Minor League Discussion: Week of December 17, 2018

Weekly Discussion

The Rule 5 Draft was the last major key date for the minor leagues prior to the start of spring training.  Following the draft, the Phillies began their roster bookkeeping moves, placing many of the players they stashed on the Lehigh Valley roster back on rosters at lower levels.  These moves do not mean that these players will start at these levels, but they are a good indicator of which group they will be in at the start of spring training.

In the first wave of transactions, nine players moved to lower affiliates.  Edgar Cabral, Grenny Cumana, and Luke Leftwich were returned to Reading.  Garrett Cleavinger, Jose Gomez, and Alejandro Requena were placed with Reading rather than returned to Clearwater.  Daniel Brito was returned to Clearwater.  Juan Escorcia and Oscar Marcelino were placed with Lakewood rather than returning them to Williamsport.

Placement of the organization’s 346 players  and the player limits at each level are as follows (by my count):

  • 40-man Roster – 38
  • Lehigh Valley – 29
  • Reading – 30
  • Clearwater – 17
  • Lakewood – 29
  • Williamsport – 30
  • GCL East – 35
  • GCL West – 34
  • DSL Red – 35
  • DSL White – 35
  • First time players with 2019 minor league contracts – 34

So far, we’ve traversed the off season without losing any of our minor league prospects.  That’s not to say, however, that there is no interest in our prospects.  We’ve all heard that Sixto Sanchez’ name has been discussed in trades for Edgar Diaz and J.T. Realmuto.  Sanchez name comes up in almost all discussions with other teams.  It is interesting to note that Spencer Howard’s name also comes up in these discussions.  Sometimes before Sanchez’.  This doesn’t mean either is likely to be traded.  But it’s nice to hear that these and other guys are coveted by other organizations.

This is the Phuture Phillies Discussion Page for Prospect and Minor League discourse. No Phillies talk here.

Key Dates:

  • December 9-13, 2018 – Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • December 13, 2018 – Rule 5 draft.
  • TBA (last year on February 27th) – Minor League Spring Training begins
  • TBA (last year on March 13th) – Minor League Spring Training games begin

The rosters and lists are up to date.

