40 Man Roster Decisions – Part 2 – Pitchers

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After discussing who is on the roster, it is now time to discuss who might be on the roster going forward.  Pitching is a lot easier for a team to stash on a roster than it is to stash position players because bullpen arms can be regulated and coached without the need for constant in game work.  For the most part teams are looking for players who can provide a solid fastball and command out of the bullpen.  The Phillies have a couple of player who may be able to fill those roles, but more interestingly they have a couple of players who could provide rotation depth to the rate team.

Seth Rosin – RHP – Acquired from San Francisco for Hunter Pence

Seth Rosin is a big pitcher, and he generates good downward plane on his pitches.  Out of the rotation Rosin will show a plus fastball, a slider with good potnetial, and an average changeup.  Rosin will pound the zone with all of his pitches and has improved his walk rate every year.  Rosin wore down towards the end of the year as he passed his previous high in innings.  If he sticks in the rotation Rosin profiles as a back of the rotation starter, however if put back in the bullpen he could be an asset in 2014.  This potential bullpen use could make him attractive to a team in the Rule V draft.  MW: Protect Phillies: No Add

Rob Rasmussen – LHP – Acquired from Dodgers for Michael Young

Much like Rosin there is debate on whether Rasmussen is a starter or reliever long term.  Out of the rotation Rasmussen is more of a back of the rotation starter as he relies more on 4 average pitches than overpowering stuff.  Out of the bullpen his stuff should play up and he will be able to keep hitters off balance.  He could be ready as a reliever early in 2014, and that combined with his recent acquisition should lead to his protection. MW: Protect Phillies: Protect

Brody Colvin – RHP – 7th Round 2009

I did not rank Colvin a year ago, but I have been a supporter of his protection lately.  However, I have changed my mind given the evidence in front of me.  Colvin will be 23 in 2014, but he is not going to provide 2014 value to a drafting team, and a lost year of development could spell the end of his minor league career.  MW: No Add Phillies: No Add

Nick Hernandez – LHP – 12th round 2009

Hernandez’s greatest assets is his left handedness and pitchability.  After showing some promise in his return from injury in 2013, Hernandez faded fast as his stuff failed to overpower hitters.  Hernandez is  25 years old and likely an org player at this point.  MW: No Add Phillies: No Add

Perci Garner – RHP – 3rd round 2010

Garner was a raw pitcher when the Phillies took him in the third round of the draft.  Garner has flashed good stuff, especially a fastball and breaking ball that will show plus.  His ideal role is out of the bullpen but the Phillies have left him in the rotation up to now.  At age 25 in 2014 he might go undrafted because he might now be ready to contribute until 2015. MW: No Add Phillies: No Add

David Buchanan – RHP – 7th Round 2010

Buchanan does not have great stuff, the fastball may be above average, the breaking ball is usable, and a changeup that fringy.  But Buchanan throws strikes and gets a good amount of groundballs.  Buchanan’s profile is that of a middle reliever or #6 starter.  He is unlikely to be drafted but definitely a name to watch. MW: No Add Phillies: No Add

Ethan Stewart – LHP – 2010 Draft

Stewart showed good stuff early in his career, but he has failed to consistently find the strikezone. MW: No Add Phillies: No Add

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About Matt Winkelman

Matt is originally from Mt. Holly, NJ, but after a 4 year side track to Cleveland for college he now resides in Madison, WI. His work has previously appeared on Phuture Phillies and The Good Phight. You can read his work at Phillies Minor Thoughts

18 thoughts on “40 Man Roster Decisions – Part 2 – Pitchers”

  1. I am not sure , but I suspect the other pitcher the team traded for, Nefi Ogando, might be eligible. Supposed to be a big-time fastball type. Is this not supposed to be a comprehensive list, or has he been found light on the scale.

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  2. Little danger of anyone on that list sticking on a major league roster for the season. Rasmussen maybe because he is left handed. He is actually a little underrated if you think of him as a potential bullpen piece because his velocity plays up. IMO he may end up better than Bonilla who was the prospect we gave up for Young in the first place.

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      1. Yes. But he was equally bad in AAA last year and has pitched 3 innings in the AFL. Not sure who will end up being better, but Bonilla is not a sure thing. Rasmussen’s stuff will play up in the bullpen if he gets moved there and he has better command.

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        1. Still, almost 12 Ks/9 in AAA ain’t chopped liver, especially at age 23. He had close to 15 K/9 in AA this year, with very few hits and a decent walk rate and an almost non-existent ERA. His control went south in AAA and he walked 5 per 9 IP, but there is still a lot of talent there. I still think he is one we will regret letting go, especially for the inestimable Michael Young.

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    1. If Rosin gets moved to the pen, which is highly likely this ST, he will be a very real option in ’14. Strike thrower with a plus FB and a good slider and change- take that all day long. Saw him in the AFL when he was with Giants – he was dominant out of the pen.

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      1. I do not like the idea of holding onto a number of bullpen pieces who project as middle innings guys. As a starter it makes sense to keep him because he has options that make him a controllable spot starter.

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        1. Somewhat agree however he has proven he can do either role at this point. That should be valuable as well. I also think he could be the future closer. Mid to upper 90s with movement. Could work well in late innings.

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          1. Good point. If he has a legitimate chance as a high leverage reliever then definitely worth the roster spot. Not sure how much his stuff plays up in relief.

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  7. I always seem surprised by the players drafted in Rule5.
    Phillies have lost Lendy Castillo and Carlos Monasterios in recent years. Who’d thunk that?

    I expect Phillies to leave a roster spot to pickup a Rule 5 this year also.

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    1. Correct. That may have been a failure on MiLB.com’s part though, but I’m fairly sure I’ve seen his name has the “released” status before.

      Regardless, their player status listing is extremely unreliable, for many players. Chance Chapman (who I believe is now out of baseball) and Jordan Ellis (Riversharks) are still listed as active Phillies minor leaguers.

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      1. Steve A is correct. Claypool was released last ST. MiLB also has several Phillies DSL and VSL players listed as active who didn’t play last season: Angelo Almonte, Rafael De La Cruz, Douglas Parada, Liberio Bohorquez, Audrys Mora, Joseph Carpabire and Hiomarvic Colmenarez. They don’t show up in the league transactions either.

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        1. Here is how it works. MiLB will place what they believe to be an accurate up-to-date roster on the website when a team selects their roster right before the beginning of the season. Then it will pretty much remain that way until about one year later when the following season’s roster is selected. Exceptions might be when a player is listed in the transactions section on MiLB . com as either added or subtracted. I believe the Phillies organization is less than diligent about getting all of their player moves listed on MiLB.com, or anything other than the official internal lists within baseball.

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