On the third day, the Phillies got busy. As the Winter Meetings wind down, the Phillies are busy adding and subtracting players, while also announcing some major movements. Some of the news-
- The Phillies traded Ken Giles to Houston for Vincent Velasquez, Brett Oberholtzer, reportedly outfield prospect Derek Fisher, and a fourth, yet unnamed prospect. Velasquez and Oberholtzer immediately go on the 40 man roster. Giles, obviously, comes off.
- The Phillies outrighted Joely Rodriguez off of the 40 man roster to AAA Lehigh Valley.
- The Phillies signed David Hernandez to help fortify the bullpen.
- The Phillies will look at Odubel Herrera as a second baseman. The main significance is that this would free up center field, and take Cesar Hernandez out of the second base role.
- The Phillies are rumored to be taking Rays prospect Tyler Goeddel, a former first round "sandwich" pick and outfielder, with the top pick in the Rule 5 Draft.
My guess is that the Phillies will not officially announce the Giles deal until after they have participated in the Rule 5 Draft. Right now they have two open slots on the roster, and after the trade they will have one. The Phillies will inevitably not be done wheeling and dealing now. Here's a look at the roster situation:
- Rotation- Nothing has changed for Jeremy Hellickson, Aaron Nola, and Jerad Eickhoff. Those three will be in the rotation. Matt Harrison's health remains a huge question mark in what happens this season, and Adam Morgan is still here. Oberholtzer absolutely would slot into the rotation mix, while Velasquez could do so as well, or go to AAA to start the season, or move to the bullpen. The Phillies have been linked to Doug Fister, though I wonder if they'll still go there after this deal. David Buchanan, Alec Asher, and Severino Gonzalez remain on the 40 man roster, as does Jesse Biddle, though he will miss all or most of 2016 after Tommy John surgery.
- Bullpen- Incumbents Elvis Araujo, Jeanmar Gomez, and Luis Garcia are all likely to make the team. David Hernandez is also a fairly solid lock, given that he has a major league deal. Right-handers Hector Neris and Dalier Hinojosa return, as does 2014 left-hander Mario Hollands comes back from Tommy John Surgery. They will be challenged by A.J. Achter, Michael Mariot, and Dan Otero are righties on the 40 man roster who are likely to have a shot at the roster, while Colton Murray, Edubray Ramos, and Jimmy Cordero are all likely to be in the minors. Non-roster invitee James Russell will compete with Hollands for the lefty slot. Right-handers Reinier Roibal, Chris LeRoux, and Frank Herrmann will be in camp as non-roster invitees. I'd bet on Araujo, Gomez, Garcia, Hernandez, Hinojosa, Neris, and Hollands making the team, for now. I would bet on Mariot and Russell being the top challengers, going in.
- Catchers- Nothing has changed so far, so i'm guessing Cameron Rupp and Carlos Ruiz are safe going into camp. Jorge Alfaro will start out in Reading.
- Infielders- Big changes here, if indeed Odubel Herrera moves over to second base, where he would displace Cesar Hernandez. Freddy Galvis would remain at shortstop to start the season, but both he and Hernandez days in Philadelphia may be numbered if in fact Herrera moves to the infield and J.P. Crawford arrives in Philadelphia this season. Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf are very likely to share first base on Opening Day, in a platoon. Maikel Franco is completely solid at third base. Andres Blanco will be the utility man. The Phillies could have a need for another infielder, depending on whether they consider Ruf an outfielder or not anymore. Hernandez could fill that job to start the season, or be dealt away. Galvis will eventually be in the same boat.
- Outfielders- If Herrera is out, the Phillies are down to Aaron Altherr, Peter Bourjos, and Cody Asche in the outfield. Asche is possibly a trade candidate, though that feels less likely than it did before this week's movements. The Phillies would be adding Goeddel to the mix here, and he'd be likely to make the team. They still have room for another pick-up here.
- Right now I'd say the 25 man roster looks like this: Rotation- Hellickson, Nola, Eickhoff, Oberholtzer, and Morgan; Bullpen- Garcia, Araujo, Gomez, Hernandez, Hollands, Hinojosa, and Neris; Catchers- Rupp and Ruiz; Infielders- Howard, Ruf, Herrera, Galvis, Franco, Blanco, Hernandez; Outfielders- Altherr, Bourjos, Asche, Goeddel;
- 40 man, non-25 man roster- Alfaro, Roman Quinn, Darnell Sweeney, Buchanan, Asher, Gonzalez, Velasquez, Biddle, Harrison, Achter, Mariot, Otero, Murray, Ramos, Cordero;
- Extended DL- Harrison and Biddle;
- Spots in Danger/Trade Possibility- Hernandez, Ruf, Asche, Ruiz, Buchanan, Gonzalez;
What this would mean is that the Phillies would have two spots open on the 40 man roster once they 60 Day DL Harrison and Biddle. I also see several more players in danger of being cut or traded, as listed above. I could see a trade for Marcell Ozuna still happening, as well.
A lot more is probably coming for the Phillies today. Assumedly either Goeddel or someone else will be drafted today. The Astros trade could be done today. Another deal could be in the works. The Phillies roster remains a work in progress as the team builds out of a 99 loss season.