Minor League Transactions (newest transactions in bold text)
12/14/18 – Daniel Brito assigned to Clearwater from Lehigh Valley
12/14/18 – Edgar Cabral assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
12/14/18 – Garrett Cleavinger assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
12/14/18 – Grenny Cumana assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
12/14/18 – Juan Escorcia assigned to Lakewood from Lehigh Valley
12/14/18 – Jose Gomez assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
12/14/18 – Luke Leftwich assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
12/14/18 – Oscar Marcelino assigned to Lakewood from Lehigh Valley
12/14/18 – Alejandro Requena assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
12/13/18 – Phillies select RHP Gilmael Troya (NYY) in Rule 5 Draft, assign to Lehigh Valley
12/13/18 – Phillies sign free agent INF Raulyn Blanc to a 2019 minor league contract
12/7/18 –  Phillies signed free agent C Adony Mejia to a minor league contract
11/29/18 – Phillies signed free agent OF Shane Robinson to a minor league contract
11/29/18 – Phillies signed free agent INF Erick Brito to a future services contract
11/20/18 – Adam Haseley assigned from Lehigh Valley to Reading
11/20/18 – Cole Irvin assigned from Lehigh Valley to Reading
11/20/18 – Jeff Singer assigned from Lehigh Valley to Reading
11/20/18 – Josh Tols assigned from Lehigh Valley to Reading
11/20/18 – Austin Bossart assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Aaron Brown assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Edgar Cabral assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Ismael Cabrera assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Grenny Cumana assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Luke Leftwich assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Seth McGarry assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Jose Pujols assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Alexis Rivero assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Jose Taveras assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Damek Tomscha assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Daniel Brito assigned from Clearwater to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Garrett Cleavinger assigned from Clearwater to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Jose Gomez assigned from Clearwater to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Alejandro Requena assigned from Clearwater to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Jesus Alastre assigned from Lakewood to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Jose Antequera assigned from Lakewood to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Gustavo Armas assigned from Lakewood to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Luis Carrasco assigned from Lakewood to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Luis Cedeno assigned from Lakewood to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Gregori Rivero assigned from Lakewood to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Randy Alcantara assigned from Williamsport to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Juan Escorcia assigned from Williamsport to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Oscar Marcelino assigned from Williamsport to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Lenin Rodriguez assigned from Williamsport to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Jesus Henriquez assigned from Williamsport to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Sandro Rosario assigned from GCL Phillies West to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Victor Sobil assigned from Lakewood to Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Phillies selected the contract of RHP Edgar Garcia from Lehigh Valley
11/20/18 – Phillies selected the contracts of RHP Adonis Medina from Clearwater
11/20/18 – Phillies selected the contract of SS Arquimedes Gamboa from Clearwater
11/16/18 – Phillies signed free agent 3B Ali Castillo to a minor league contract/Reading
11/16/18 – Phillies signed free agent RHP Camilo Brazoban to a future services contract
11/12/18 – SS Pedro Florimon elected free agency
11/10/18 – Phillies signed free agent RHP Carlos Valero to a future services contract
11/8/18 – Phillies signed free agent RHP Jose Guaramaco to a future services contract
11/7/18 – Phillies signed free agent OF Derek Escobar to a future services contract
11/2/18 – Phillies sent SS Pedro Florimon outright to Lehigh Valley
11/2/18 – OF Ryan Goins elected free agency
11/2/18 – 1B Zach Green elected free agency
11/2/18 – C Matt McBride elected free agency
11/2/18 – LF Danny Ortiz elected free agency
11/2/18 – C Nick Rickles elected free agency
11/2/18 – SS Dean Anna elected free agency
11/2/18 – RHP Pedro Beato elected free agency
11/2/18 – CF Collin Cowgill elected free agency
11/2/18 – RHP Ranfi Casimiro elected free agency
11/2/18 – C Logan Moore elected free agency
11/2/18 – 3B Jesmuel Valentin elected free agency
11/2/18 – RF Jiandido Tromp elected free agency
11/2/18 – 2B Heiker Meneses elected free agency
11/2/18 – RHP Mario Sanchez elected free agency
11/2/18 – RHP Harold Arauz elected free agency
11/2/18 – C Gabriel Lino elected free agency
11/2/18 – 3B Will Middlebrooks elected free agency
11/2/18 – RHP Alberto Tirado elected free agency
11/2/18 – C Kevin Martir elected free agency
11/1/18 – Phillies signed C Victor Cairo to a future services contract
10/29/18 – Lehigh Valley released 1B Joey Meneses
10/25/18 – DSL Phillies Red activated 1B Maximo De La Rosa
10/25/18 – DSL Phillies White activated RHP Jose Brazon
10/10/18 – Reading activated RHP Mario Sanchez from the 7-day disabled list
10/10/18 – Reading activated LHP JoJo Romero from the 7-day disabled list
10/10/18 – Reading activated RHP Alexis Rivero from the 7-day disabled list
10/8/18–Phillies signed free agent RHP Carlo Reyes to a minor league contract.
10/5/18–3B Trevor Plouffe elected free agency.
9/27/18–Phillies signed free agent RHP Cristofer Adames to a minor league contract
9/22/18–Phillies signed free agent LHP Joel Valdez to a minor league contract.
9/14/18–Phillies signed free agent RHP Hermes Astudillo to a minor league contract

31 thoughts on “Minor League Discussion: Week of December 17, 2018”

  1. In regards to Sixto,Medina, and Howard, who is projected to have the highest ceiling? Who is the most likely to reach that ceiling, and with Kilome recently being traded to the Mutts, do you guys see any of the above mentioning flaming out like Kilome … in terms of being the top pitching prospect/near ace. I remember many fans were counting on kilome to be a savior so to speak

    1. Sixto with the highest ceiling,Howard with the highest floor, I’d say.

      I’d also say all have a better chance of flaming out than reaching their potential. Not basing that on anything specific about any of them, just the nature of prospects. Its a long road to the top.

