40 man roster decisions this winter

Transactions

With Scott Mathieson back and throwing well, it got me to thinking about the 40 man roster this winter and who could be vulnerable to the Rule 5 draft. For those of you unfamiliar with the rules regarding the roster, check the site FAQ here, where I’ve outlined the rules regarding the 40 man and how options work. Losing 4 prospects in the Lee deal will remove one pending decision (Donald), but we still have others yet to be answered. Check below for more…

Here is how the 40 man roster looks right now.

Catchers (3) – Ruiz, Bako, and Naughton
Infielders (7) – Bruntlett, Dobbs, Feliz, Harman, Howard, Rollins, Utley
Outfielders (6) – Francisco, Ibanez, Mayberry, Stairs, Victorino, Werth
Pitchers (25) – Bastardo, Bisenius, Blanton, Carpenter, Condrey, Durbin, Escalona, Eyre, Hamels, Happ, Kendrick, Lee, Lidge, Lopez, Madson, Pedro Martinez, Moyer, Myers, Naylor, Park, Register, Romero, Taschner, Walker, Zagurski

This obviously equals 41, because Myers is on the 60 day DL. When he’s ready to be activated, a spot will have to be cleared. Bisenius is an obvious guy to be removed, he will probably clear waivers. They could also choose to outright Lopez off the 40 man, Taschner is another possibility, as is Register.

Looking ahead, the free agents from this list; Bako, Stairs, Park, Myers, Lopez, Pedro. That would be 6 guys, which would leave the team with 5 open spots, assuming no one else comes back and no other moves are made. Feliz has a club option for 2010, which seems likely to be picked up. So now we have to focus on guys who need to be added on the prospect side after 2009. This would be prospects who were 19 or older when they signed in 2006, or 18 and younger when they signed in 2005, based on the rules regarding players being placed on the 40 man. So lets quick look at the 2005 and 2006 draft classes

18 and younger in the 2005 draft; Darren Byrd, Mike Durant
19 and older in the 2006 draft; Quintin Berry, Dan Brauer, Andy Cruse, Sam Walls, Gus Milner, Will Savage
18 and younger, international signings; Edgar Garcia and Tim Kennelly

As you can see, not a whole lot of tough choices from this group. Berry will probably grab a spot, depending on moves made before rosters have to be finalized. But he’s a guy who you’d have to think a bad team could stash, using him as a 5th OF/pinch runner. The more intriguing names might be Pat Overholt and Scott Mathieson, as well as Jeremy Slayden. The team chose to not protect Overholt and Slayden last year, and neither guy was picked. Mathieson is now back from surgery and in AA. If he pitches well and remains healthy, I have to think a team will take a flier on him. Bisenius is out of options, so he either needs to stick on the 25 man roster, or he’ll have to clear waivers out of spring training, which makes me think he’s a candidate to be removed when Myers comes back.

Update: I think its a lock Garcia is protected, and Kennelly seems like a decent fit as well.

So, what do you think? Will Berry be the only guy protected? Will they add Mathieson?

72 thoughts on “40 man roster decisions this winter”

  1. I would protect Mathieson and Berry. I’m not worried about any of the others. Slayden might get picked up but its not really a loss either way considering our OF depth.

    Like

  2. Mathieson will absolutely get added. After all the time they spent working with him to recover and what he’s shown to get back, there’s no chance they decide Register or Taschner is better than him.

    I’d say just because of the lack of other intriguing names they’d protect Slayden this year. Maybe Durant just for his raw power but that average sure is ugly. I’d say Q is virtually a lock based on the minimal speed of our reserves. Bisenius is a frustrating case because he looked like he had a good shot to stick a few years ago, then when the wheels came off they really came off. I think he’s gone. Other than that I don’t see any reason to hold on to Byrd/Brauer with guys like Stutes/Cisco/Worley ahead of them in the same mold.

    It’ll be interesting to see how we hit the free agent market next year, especially if Myers comes back and performs well in the late innings.

    Like

  3. What about the international guys like Flande, Dominican; Kennelly, Australia; and Sanchez, Venezuela? They might be vulnerable to Rule 5.

