The 2026 season is upon us.  The Phillies closed out their Grapefruit League schedule today and left for Philadelphia soon after.  Lehigh Valley has already left Clearwater flying out Sunday morning. 

Rosters have been finalized across all levels.  They will be published by the affiliates after players are notified of their assignments.

This has been an unusual spring for the Phillies.  Those of us who follow assignments closely cannot recall a spring where nobody was released outright out of the major league camp.  LHP Tim Mayza and UTIL Dylan Moore were nominally released so that they could be resigned to major league contracts prior to making the 40-man and the active rosters.  RHP Zach McCambley was selected during the Rule 5 draft and recently offered back to Miami.  Everyone else (so far) has been reassigned to the minor league camp, reassigned to Lehigh Valley, or optioned to Lehigh Valley.  Possibly one of the features brought on by the WBC and the need to hold onto players longer.

The Phillies opening day roster has few surprises.  As expected, Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter made the team.  Rafael Marchan was selected over Garrett Stubbs who will likely be DFA-ed.  With the state of the catcher market, it is likely that Stubbs will end up on another team.  Adolis Garcia is Nick Castellanos replacement.  He is already an upgrade due to his superior defense AND his willingness to listen to the hitting coaches.  Dylan Moore won the battle for the final bench spot and the 26th man.  His positional flexibility gave him the edge over the better hitting Bryan De La Cruz.  The aforementioned Mayza gets the bullpen nod due to Orion Kerkering’s early stint on the IL.

A couple of prospect notes:

• Felix Reyes is as big as he appears to be on TV.  He’s built along the lines of Darick Hall who was only an inch taller and 55 lbs. heavier.  So, yes Reyes is likely more than his listed 195 lbs.
• Anderson Navas after a year as a catcher in the DSL has been switched over to pitching.  He has a FB that its 96-98 and is expected to pick up a couple ticks as he learns how to refine his pitching approach.
• The prospect team was comprised of 28 of the Phillies top 30 (recently signed IFAs #5 Rentaria and #23 Parra were not included).  The 12 additions to fill out the 40-man group were RHPs Tyler Bowen, Luke Gabrysh, Titan Kennedy-Hayes, Anderson Navas, Brad Pacheco, Brian Walters, C Anderson Araujo, C/1B Caleb Ricketts, 1B/OF Felix Reyes, and OFs Dylan Campbell, Raylin Heredia, John Spikerman.

Wheeler and Kerkering pitched on the back field before the Phillies’ game today.  No gun available to judge velo but Wheeler’s command looked good.  In two innings he gave up just one hard hit ball that was either a ground rule double or HR, couldn’t tell which side of the fence it bounced.  Kerkering looked good too.

The remaining three affiliates play games through Thursday then break camp on the 28th.  Their rosters will be completed before then and publicized by the affiliates.  Look for most of the recent draft picks to be at Clearwater.  And maybe Nori at Reading, Escobar at Jersey Shore, and if healthy Burkholder at Clearwater.

Important Dates

• February 16, 2026: Beginning of new waiver period (February 16 – April 24, 2026). Outright Waivers secured on or after February 16, 2026, remain in effect for 7 days or until 5 p.m. EST, April 24, 2026 (the 30th day of the 2026 season), whichever is earlier. MLR 10.
• March 3-28, 2026: Minor League Spring Training Camp
  • March 22,2026: Lehigh Valley breaks camp
  • March 24,2026: Blue Jays vs Phillies – AA – 1 PM
  • March 25,2026: Tigers vs Phillies – High A/Low A – 1 PM
  • March 26, 2026: Yankees vs Phillies – AA – 1 PM
• March 26, 2026: Phillies 2026 season and home opener vs. Texas
• March 26, 2026: Active rosters reduced to 26 (13 pitchers) by Noon ET
  • March 28, 2026: Reading breaks camp
  • March 28, 2026: Jersey Shore breaks camp
  • March 28, 2026: Clearwater breaks camp
• July 11, 2026: 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game, Philadelphia PA
• July 12-13, 2026: MLB First-Year Player Draft, Philadelphia PA (Phillies drop 10 slots)
• December 1, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET): MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement expires.

Note: These dates will be used unless/until notified differently.  (Note that there are many more dates to add from Spring Training through the end of the 2026 season and calendar year.  I will add when I have accurate dates for them.)