      1. Here’s our Top 20 from five years ago. None have become stars, just a couple have had average careers, and a handful more have had a cup of coffee. And that’s pretty much par for the course…

        Biddle
        Quinn
        Morgan
        Joseph
        Franco
        Ruf
        Asche
        Pettibone
        Martin
        Tocci
        Aumont
        Gillies
        Watson
        Greene
        Valle
        De Fratus
        Collier
        Wright
        Cozens
        Hernandez

        1. Yikes!! Agreed that the chances for stardom are slim but, these 3 players, all pitchers, would seem to have a better chance than any one on the list from 5 years ago. Agreed?

        2. Maybe I was hasty in my post as I see Franco and Biddle are on it and they were considered to be high ceiling players at the time. I’m hoping and praying at least one of these players can be, at least, good players. We’re certainly due for one of these guys to be a star.

          1. The reason I asked the question in the original post, is that I had very high hopes for Kilome, and I’m using that as a gauge for the latest 3 top arms. I Need to balance it, in the perspective of who is off limits In trades, and my reaction. IMO and I’m sure most, we sold very low on Kilome, granted he is hurt now, but … in hindsight the FO could have gotten more for him with a faster evaluation on him. That’s the gamble/risk though

            I don’t want to get too excited about Sixto and Howard if Kilome had a similar projection. At one point, I believe I was looking to have a staff of Hamels, Biddle, Kilome, and Nola at some point … if my memory serves me, and I was trying to make the comparison on today’s staff which seems to be

            Nola, Pivetta, Sixto, and Howard (terms of timeline to show)

            1. I would say that Sixto’s biggest red flags are his health and his small size. He has excellent control and great stuff. Kilome always struggled with his control and we hoped it would come around but it hasn’t. Location is the number one thing in pitching, more than speed even.

        3. Is that Cehe? If so, he’s been the best followed by Franco. Morgan has been good, petitbone looked promising before the injury. Quinn has a chance to be the best if he could stay healthy. Cozens… if he could cut down on the SO… a shame

        5. and this is why I would trade Sixto, Medina or any other prospect for established major leaguers. You just never know with prospects. Sixto and Medina have such a small sample size too.

          1. I’m with you, in a way. You can’t trade them all, but you need to make decisions every year what you’ll trade each for. The vast majority of prospect traded during the last run, 2-3 made impacts. Think about what we got for all those flameouts? Pretty good

            Still makes me scratch my head when the Phillies were trying to trade Hamels and we heard certain players were untouchable … please.

          2. So, you’re saying it would have been a good idea for the Red Sox to trade Mookie Betts, Xander Boegarts and Andrew Benientendi while they were prospects? That’s the logical result of your argument.

            1. No, not necessarily, but I probably would’ve put one of them in a trade for the right player. At some point over the last 10 years, prospects have become more valuable than proven high level major league talent… I just don’t get that, when you analyze the amount of prospects that don’t make it. I think eventually when studies can reveal the hot or missed off the top 100 list, it may revert back. The counter to that is of course the high AAV or long term deals for the established players. Personally I think it’s a little out of wack and baseball needs a correction back towards the proven player.

              Hey I never said I’d make the best GM, I’d take a swing for the fences after the farm and teams are built… which is usual who is trading for star player at the deadline. Opportunity costs

            2. Most prospects fail. Even elite prospects fail, look at my prime example, Byron Buxton. I’m sure the Red Sox have had their share of failed prospects in the past 10 years. But if you’re going to use Mookie Betts to prove your point, then I could use Lewis Brinson traded for Christian Yelich. He was pretty much a consensus top 25 prospect and he has a career .570 OPS.

              I agree with Tac3. All prospects are now treated like gold, which puzzles me considering their bust factor. Not only that, even if they make it onto a roster, they need to produce better than the average player.