    Like

  5. Nice writeup PP.

    I’d have to agree with the earlier poster who said they’ll hold onto Mathieson. He’s progressing nicely through the system, and if continues to make progress, I could see him taking Park’s role next year. Too bad Durbin’s not a free agent this year. Makes the case to only sign these veteran relievers for 1 year because they are pretty easy to replace internally.

    Berry’s an interesting guy. I’ve seen him play a lot at Reading, and I like the guy – He’s fast, plays good D, seems like a true baseball guy. He’s always into the game, and that’s great to see. I’m just not sure if he’s ever going to hit enough at the big league level to warrant a position. I can’t see him playing the corner OF positions because his arm just isn’t strong enough, so it’s not even like he can fill the Utility OF role, because in my opinion, I think he can only play CF right now. We’ll see though. With all of that said, I think it’s worth keeping him on the 40 and seeing what he can do in AA next year.

    One guy I would remove from the 40 man today if I could would be Brad Harman. Talk about a disappointment. Two years of failed attempts at AA ball equals being removed from the organization. He’s not real young either, so I’m not really sure what to say. At this point, I’d say Neil Sellers has a better chance of making the majors than this guy. If he ends up succeeding elsewhere, just chalk it up as one of those things, but please, don’t waste a spot on him.

    I think guys like Spidale, Slayden, Gosewhich, etc are guys that will slip through and you won’t have to protect. Guys like this are real gamers and should be kept within the system, if nothing else to teach the young guys the game. It’s a shame they can’t pay these guys more to make it more worthwhile to them…

    Like

  7. ****Too bad Durbin’s not a free agent this year. Makes the case to only sign these veteran relievers for 1 year because they are pretty easy to replace internally.****

    Durbin is a FA at the end of the year…I doubt the Phillies will retain him based on his 09 performance so he’ll likely be non-tendered. He signed a 1 year, $1.65 million deal to avoid arbitration in Jan.

    Like

  9. Just thinking outloud here, but I wonder if teams will start taking fliers on guys like Slayden just because they played in the Phils farm system.

    I’m sure we’re slowly starting to get a good reputation for developing talent. Coming up in the Phillies system might be enough to push a guy like Slayden over the edge for some organization.

    Like

  11. Slayden could probably help a 2nd division team off the bench. He could be someone’s Jason Michaels in the right situation.

    Gnome is also a FA…and I am almost certain that he WILL NOT be brought back.

    Like

  14. I doubt any of the 3 are brought back. Maybe Durbin but not likely considering his cost (at least $1.65 and likely more.). He’s not worth that.

    Like

  15. Pat Overholt has been pitching well in AAA. If he keeps it up maybe. Carpenter can replace Durbin who became spotty after they took him out of long relief.

    Like

  16. I recall one of the reasons that Flande was promoted to AA was to better evaluate his worthiness for inclusion on the 40 man roster. A decision is required this off-season. I think his record is strong enough to be on it. Berry and Mathieson deserve consideration also.

    Like

  17. There are a number of international prospects that need to be protected this fall or risk being drafted in the Rule 5 draft. They are Ed Garcia (RHP), Harold Garcia (2B), Yohan Flande (LHP), Tim Kennelly (C, 1B, 3B, OF), Carlos Monasterios (RHP) and Jesus Sanchez (RHP/C).

    While there is not enough space on the Major League 40-man roster to protect Mathieson, Berry, and Slayden and many of the international prospects, I hope that a number of them are at least protected on the 38-man Lehigh Valley reserve roster. While this does not offer the protection of the 40-man roster it does offer some protection for these prospects.

    For example, if Tim Kennelly and Jesus Sanchez are protected on the Lehigh Valley roster then they could only be take in the major league phase of rule 5 draft and if they are taken then they must remain on the major league roster for the full year or returned to their original clubs. If they are placed on the AA roster or below and if they are taken in the minor league phase of rule 5 then they are gone for good. I doubt that any major league club would take Tim Kennelly or Jesus Sanchez in the major league phase of rule 5 and keep them on the major league roster for an entire year. If they were on the 37-man AA reserve roster, I can see other teams taking them in the minor league phase of rule 5.

