Philly Front Office

The happiest and most anticlimactic day of the calendar has arrived, the mitts are finally popping again in Clearwater! Now we wait for everyone else to show up, to jog around a little bit, then wait some more until they start playing fake games, then play way too many fake games, and then on March 27 we can finally, and for real this time, PLAY BALL!!!

This roster is, for the most part, set. There are about 2.5 jobs up for grabs. 2.5? Well, technically the backup catcher job is a competition, but no one actually wants the offensive black hole that is Garrett Stubbs behind the dish anymore. Vibes are apparently a depreciating asset and Stubbs is just about out of equity. The Phillies want the job to go to Rafael Marchan, the 26-year-old former prospect with upside. They would also like him to not be hurt most of the season. Alas, that’s been too much to ask the last few seasons.

In the 26 roster spot yearbook, here is who have already posed for pictures:

• Infielders: JT Realmuto, Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, Trea Turner, Marchan, and Edmundo Sosa (7)
• Outfielders: Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, Maximum Kepler, and Johan Rojas (4)
• Designated Schwarber: Kyle (1)
• Starters: Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Christopher Sanchez, and Jesus Luzardo (5)
• Bullpen: Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Romano, Joe Ross, Jose Ruiz, and Tanner Banks (7)

So, who are we missing?

First, we need a right-handed hitter, preferably one with some defensive versatility. Marsh and Kepler are not exactly known for having robust splits against lefties, so they need a platoon partner other than Rojas. Weston Wilson is the guy. His career slash line against lefties is .333/.450/.646. Granted, that’s only in 60 plate appearances, but still. He can serviceably play on the corners in the infield and outfield and has a minor league option remaining. The only reason he isn’t considered a lock is because of that option. Cody Clemens is left-handed and is out of options. The Phillies might want to keep him around in case of emergency, forcing Wilson to start the season in AAA.

Second, the final reliever spot. I think we all wanted one more arm, right? Whether Jeff Hoffman, Carlos Estevez, or Kirby Yates it looks like we are 1 high leverage guy short. It is someone they will look to trade for at some point. Until then, we have some options. One of those options is not Taijuan Walker. I know everyone is apoplectic he is still on the team, but he will not be making the roster unless something very bad happens. The hope is that he can show some kind of velocity improvement during the spring so that a trade could materialize with the Phillies paying the majority of his contract. Any discount on his $18m guarantee each of the next two years would be big. This job comes down to Max Lazar and, well, it could be anyone having a hot spring. Lazar has about as good a name for his position as anyone not named Kenny Gainwell and was in the pen down the stretch last year. He is your leader in the clubhouse.

Wait, that’s it?

What can I tell you, good teams don’t have position battles. Everyone wants to get down on this team for how the year finished, but that was not because of a lack of talent. There are stars on this roster, but they lost focus last year. They ran away with the division and it burned them. We’ve seen that happen with the Mets and the Braves the previous two years and we weren’t immune last year. This season should be much more competitive wire to wire.

We also have a few guys who could bolster the team mid-season and should be on the watch list for spring. When Trea Turner went down last year, only Edmundo Sosa was available to hold down the fort. When Walker was terrible, we had no one to really step into the 5th starter spot. This season we have some percolating minor league talent:

• Andrew Painter – Because he is young and coming off surgery, they will limit his innings. Don’t expect to see him in the spring or even as an early call up if someone gets hurt. Painter will make his debut in the summer and provide the roster with the jolt of electricity that last year’s team didn’t have. Whether as a starter or a reliever, the players and the fans know that Painter’s arrival will be special. His arm is that good.
• Gabriel Rincones – The 24-year-old lefty outfielder will only be pressed into duty with an injury to Kepler or Marsh. He can’t do much against lefties, but who can in this outfield? The hope is that he can finally stay healthy and produce consistently in AAA before providing some young power in the majors.
• Justin Crawford – No one on the Phillies can play good outfield defense AND hit consistently against righties and lefties. Crawford has the chance to change that. He is 21 and has the chance to start in AAA. It is no guarantee that he makes the majors this year, but he is one to watch. The knock on him is that he hits the ball into the ground too much and his BA is inflated by his tremendous speed. He is strong though. If he starts to lift the ball even a little bit this season, he could break out in a big way. The Phillies would jump at the chance to have one less platoon in the outfield and let Crawford run with the job.
• Aiden Miller – The least likely of this quartet to see big league time this season, but a chance nonetheless. Miller did nothing but tear up every level of the minors last year. It always took him a few weeks to adjust, but once he did, he made it look easy. If that continues this season and there is an injury to Stott, Turner, or Bohm, those would be the right circumstances for Miller to get an early taste of The Show.

Okay, that’s something…anything else?

One last thing, there will be a lot of extension talk during spring training. Three guys are up for new deals after this season, JT Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, and Ranger Suarez.

• Realmuto – The fans have been pretty disappointed in JT over the last two years, but he is still an above average catcher in a league starved for talent at the position. The team will be objectively worse without him next year. His heir apparent at the position is Eduardo Tait, but he’s only 19 and not close to the majors. Basically, we need JT for a few more years. Did you know he is almost 34 years old? Crazy right. If they can get him for a 2-year extension, that would be ideal. He will be looking for 3 years though. Would he go for 3/$45m? More likely 3/$60 huh? Yeah, it’s going to be 3/$60m.
• Schwarber – Kyle actually seems like he’s 35, right? He’s only 32. Would he double down on the same contract he got last time, roughly 4/$80m? I think the Phillies would give him that considering his profile as a hit only lumberjack and leader. Would he want more? 5/$100m? That might be out of our league.
• Ranger Suarez – He’s here because we could extend him, even if it’s not likely. Ranger has a ceiling of a Cy Young level workhorse but could end up only pitching 100 innings. His value is really all over the place. At 29.5, he will be looking for serious money. On the open market, I think he gets 5/$125m. I don’t think the Phillies want to give him that with 4 starters already under contract and Painter on the way.

So, take it easy over the next few weeks. There’s not too much to worry about with the baseball team. Go down to Clearwater if you can, it’s a great experience. If you aren’t living in the area, it will be your first chance to really interact with thousands of your newest Super Bowl Champion friends. Hang out, watch some baseball, drink some beers, and GO BIRDS!!!