Transactions

March 2026
03/22/2026 – Jersey Shore released RHP Nathan Karaffa
03/22/2026 – Jersey Shore released RHP Erik Ritchie
03/22/2026 – Clearwater released RHP Eli Trop
03/22/2026 – Lehigh Valley released RHP A.J. Wilson
03/22/2026 – Clearwater released RHP Marcus Morgan
03/22/2026 – INF Cairo assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/22/2026 – OF Bryan De La Cruz assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/22/2026 – INF Liover Peguero assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/22/2026 – C Garrett Stubbs designate for assignment
03/22/2026 – RHP Lou Trivino optioned to Lehigh Valley
03/22/2026 – Phillies sign LHP Tim Mayza to 1-year MLB contract
03/22/2026 – RHP Zach McCambley (Rule 5 pick) returned to Miami
03/22/2026 – Phillies extend RHP Cristopher Sanchez to 2032 with 2033 option
03/22/2026 – RHP Zach McCambley returned to Miami from Phillies
03/22/2026 – Phillies optioned RHP Chase Shugart to Lehigh Valley
03/21/2026 – Phillies sign FA UTIL Dylan Moore to MLB contract
03/21/2026 – Phillies select Justin Crawford’a contract
03/21/2026 – Phillies acquired INF Carter Kieboom from Cleveland for cash
03/21/2026 – Lehigh Valley released LHP Tim Mayza
03/21/2026 – Lehigh Valley released 2B Dylan Moore
03/21/2026 – RHP Genesis Cabrera reassigned to Minor League camp
03/19/2026 – Phillies optioned RHP Seth Johnson Lehigh Valley
03/19/2026 – LHP Tucker Davidson reassigned to Minor League camp
03/19/2026 – C Paul McIntosh reassigned to Minor League camp
03/19/2026 – C Rene Pinto reassigned to Minor League camp
03/19/2026 – RHP Bryse Wilson reassigned to Minor League camp
03/18/2026 – CF Dante Nori reassigned to Minor League camp
03/18/2026 – 1B Felix Reyes reassigned to Minor League camp
03/15/2026 – Phillies optioned RHP Nolan Hoffman to Lehigh Valley
03/15/2026 – Phillies optioned RF Pedro León to Lehigh Valley
03/15/2026 – LHP Andrew Walling reassigned to Minor League camp
03/15/2026 – INF José Rodriguez reassigned to Minor League camp
03/14/2026 – Phillies optioned RHP Alan Rangel to Lehigh Valley
03/14/2026 – INF Keaton Anthony reassigned to Minor League camp
03/13/2026 – 3B Carson DeMartini reassigned to Minor League camp
03/13/2026 – OF Dylan Campbell reassigned to Minor League camp
03/13/2026 – INF Aroon Escobar reassigned to Minor League camp
03/13/2026 – SS Bryan Rincon reassigned to Minor League camp
03/12/2026 – INF Aidan Miller reassigned to Minor League camp
03/12/2026 – RHP Andrew Bechtold reassigned to Minor League camp
03/12/2026 – RHP Michael Mercado reassigned to Minor League camp
03/12/2026 – C Kehden Hettiger reassigned to Minor League camp
03/12/2026 – C Mark Kolozsvary reassigned to Minor League camp
03/12/2026 – C Caleb Ricketts reassigned to Minor League camp
03/12/2026 – INF Christian Cairo reassigned to Minor League camp
03/12/2026 – OF Pedro León reassigned to Minor League camp
03/10/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with LHP Jesús Luzardo on a five-year contract for 2027-2031
03/08/2026 – Phillies optioned RHP Alex McFarlane to Reading
03/07/2026 – Phillies optioned RHP Jean Cabrera to Lehigh Valley
03/07/2026 – Phillies optioned RHP Moisés Chace to Lehigh Valley
03/07/2026 – Phillies optioned RHP Yoniel Curet to Lehigh Valley
03/07/2026 – Phillies optioned RF Gabriel Rincones Jr. to Lehigh Valley
03/06/2026 – DSL Phillies Red released RHP Joshue De La Cruz
03/06/2026 – DSL Phillies Red released RHP Juan Duarte
03/06/2026 – DSL Phillies Red released LHP Carlos Duran
03/06/2026 – DSL Phillies Red released RHP Enderson Jean
03/06/2026 – DSL Phillies White released RHP Cristhian Espinosa
03/06/2026 – DSL Phillies White released RHP Yordy Magdariaga
03/06/2026 – DSL Phillies White released RHP Jesus Moreno
03/06/2026 – DSL Phillies White released RHP Julio Polanco
03/06/2026 – DSL Phillies White released RHP Eduardo Robles
03/06/2026 – DSL Phillies White released LHP Reyner Zambrano
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with LHP Kyle Backhus on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Jonathan Bowlan on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Jean Cabrera on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Moisés Chace on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Yoniel Curet on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Nolan Hoffman on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Seth Johnson on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Orion Kerkering on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Max Lazar on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Zach McCambley on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Alex McFarlane on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Andrew Painter on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Alan Rangel on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Chase Shugart on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP INF Otto Kemp on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP OF Pedro León on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. on a one-year contract
03/06/2026 – Phillies agreed to terms with RHP OF Johan Rojas on a one-year contract
03/05/2026 – RHP Tyler Bowen assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Cody Bowker assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Jean Cabrera assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Moisés Chace assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Gabe Craig assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Matthew Fisher assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Luke Gabrysh assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – LHP Mavis Graves assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Titan Kennedy-Hayes assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Ramon Marquez assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Alex McFarlane assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Anderson Navas assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – LHP Cade Obermueller assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Brad Pacheco assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Andrew Painter assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Wen-Hui Pan assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – LHP James Tallon assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Brian Walters assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Gage Wood assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – RHP Sean Youngerman assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – C Anderson Araujo assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – C Alirio Ferrebus assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – C Kehden Hettiger assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – C/1B Caleb Ricketts assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – 1B Keaton Anthony assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – 3B Carson DeMartini assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – 2B Aroon Escobar assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – SS Romeli Espinosa assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – SS Matthew Ferrara assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – SS Aidan Miller assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – 1B/OF Felix Reyes assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – SS Bryan Rincon assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – OF Griffin Burkholder assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – OF Dylan Campbell assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – OF Justin Crawford assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – OF Raylin Heredia assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – OF Dante Nori assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – OF Devin Saltiban assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects
03/05/2026 – OF John Spikerman assigned to Philadelphia Phillies Prospects