    Like

  18. Jesus Sanchez after tonight is now 7-1 with a 1.96 ERA over his last 10 starts with Lakewood. With that kind of arm and the numbers he is putting up he will have to be protected on the 40 man even if it is only Low A.

    Like

  19. In a chat today, Callis re-ranked the Phillies top 10
    1. Dominic Brown
    2. Kyle Drabek
    3. Michael Taylor
    4. Travis D’arnaud
    5. Sebastian Valle
    6. Trevor May
    7. Anthony Gose
    8. Yohan Flande
    9. Brody Colvin
    10. Antonio Bastardo

    Like

  20. just curious but wouldn’t Colvin need to be signed to be in our top ten. Over sight on Callis part or does he know something

    Like

  21. nevermind just checked BA and that was in the ask ba column and callis marks that colvin is still unsigned

    Like

  22. Mathieson and Sanchez (who we all might be sleeping on) are the only names that intrigue me for inclusion. Q will likely get a spot because of his speed. But I thought Slayden would get a spot (he didn’t) because of his bat. Was sure some bad team would take a flier on him (they didn’t), so what do I know?

    Like

  23. On some of the international guys.

    Flande debuted in 2006, did he sign a 2005 deal? If he signed in 2005, then yes, he has to be protected.

    Garica and Kennelly are definites, I’ll add them

    Like

  24. Flande signed on12/13/04 and played in 05.
    Harold Garcia signed on 9/7/04 and played in 05.
    Ed Garcia signed on 10/26/04 and played in 05.
    Carlos Monasterios signed on 9/22/04 and played in 05.

    Like

  25. There is one other international player that is eligible for rule 5 and that is Freddy Ballestas. He signed on 9/7/04 and played in 05.

    Like

  27. Why keep Harman on the 40 at this point? He’s hit a subpar .210 for the last two years at AA. I doubt anyone would take him. I realize we’re really thin at MI but still… They’ve held on to Matheison this long so I highly doubt they give up on him when he’s in the home stretch. He’s the Phillies’ version of Buckhalter. Kennelly has too much value to leave unprotected and I think you need Flande on there too.

    Like

  28. Flande and Garcia are givens, as is Berry, I think.

    I think I’d protect Sancez and Monasterios, too.

    5 guys coming off come from: Bisenius, Harman, Naughton, Lopez, Register, Tashner, Walker, Stairs, Myers.

    Like

  29. General Question:

    Given that our major league OF is set next year (Vic, Werth, Ilbanez) does it make sense to have both Taylor and Brown, likely MLB ready next year, in the organization? I can see needing one in case of injury but it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for both to be in the majors next year given the lack of at-bats.

    If that’s correct what’s the best way to extract value from this surplus? Could we trade either for a trio of talented A-level prospects to improve a farm without depth? Or would we be best served trading one for a pitcher at next years deadline/this offseason?

    Like

  30. Alex,

    Taylor and Brown are not major league ready next year. Brown will start the year at AA and maybe move up to Triple A if he lights it up. Taylor will start the year at triple A with a chance to make the roster being slim but a call up certain. Neither needs to be shipped off at all. Especially considering that in the 1 or 2 years it takes for them to be ready, our three starters will have contracts up.

    Like

  32. Trade Dominic Brown or Taylor for minor league depth? Not so.

    Quentin Berry would be added, because he could be snatched up as a reserve in MLB. Forget Jeremy Slayden, etc., just because of some good numbers in AA people thiink he is MLB type. He did not do well in AAA. I doubt anybody will snap him up for MLB. They did not even do so last season. Also people should stop campaigning for Neil Sellers and the like.

    Also the removal of Joel Naughton, I don’t think so. What? You think they will have 2 catchers on the offseason roster?
    Naughton has the defensive ability to be considered to move up. The simple reading of batting averages will not get it. Kennelly will likely be protected, I would say he is more or a part-time Catcher type. And will likely advance as an OF/C if he gets all the way up.

