A Post-Byrd Roster and Prospects Look

A lock to make it?

Well, the Phillies are certainly in rebuilding mode now. They traded their third veteran this off-season yesterday, sending Marlon Byrd to the Cincinnati Reds for prospect pitcher Ben Lively. Byrd joins Jimmy Rollins, Antonio Bastardo, and Roberto Hernandez amongst the jettisoned, and Lively becomes the sixth prospect added by trade. If the Phillies were direction-less and lost at the deadline, that is over now.

Byrd's trade was largely expected, and leaves just Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Carlos Ruiz as position players over 30 in the line-up. One would guess that Howard, Cole Hamels, Ben Revere, and Jonathan Papelbon would be the most likely Phillies to be traded next, with Ruiz as a bit of a dark horse. If I were a betting man, Utley and Cliff Lee will go too, but it'll be next Summer.

We can't walk around assuming guys are gone though until they are, so I'll move forward under the assumption that what we have is what we have. So, to update my 25 man projection at the moment:

• Rotation (5)- Hamels, Lee, Buchanan, and Williams are in. Beyond that, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Adam Morgan, Kevin Slowey and Wandy Rodriguez would appear to be the front-runners, with Jonathan Pettibone and Jesse Biddle also coming to camp. Since there are only 37 guys on the roster right now, I'd guess Wandy wins the fifth slot, but who knows really.
• Infielders (8)- Howard, Utley, Galvis, Franco, Ruiz, Hernandez, Asche, Rupp. For the purposes of Odubal Herrera making this team, i'm considering him an outfielder. Chase d'Arnaud could make a run here too, as well as Andres Blanco, but I don't like their odds. Hernandez has a guaranteed contract and Asche will give them a more dependable piece.
• Outfielders (5)- Brown, Revere, Sizemore, Ruf, Herrera. One of the reasons I don't think the Phillies are done making moves is that I think Jeff Francoeur will make this team out of camp, but as is I don't see how. I think the Phillies will want to keep Herrera around, given his potential, and Ruf's bat will be needed on this team. This is why I'd keep my eyes on a move that sends Howard or Revere packing next.
• Bullpen (7)- Papelbon, Giles, Diekman, and de Fratus are absolutely in. I'd take a guess that Hollands and Gonzalez make this team too. That leaves one spot currently, to be fought for between a front-running pack of Ethan Martin, Andy Oliver, Cesar Jimenez, and Elvis Araujo, and a rest of the field that includes Luis Garcia, Hector Neris, Nefi Ogando, and of course, Phillippe Aumont. Right now, my money's narrowly on Jimenez, though I'd like to see Martin come in and earn a spot.