              Now I’m not advocating that we need to trade ALL our prospects. At some point, you need to take chances and hope that the prospects you do keep pan out. But don’t be shocked if they don’t (see Domonic Brown). That’s just the way it is.

        7. To be fair, 2013 was about as barren as the minor league system would get, as the Phils had emptied the farm to take a couple more shots at a title. I’d expect better results today only because the system is better but you are right- more prospects flame out than succeed.

  3. The Phillies have agreed to a minor league contract with infielder Phil Gosselin, tweets Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Presumably, he’ll head to Spring Training on a non-roster invitation and compete for a bench spot with his new organization.

  4. Kiley McDaniel said in his chat a little bit ago: “There’s one notable guy that will be moving up since we got multiple other reports to corroborate one that we got late in the season that we weren’t sure about.” Anyone know who he is talking about? Could it be Howard?

    1. Its a tease:
      12:13…..Kiley McDaniel: Hello from ATL. Nationals list coming soon, I would guess tomorrow with the Mets and Phillies both being worked on right now, but may be held until post Christmas. Sounds like AL East will come next.

      Phillies report still yet to appear…like he said, maybe tomorrow.

  5. The Phillies signed six players for their Lehigh Valley affiliate. One is C Matt McBride who played for the IronPigs last season. The others are LHP Jeremy Bleich, C Rob Brantly, INF Phil Gosselin, RHP Josh Martin, and INF Gregorio Petit. All but Martin have MLB service time. Although, Bleich has just 25 days of service time, the other four have one year or more.

    They are also all old. The 2019 season will be the age-20 season for Brantly and Martin, the age-30 season for Gosselin, the age-32 season for Bleich, and the age 34 season for McBride and Petit.

    I understand the signing of catchers. They are needed during ST. I also understand the signing of infielders. The upper minors might be a little thin in that department. I don’t necessarily agree. But, signing a couple journeyman pitchers? That I don’t get.

    We have a lot of players in the system already –
    – 38 on the 40-man roster (some of whom will end up in the minors)
    – 35 on the LHV roster (with these 6 additions)
    – 30 on the Reading roster
    – 17 on the Clearwater roster
    – 29 on the Lakewood roster
    – 30 on the Williamsport roster
    – 35 on the GCL Phillies East roster
    – 34 on the GCL West roster
    – 35 on the DSL Phillies Red roster
    – 35 on the DSL Phillies White roster
    – 34 with future considerations contracts who have tp be placed on rosters this spring training.

    Of these, we have 57 pitchers at the top 3 levels, and another 5-6 at Clearwater who are ready to move up.

    I get that they may want to bring in some pitchers for ST, but we have gobs of pitchers. We have another 114-118 pitchers already rostered. Our wealth of young talent at the rookie level raises the question of the need for another Low-A affiliate among my circle of friends down here in Clearwater.

      2. Rookie League, Low-A, currently includes 10 teams: Princeton Rays (TB), Bluefield Blue Jays (TOR), Danville Braves (ATL) , Pulaski Yankees (NYY), Burlington Royals (KC), Elizabethton Twins (MIN), Kingsport Mets (NYM), Bristol Pirates (PIT), Johnson City Cardinals (STL), Greeneville Reds (CIN).

        We asked Mr. Jordan about the possibility this summer. He said that unless an organization didn’t extend a contract with an affiliate, two new teams would have to enter the league to maintain scheduling balance.

        1. Ok, Jim thanks.
          Looks like they would have to table the App League team idea, unless you say another MLB affiliate pulls out…I just do not see any new addictions occurring any time soon….strangely the APP is set up now with equal AL and NL affiliates…5 from each.league.

    1. Some surprises …Morales, Marchan and Muzziotti all ranked higher than what I would have expected.

      1. This guy writes for fantasy baseball owners. So he mostly ignores defense. But yes it was refreshing to see some new names. He is a good scout. Follows Phillies system very closely.

        1. Yeah….wonder if he does below 15 and beyond.
          Also trying to figure out the ‘upside grading’…ie 9C, 8B, etc .
          Is there somewhere that is explained on the site?

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