    I will want to know if Fidel Hernandez needs to be protected. He should be if he needs to be, (despite the noise of the OBP/OPS ++ crowd)l He is still reputed to be good defensively, and that’s what matters the most. He has also shown a propensity to get hits. Though he does not walk much, he does not strikeout much either. So that’s what you want for MLB bench Middle Infield, good defense- better chance of getting hits as pinch-hitter-no need for a walk coaxer there, and not a large amount of strikeouts. So, if he need be protected, as should Harold Garcia, and to retain Brad Harman, due to the shortage of middle infielders.

    I like to have this information, I will give this consideration for a projection of what the 40 man roster will be in offseason.

    Like

  33. Marfis –

    I agree with most of your points. If you can get a stud SS/3B type for Taylor though, you wouldn’t do it? Not saying that a deal is out there, but you wouldn’t consider it?

    I also agree that Slayden is nothing really special, but I think he could still be a 4th/5th OF in the majors. He got off to a rough start at AAA because he was injured. He just never got going.

    In my earlier message, I wasn’t campaigning for Sellers to be protected, was just stating that Brad Harman stinks, plain and simple. Neither should be protected, but if I was given a choice between the two, I’d keep Sellers.

    Like

  34. dcwildcat53,

    On how many occasions this year have you seen either Taylor or Brown play? What area of development do you think Taylor specifically needs to improve upon that would then make him ready?

    Like

  35. IMO,Mathieson will on 25 man roster next year,ousting Durbin or Park,he has been lights out so far in his trip thru system,

    Like

  36. I think Neil Sellers will be a 6 year minor league Free Agent regardless, I would say sticking him on the 40 man roster when (I believe) he would have little chance to make the 25 man roster, that might be seen as just messing with him, and I am not sure of the procedural rules for taking a player who has completed 6 years to qualify for minor league free agency without ever being on 40 man roster, and require them to go through 3 seasons of options before even having to be put through waivers to be optioned to minors. I am not sure he could be retained that way,anyhow. If he is not added to MLB roster in the September callups then he might need to sign a new contract first. Retaining Sellers for 3 years, without a good chance of being on 25 man roster seems a bit unethical to me, and it could be the Union has some protection in that regard. If not I don’t think it would be popular with certain classes of players.

    Like

  37. From the play by play account last night Taylor did not make contact with off speed pitches and two strikes on him a couple of times.

    Like

  38. Interesting that Charlie Kerfield was in Lakewood last night to watch d’Arnaud and Sanchez. One needs to be moved up because of the catching situation post Marson and the other needs to be moved up for a decision on the 40 man status after the season.
    http://blogs.app.com/blueclaws/

    Like

  40. I agree with protecting Flande, Garcia, and Kennelly (catching versatility and enough bat to be a pinch hitter means he might get picked).

    I am less worried about Sanchez (not ready for the majors) and Monasterios and Ballestas. All are unlikely to get selected though probably worthy of a AAA roster spot. If they get picked it is not a great loss (like Turnbow was). If Sanchez threw harder I might have a different opinion, but if he is simply low 90s then I think the team is safe.

    I would protect Berry if there is room as well and probably think about Overholt. If healthy Mathieson will be protected as well.

    We will have to leave several spots open before the winter meetings, so don’t expect us using all 40 by Thanksgiving. For example if Bako leaves, he will be replaced by another rent-a-backup. Catching in the upper minors is very thin after the Marson trade. I would not be surprised if we add someone in the next few wekks as well.

    Like

  41. Here’s how I see it:

    Harman/Pedro/Bisenius/Stairs/Myers are all gone in the off-season. That’s 5 spots. Bako/Bruntlett both may leave but they’ll need to be replaced so we can’t count those spots.

    I would think Eyre would retire but who knows. It’s tough to walk away from the game/money. I would say of
    Walker/Register/Taschner/Park/Lopez/Durbin/Eyre only 3 will be retained. So that’s 4 extra spots opening. (I am think we hold on to Park/Taschner or Eyre/ and Walker or Register).

