lee (L)

Kyle Kendrick (R)

John Lannan (L)

Lehigh Valley Rotation

Tyler Cloyd (R) – emergency starter

Jonathan Pettibone (L) - emergency lefty in Aug. & Sept.

Relievers Competition: three spots open, most likely two lefties & one righty

Righty Relievers

Jonathan Papelbon - closer

Mike Adams - set-up man

Chad Durbin - middle/ late relief

Righty Competition

Phillippe Aumont

Justin De Fratus

Michael Stutes

B.J. Rosenberg

Lefty Reliever

Antonio Bastardo - 7th or 8th inning

Lefty Competition

Jeremy Horst

Raul Valdes

Jake Diekman

Joe Savery

Mauricio Robles

Lehigh Valley Relief

Ethan Martin

Catchers

**Carlos Ruiz – SUSP’D for April

Erik Kratz – Opening Day nod, Primary Back-up May-> Playoffs

*Humberto Quintero – April/ Sept.

*Steven Lerud –April/ Sept.

Lehigh Valley Catchers

Sebastian Valle

*Tommy Joseph – NOT on 40-man

Infield Core

1B Ryan Howard

2B Chase Utley

SS Jimmy Rollins

SS Michael Young

Bench

3B Kevin Frandsen (2B?)

2B-SS Freddy Galvis (3B?)

Lehigh Valley IF

2B Cesar Hernandez

Outfield

CF Ben Revere

RF Delmon Young – DL

Outfield Competition (four spots initially):

Ender Inciarte – Rule 5 Selection

John Mayberry (can play 1B)

Laynce Nix (can also play 1B)

Domonic Brown

1B-LF Darin Ruf

 

Lehigh Valley OF

Zach Collier

Tyson Gillies

Trade Alert & the Game

Phillies trade righty Michael Schwimer to the Blue Jays for 1B Art Charles. Schwimer, who was scheduled to pitch today, had a little problem with management toward the end of last season when he was sent down to AAA instead of DL'ed. He had a 4.62 ERA in 47 appearances at the ML-level. Charles - a 22-year old, 20th round draftee in 2010 out of Bakersfield College - has a .240/.360/.480 line (rounded) in three years of minor league service time. With Howard, Ruf & Mayberry able to play 1B, this move really serves to increase the odds that Aumont & De Fratus will be on the opening day roster while freeing up a 40-man roster spot for one of the catchers.

In game-action today, Phillies lost to the Astros 8-3. It was the Astros' first game as a member of the AL. Hamels threw ten pitches in two scoreless frames, giving up a hit. Chase Utley, in his first spring game since 2010 (knees), drove in Ben Revere in the 1st inning. The rest of the Phils' hitters looked good at the plate. Defense - 4 errors (Martinez, Revere, Ruf, & M. Young) - and the bullpen - 8 runs allowed by Rosenberg (3 R, 2 ER, BS, Loss), Miner (2 R, 1 ER), Horst (1 ER), and De Fratus (2 ER) - led to the loss. The Phils had eight (8) hits: Two by Betancourt and one each by Revere, Utley, Orr (HR), Jermaine Mitchell (3B), Brown, and Nix.

Phillies play the Tigers away tomorrow. Halladay vs. Verlander at 1:05 PM in Lakeland.

Sources: PhilliesNation.com and the Phillies.com box score.

Spring Update - 2/20

All Phillies are currently healthy, a statement which looks to stick. The veterans will ease into their positions while rookies/ young guys get a chance to compete for spots in the OF, bullpen & April back-up catching position.

Rotation

The biggest news is that Roy Halladay will not be the opening day starter for the first time as a Phillie. He, Lee, and Hamels will pitch in the opening series. Dubee wants to split the lefties just like he did the last few seasons. The spring rotation is lined up exactly as I wanted it. Whether that translates to the regular season remains to be seen.

Infield

Chase Utley will play in his first Grapefruit League game since 2010 on Saturday. With him getting rest and Orr playing for Team Canada in the Classic, 2B Cesar Hernandez will probably get a good chunk of playing time early in camp as a member of the 40-man roster.

Relievers

Mike Adams will not pitch in games until March, which is not unusual for him. Plus, he had off-season surgery, so they'll be cautious at first. He's on a normal throwing program though, so no DL time anticipated. With him, Papelbon, Durbin, and Bastardo locked in, there are eleven (11) relievers (six righties and five lefties) competing for three spots - two of the spots are most likely reserved for lefties.

