Merry Christmas! The Phillies signed a handful of minor leaguers and began extending invitations to spring training.
This week, 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 five have one year or more.
The 2019 season will be the age-29 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.
All six were invited to spring training with the Phillies.
The Phillies also announced the signing of LF Shane Robinson and invited him to spring training. Robinson has over five years of major league service and has spent parts of every season since 2011 in the majors. The 34-year-old played in 65 games as recently as 2016 with the Angels.
The Phillies usually invite over 60 players to spring training. In addition to a lot of IronPigs, expect invitations to go to some high profile prospects and some high production players. Announcements extended to internal players will be held up for now, although I believe several have already received invitations.
By my count, the organization includes 352 players.
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.
- organization’s rosters
- organization’s injury list
- organization’s Rule 5 eligibility list (includes player info, assignments, …)
Minor League Transactions (newest transactions in bold text)
12/21/21 – Phillies signed FA SS Gregorio Petit to an MiLB contract w/invite to ST
12/21/21 – Phillies signed FA 2B Phil Gosselin to an MiLB contract w/invite to ST
12/21/21 – Phillies signed FA C Rob Brantly to an MiLB contract w/invite to ST
12/21/21 – Phillies signed FA LHP Jeremy Bleich to an MiLB contract w/invite to ST
12/21/21 – Phillies signed FA RHP Josh Martin to an MiLB contract w/invite to ST
12/21/21 – Phillies signed FA C Matt McBride to an MiLB contract w/invite to ST
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
12/21/21 – Phillies signed FA LF Shane Robinson to an MiLB contract w/invite to ST
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
Phuture Phillies 
Merry Christmas Jim and thanks for all of your good work.
I’d like to second that wish for a Merry Christmas for Jim and the readers on the board.
Agree, Merry Christmas and a great 2019 to all. Thanks, Jim.
I want to extend the very best of Holiday Wishes to Jim, and everyone who posts or visits this site. Merry Christmas, a Happy and a Healthy New Year, and a great 2019.
Jim, Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thanks so very much for all that you do to make this the best site for die-hard Phillies fans. We look forward to reading and commenting here in 2019.
is Cole Irvin going to get an invite to Spring Training? Does he need more time in AAA before getting the call-up? He was pretty solid last year :), just wondering what his timeline to MLB Phillies looks like. Thanks!
Since he does not needed to be added to 40man until next offseason i figure he is Sept callup at best.
He is behind DeLosSantos and Suarez but could bump ahead with anothr good year.
In terms of “need more time” I’m not sure how much more there is to accomplish for Cole at AAA. The 40-man crunch isn’t as bad and I think given his lefty status he can challenge for a rotation spot with the big club if he can out-pitch DLS and Suarez, and the Phillies don’t add anyone. A tall order but I think he’s in the mix there. Otherwise he gets stacked in the 6-7-8 order while in the IronPigs rotation again.
My early look at the AAA roster, from yesterday:
https://noisenation.wordpress.com/2018/12/25/2019-ironpigs-roster-early-preview/
Unless they really don’t have plans for him or he really needs to improve on something in his arsenal, he’s a ready lefty starting arm – so if they think he can slot in as a 4 or 5, he’ll be up notwithstanding his additional clock on the 40-man.
Right, that’s what I’m trying to say—I can see keeping him off the 40 for the off-season in order to maintain flexibility, but if he comes in as the fifth best starter or if it’s close and he’s the lefty, then they can easily find room and they won’t worry about his clock or any of that nonsense. And I get that those are some big ‘ifs’ but they are in play. Eflin and Eickhoff are….vulnerable.
Kram..agree.
And what happened to Eshelman 2nd time around in AAA level, could also happen to iIvin…I have seen that before more than I like to admit
IMO, his value will probably not be any higher…..Klentak should consider that.
Golly I hate to predict that outcome for Cole, but your point about his current value is well-taken.
Not much going on in AAA, could change a lot by year end, however.
Kram, thanks for sharing this link. It certainly gives a good idea of what the Lehigh roster could look like. The roster I maintain is certainly not indicative of what it will look like. There are still some post-rule 5 transactions that need to occur – Cole Irvin from Reading back to Lehigh chief among them.
Yeah, I did check your rosters of course to make sure I wasn’t missing anyone (and I was–Austin Davis). But thank you for maintaining those as they’re a completely accurate and up to date look at what the rosters ACTUALLY are as transactions are made for a variety of reasons, especially in the offseason.
raltongo, I think Cole Irvin certainly gets an invite to spring training. He will likely contend for a spot in the Phillies rotation. I believe that he would have been called up last season but for 40-man roster and option concerns. However, he’s not rule 5 eligible until after the 2019 season, so the Phillies don’t have to put him on the 40 yet.
thanks for all of the replies, guys! I guess I just thought there would have been more talk/hype/excitement about him getting a crack at working into the big club’s rotation, but yea, it seems as though the Phils can be a bit more patient with him if they need to, with SP being an area of relative depth at both MLB and AAA. Obviously a big trade or two would shake things up tremendously…
….my breakout candidate for 2019. I predict he’ll go north in the spring unless the Phillies acquire a starting pitcher which would block his advancement until later in the season. Definitely a Sept call up at the least.
Happy Holidays to All and a Wonderful New Year!
Jim, any idea what will happen with Logan Moore? I know he cannot hit, but I love the defense and 43% CS%.
Logan Moore opted to enter free agency after the 2018 season. With Alfaro ahead of him and the younger Knapp having passed him on the depth chart, I expect he’ll look for a better situation in another organization.