    That’s 9 spots (4+5) coming off the 40 man. So we take into account Myers being #41 and we are down to 8 open spots.
    Our only real spots to fill are Utility player/Back Up Catcher/ Relievers. I have counted for the Utility player/Back Up Catcher already and I believe the relievers will be filled from within or resigned.

    So 8 spots.

    Berry/ H. Garcia/ Flande/ E. Garcia/Valle/ Mathieson/Kennelly
    will all be protected. That’s 7 spots. The Phills usually leave a spot open for the rule 5 but who knows this yr. I still think they will leave a spot open so that leaves:

    Sanchez/Brauer/Cruse/Walls/Milner/Savage/Monasterios/
    Slayden/Hernandez left off the 40 man. At most we may lose 3 of them.

    Thoughts?

    Like

  42. I may have missed it, but what about the event of Taylor getting a September callup? I figured with the Lehigh Promotion, that a cup of coffee in September would be pretty certain. How much does the fact that he’s not on the 40-man factor into a decision like that?

    – Jeff

    Like

  43. Our only real spots to fill are Utility player/Back Up Catcher/ Relievers. I have counted for the Utility player/Back Up Catcher already and I believe the relievers will be filled from within or resigned.
    I beg to differ on the backup catcher thing. Right now your #1
    catcher is the backup catcher and your backup catcher is #1.
    This situation has to be fixed preferably now but at least during the winter.

    Like

  44. The Phils will need a few open 40-man roster spots during next season when a few players will be auditioning for major league roles throughout the season. Here are a few that come to my mind: Taylor, Chance Chapman, Drabek, and maybe Savery. I also figure they will need a spot September 1 for Myers and Mathieson.

    Like

  45. unless there is a ss/3rd baseman in projected fa. i would move brown for a legitimate infielder ready for say 2011. but he better be damn good. 2010 aaa

    Like

  46. Valle has only played 3 seasons. He will have two more until he needs to be protected after 2011.

    Like

  47. With Werth and Ibanez leaving in the next couple years, both Brown and Taylor are needed in the near future. You don’t move either of them as they are cheap (hopefully star) replacements of a known need. Focus on drafting middle infielders for the next couple years and hope a couple work out.

    Like

  48. Question for From Section 13? When you say that Pedro will be gone in the off season, do you mean Pedro Feliz or Pedro Martinez? I think Feliz will be here as there is no other 3rd baseman in sight. Martinez is not on the 40 man roster yet.

    Like

  50. You don’t see prospect for prospect trades very often so I don’t see why it keeps coming up here. It just won’t happen. If you trade D. Brown for say Brett Wallace, and Wallace doesn’t pan out you’re left empty handed.

    Like

  51. A couple of things to consider:

    1. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to drop a player from the 40 man roster if they still have options remaining (even if we think they stink). So it is likely Bisenius and Taschner will lose their 40-man roster spots in the offseason b/c they don’t have options remaining beyond this year and they shouldn’t figure into the 25 man mix coming out of spring training. But players like Register and Harman shouldn’t necessarily be dropped b/c they still have options. The only reason to drop them would be if their roster spot is needed to protect someone the organization deems to have more value.

    2. The organization needs to be careful to not load up the 40 man roster w/ prospects that are several years away from contributing in the majors. Players like Naylor and Naughton will both have two option years remaining after this season but no one expects them to really be contributors in the next two years. If the Phils add guys like Sanchez, Monasterios, and Ballestas then that really limits who they can call-up in the case of an injury b/c none of those guys will be helpful in the bigs anytime soon.

    3. Scott Mathieson is on a minor league contract this year and will be a free agent after the season. If we add him to the 40-man this year then I think he forfeits his right to become a free agent based on limited service time, but I’m not sure about that. But if we don’t add him to 40-man before the end of the season then he can sign anywhere he wants in the offseason. I’d like to think he’d remain loyal to the Phils since they’ve stuck w/ him but who knows?

    4. Andy Cruse, Sam Walls, and Will Savage have all been released and are no longer in the organization.

    Like

  52. “…so that leaves:

    Sanchez/Brauer/Cruse/Walls/Milner/Savage/Monasterios/
    Slayden/Hernandez left off the 40 man. At most we may lose 3 of them.