Outfield

Ben Revere is the only lock. With Delmon Young possibly opening the year on the DL, there are five players competing for four spots.


Conclusion

Further break-downs of the competition can be found in previous entries.

Update to the Roster

Spring Training is here at last!!! Yay!!! Now it is time to break down the roster a bit further than I already have with updates. So, I'll do so by position.

Rotation:

• Projected: Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Kyle Kendrick, and John Lannan
• 40-Man:
• Tyler Cloyd: possibly in the 'pen, emergency starter from April through July.
• Jon Pettibone: No. 1 in the Iornpigs' rotation, emergency starter in August & September. He is known as one of the "Baby Aces".
• Ethan Martin: The righty came over in the Shane Victorino deal, finishing with a 3.18 ERA in 7 starts (almost 40 IP), en-route to a sub-3.50 ERA at AA. He'll be in AAA this year.

Righties:

• Locks: Jon Papelbon (closer), Mike Adams (8th inning), and Chad Durbin
• 40-Man:
• Competition: Tyler Cloyd, Phillippe Aumont, Justin De Fratus, Mike Stutes, Mike Schwimmer, and B.J. Rosenberg (one or two spots open)

Lefties:

• Lock: Antonio Bastardo (7th inning, lefty specialist in the 8th)
• 40-Man:
• Competition: Jeremy Horst, Jake Deikman, Raul Valdes, Joe Savery, and Robles (two spots open probably)

Pitching Invitees: Kyle Simon, Justin Friend, Aaron Cook, Rodrigo Lopez; Adam Morgan, & Cesar Jimenez

Catchers:

• Restricted List: Carlos Ruiz (Suspended from Opening Day to April 28th - Adderall)
• Lock: Eric Kratz
• 40-Man: Sebastian Valle (likely in AAA)
• Invitees:
• Competition for April Back-up:
• Humberto Quintero (probable)
• Steven Lerud (in the minors)
• In AAA, developing: Tommy Joseph (he is an invitee)

First Base:

• Core: Ryan Howard (145-155 games)
• Back-ups: Mike Young, Darin Ruf, John Mayberry, and Laynce Nix

Second Base:

• Core: Chase Utley (140-150 games)
• Back-up: Freddy Galvis
• 40-Man: Cesar Hernandez
• Invitees: Mike Martinez, Pete Orr, Yuniesky Betancourt

Shortstop:

• Core: Jimmy Rollins
• Back-up: Freddy Galvis
• Invitees: Mike Martinez, Yuniesky Betancourt

Third Base:

• Core: Mike Young
• Back-up: Kevin Frandsen
• Invitees: Yuniesky Betancourt, Mini-Mart, Orr
• Developing: Cody Asche could be a September call-up. He's invited to camp.

Andres Blanco & Josh Fields are infield invitees to Spring Camp.

Outfielders:

• Lock: CF Ben Revere
• Competition:
• Domonic Brown - Rube gave up Travis D'Arnaud instead of Brown in the 2009 deal for Roy Halladay. After the trials of the past few years, it is time to see what can Brown do for us (pun intended). I'm not giving up on him, but the experts seem to be. Don't give up yet!
• John Mayberry, Jr. - He's just a platoon player but still has a little time to prove us wrong. Let's hope he can play like he did in 2011. Otherwise, don't tender him a contract in 2014.
• Delmon Young - He will likely be placed on the DL (ankle) to start the year, then play RF.
• Darin Ruf - Oh how suddenly he emerged last year. He still has options, so he may be the first to go, but he can play 1B & LF and is about 27 years old, so that's in his favor.
• Ender Inciarte - Gosh, don't we all just love that name! As the Rule 5 pick, he'll get a good look, but with the plethora of outfielders, he may be offered back to Arizona.
• Laynce Nix - well, we saw two versions of him last year with the injury in between. Which will we see? Well, if he can't hit effectively (like his post-injury self), then he'll probably be placed on the waiver wire.
• 40-Man: 
• Tyson Gillies - now this guy, I have given up on. Maybe he can stay on the field and convince the front office (and fans) that the 2009 Cliff Lee deal netted more than Phillippe Aumont.
• Zach Collier - the Phils' first pick in the 2008 Draft has completed his 2nd full-year in the minors. He played for Clearwater, hitting .269/.333/.399 with 26 XBH and 32 RBIs. He has played all three OF positions.
• Invitees: Joe Mather & Jermaine Mitchell