    Thoughts?”

    Cruse/Walls/Savage are already cut from the team.

    Milner was recently demoted from AA back to Clearwater, so no need to protect him.

    Brauer has been in Clearwater for three seasons and after a great start in 2007 has never come back from his injury, so no great loss.

    Of the other 4 not mentioned, the opnly one I could see maybe losing is Slayden, and as much as I personally like him stuff sopmetimes happens when you have depth in the minors. Nothing you can do about it…

    Like

  53. I think Naughton is on the 40 man for a reason – defense. It’s apparent now he’d likely be the man coming up if something happened to Bako or Ruiz. I’d rather have a no-hit catcher that played his position well then a marginal hitter who brought down the performance of the staff. I don’t see him being dropped barring something major like the team bringing in an experienced ML catcher in the offseason but that seems unlikely.

    Like

  55. No, this is only his, what, 3rd pro season – he doesn’t need to be protected until his 5th.

    Like

  56. FYI Eyre will not retire as thought,he got bilked for a ton of cash in some investment scam,he will pitch longer now if he can

    Like

  58. Dear PP,

    Thanks again for all your hard work, once we get
    the exact final handle on who would be exposed to
    the Rule 5 it might be fun to run readers picks like you
    do for the prospects. It might be fun.

    There is no way we can know for sure who will be
    retained, and how many slots that will give the Phillies.

    But we could do a list of who would you save first
    list.

    Here is my first stab at it.

    1) Mathieson
    2) Flande
    3) Garcia E.
    4) Berry
    5) Kennelly
    6) Sanchez
    7) Monasterios

    Like

  59. Junior’s Conscience – Thanks, I just got confused there.

    philly jamaal – I thought they were released but someone else mentioned them. Oh well.

    So basically it’s between Mathieson/Flande/E. Garcia/Berry/ H. Garcia/Kennelly/Sanchez/Monasterios/Slayden/Harman/ Hernandez?

    It’s not a huge deal there to protect at least the first 6 players. Plus we don’t know how the pen will shape up next yr. I mean in theory we could part ties with Park/Eyre/Condrey/Durbin so I think we need to assume no more than 5-6 names on here are protected.

    I really think we should take Harman off the 40 man roster. He has done nothing to warrat his spot on it.

    Like

  60. As a couple others have said, there is no need to protect low minors guys like Sanchez and Monasterios. They would not stick with a major league team at this stage and do not have the stuff to justify hiding them on a roster all year.

    There are 2 factors to consider. One is whether they would be picked by another team. The second is starting their option clock. A guy like Monasterios might make the majors in a few years in the bullpen. But it would be nice for him to have as many options left as possible (like Escalona this year). Wait a year to start his clock because he probably won’t get selected this year since he is not ready to help a major league team.

    Valle does not need to be protected until after 2011.

    Like

  61. I will say this again for the nth time:

    Trading Jaralillo was a BIG mistake. Decent defensive cacther (some have said very good defense) who can hit .260 with 5-10 HRs in 300-400 ABs. Switch hitter who has hit left-handed MUCH better than RH the last two years. Only 27, intelligent, educated, classy. Some upside in that you can picture a .285-.290 season with maybe 12 HR in a career year down the line a little. All for an underachiieving “talent” that they got rid of in a hurry. Jaramillo would be here now if we had kept him. Whoever had a woody for Paulino should be castigated severely.

    Like

  62. My impression of the Jaramillo trade is that it was designed as a “favor” for Jaramillo. The thinking, at the time, was that there was no way he was going to be promoted and Marson was going to get all the playing time at AAA, so they tried to move him as a favor. It did not work out well for the club in any respect, but I can’t kill them for it because the team was trying to do the right thing for the player.

    Like

  63. Nix on Jaramillo. He had some errors in his minor league season here, I recall something like 16. I didn’t see anything that says he’s an above average defensive type. I watch the Pirates from time to time and I can believe that Ryan Doumit is not great defensively either, and Jaramillo only rarely plays behind him. I doubt Jaramillo would play ahead of Phillies current 2 catchers. As far as somebody to come up September 1 Or some standby in the minors, that is easily replaceable. I see they activated roving coach Tim Gradoville at Reading ( possibly an injury emergency situation) but regardless, Gradoville would be a better option after September 1 than Jaramillo. There is no need for a vast stockpile of these middlin” types of players just to fill a depth chart.

    Like

  64. Here is my end of season and off season roster projections*
    *If things beleived are true facts, if facts remain the same and trends remain the same.

    Core players and 25 man roster retainees:

    *- bats or throws left, #- Switch Hitter

    1. Carlos Ruiz, C
    2. * Chase Utley, 2B
    3. * Ryan Howard, 1B
    4. # Jimmy Rollins, SS
    5. * Raul Ibanez, LF
    6. Jason Werth, RF
    7. Pedro Feliz, 3B (option picked up)
    8.# Shane Victorino, CF
    9. Joe Blanton, P (arb, ? offered, will not give away P)
    10. * Cole Hamels, P
    11. * Cliff Lee, P
    12. * J.A. Happ,P
    13. Ryan Madson, P
    14. Brad Lidge, P
    15. * Greg Dobbs IF-OF
    16. Ben Francisco, OF
    17. Clay Condrey, P (DL)
    18. *J.C. Romero, P (DL)
    19. * Jamie Moyer, P
    20. Chad Durbin, P (DL) (arb? offered will not give away P)
    21. Eric Bruntlett, P (arb.? offered, positonal flexibility and defense overrides increased likelihood of pinch-hit.)

    Non 25 man roster, 40 man roster retainees

    22. Brad Harman INF (Younger by 2 years than any AA INF and by 5 years any AAA INF , roughly. Can play SS, has hit and fielded in past. MLB Infield Shortage).

    23.John Mayberry Jr. , OF
    After September 1 (Mayberry)

    24. * Antonio Bastardo, P
    After September 1 (Bastardo)

    25. Drew Carpenter, P

    26. * Sergio Escalona , P
    After September 1, (Escalona)

    27. Drew Naylor, P

    28. * Joel Naughton, C (Defense 1st at Catcher, Positional Shortage )

    29. Kyle Kendrick, P ( too much training to give away)

    30. * Mike Zagurski , P (LH releiver, In Short Supply)

    Changes

    31. Brett Myers, P (UFA)
    After September 1 (Myers)
    Offseason roster ( *Quinton Berry, OF)

    32. Chan Ho Park, P (UFA)
    After September 1 (Park)
    Offseason roster (Tim Kennelly, C)

    33. * Paul Bako, C
    After September 1 (Bako)
    Offseason Roster ( Edgar Garcia, P)

    34. * Scott Eyre , P (rumored to retire )
    After September 1 (Eyre)
    Offseason Roster (Scott Mathieson, P)

    35. * Matt Stairs OF
    After September 1 (Stairs)
    Offseason Roster (* Yohan Flande, P)

    36. Pedro Martinez, P
    After September 1, (Martinez)
    Offseason Roster (# Harold Garcia, INF)

    37. Rodrigo Lopez, P
    After September 1 (* David Newhan, INF)
    Offseason Roster (Fidel Hernandez, INF)

    38. * Jack Taschner, P
    After September 1 (Miguel Cairo, INF)
    Offseason Roster (VACANT)

    39. Joseph Bisenius, P
    After September 1 ( Mike Cervenak, INF)
    Offseason Roster (VACANT)

    40. Steve Register, P
    After September 1 (*Rich Thompsom, OF)
    Offseason Roster (VACANT)

    41. Tyler Walker, P
    After September 1 ( Tim Gradoville, C)
    Offseason Roster (VACANT)

    Roster was 41 due to Brett Myers on 60 Day DL.

    Like

  65. Great List Marfis!

    Agree that Bisenius removed for Myers re-activation. (Bastardo could be moved to 60-day also).
    Lopez leaves when re-assigned, to start somewhere else and Taschner is bumped. Walker probably goes to Lehigh.
    I’d call up Mathieson and Berry on Sept 1 (instead of Thompson and Newhan) to see how they do in the Majors. Some other catcher (Gradoville) will need to be added as will Cairo. Register has options for next year so I’d suggest keeping him until something better comes along. I’d probably replace Harman with Cairo though I like your argument to keep Harman.

    I agree with list 1 through 36 (one possible exception). So my final guys:
    37 Register (stays Sept 1 since he has option for next year)
    38 Walker (replaced by Mathieson Sept 1)
    39 Lopez (replaced by Berry maybe before Sept 1)
    40 Taschner (replaced by Gradoville or some Vet Catcher)
    41 Not Available if Myers is activated (Bastardo option)
    22 Harman replaced by Cairo, or Cairo in slot 41 or 37.

    I think Berry could actually make the playoff roster as a pinch runner type and may be a better option than Mayberry.

    After season, add Flande, Kennelly, Edgar Garcia. Harold Garcia and Hernandez are just too low in minor to start their 40 man clock and should be safe on the AAA list. They are not even close to ready to remain on MLB roster all of next year, though I do not want to lose Harold Garcia.

    Like

  66. Not quite talk about the minors specifically so I apologize if this is an inappropriate post and am okay if it is deleted for that reason.
    In a similar exercise I was wondering what the 25 man might look like next year.
    Obvious guys: Ruiz, Howard, Utley, Rollins, Feliz, Ibanez, Victorino, Werth, Dobbs, Francisco, Lee, Hamels, Blanton, Happ, Lidge, Madson, Romero (17).
    18. 5th Starter = Moyer unless he retires, then maybe Myers would be signed. Backup is Kendrick.
    19. Backup Catcher = Bako or some other vet, Bako at least knows the staff some now.
    20. Second Lefty = Eyre if arbitrated or Bastardo or Escalona
    21, 22, 23. Bullpen = I think Condrey stays (cheap in arbitration). Park might be worth arbitration since he’s been good but might walk for another starter attempt and we’d get a draft pick. Mathieson could replace him. Durbin will be expensive and Carpenter might be able to replace him but the last spot in the bullpen could be filled by anyone from Spring Training so who cares.
    24. Utility Infielder = Bruntlett (ugh) unless we pay for someone better. No help from the minors now that Donald is gone.
    25. Open = with versatility of Dobbs and Francisco may not need an OF specifically to replace Stairs as stud PH on roster. Mayberry is obvious choice but he really should just be traded. Taylor should stay in AAA as should Berry. Kennelly would be intriguing but he’s far away also. A future 3B type would be nice.

    Like

  67. Miguel Cairo will soon be 36 , he is likely on a 1 year contract, and I don’t think they add him to the 40 man roster.

    I say the young middle infielders would be candidates to be selected by teams in need of bench players and are better candidates for inclusion than others in the system.

    Tyler Walker may stick through the end of season and be kept for next season, given his recent performances. They may even try him at closer.

    Register was sent down first from the veteran pitchers and does not appear to be highly regarded. Released by Colorado earlier, I don’t think they Keep him. Taschner I doubt they keep also. They will not include any minor league veteran catchers on the offseason 40 man roster.

    Like

  68. Also people on here have seemed to imply they know how the minor league portion of the rule 5 draft works. I have been unable to find that information.

    Like

  69. I agree. Taschner, Cairo, Gradoville would only be for this September. Then young guys that need protection take their spot on 40-man after the season (and with some openings due to free agents).

    Like

  70. Marfis. The minors portion of the Rule 5 draft is similar to the major league phase. A guy has to stick at one level higher than his final roster spot during the minor league season. For example, if a guy ends the year in A+, he needs to spend the season in AA. I think most teams simply hide the guys they want protected in the minors phase in AAA.

    Like

  71. PP this is kind of new to me so i apologize if this question is stupid..whats stopping the phils from promoting all guys up a level at the end of the season who may fall under possible “unprotecting” status for the following yr rule 5?(minor league promotions only im referring to)

    Like

Comments are closed.