A split going into Sunday’s game and already we saw fans questioning all sorts of decisions by the Phillies’ manager.  After today’s loss, I can only imagine what talk radio will be like on Monday.  Okay, I don’t have to imagine, we know.

I’m already a little tired of baseball coverage.  The rah-rah guy on MLB Tonight (Greg?) had a segment on WEDNESDAY on the leading candidates for the Cy Young Award.  Before a pitch had been thrown.  For crying out loud, wait until they get a few starts under their belts.  Sheesh.

FWIW, the Phillies will go as far as their big contracts take them.  This weekend, Wheeler ($42M) pitched in Lehigh Valley, Turner ($27.3M) 2-13 .154, Harper ($27.5) 1-11 .091, Nola ($24.5M) 5.40, Schwarber ($18M) 2-13 .154 6K, Walker ($18M), Realmuto ($15M) 1-9 .111 5K, Luzardo ($11M) 9.00.  The dollar figures are actual dollars and not AAV.

Lehigh Valley opened their season with three wins over Toledo.  Wheeler and Kerkering pitched well on Saturday.  The IronPigs announced their Break Camp Roster of 26 players early in the week.  By week’s end, they had 39 players on their web site roster.

I mentioned last week that the Phillies had not released anyone from among their roughly 26 NRIs to major league camp.  I can’t remember this happening before.

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 offered back to Miami.  Rule 5 selectee RHP Griff McGarry was returned to the Phillies by Washington.  Recently, Garrett Stubbs was designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and was assigned to Lehigh Valley.

There have been and will be repercussions through the system due to keeping all these players.

Eleven guys who were acquired before or during the 2025 season returned to the 2026 IronPigs – RHPs Lou Trivino, Nolan Hoffman (40-man), Daniel Robert (60-IL), Ryan Cusick, Alan Rangel (40-man), Seth Johnson (40-man), Michael Mercado (7-IL), catchers Garrett Stubbs, Paul McIntosh, infielder Keaton Anthony (7-IL), and outfielder Gabriel Rincones (40-man, 7-IL).

Seven guys were promoted in September of the 2025 season, saw very little playing time, and returned to the 2026 IronPigs – LHP Andrew Walling, RHPs Griff McGarry, Andrew Bechtold (7-IL), infielders Felix Reyes, Erick Brito (60-IL), Aidan Miller (7-IL), and outfielder Cade Fergus.

Five guys were promoted from Reading for the 2026 season- RHPs Jean Cabrera (40-man), John McMillon, catcher Caleb Ricketts, and infielders Robert Moore, Jose Rodriguez.

Sixteen guys were signed, claimed, or traded for prior to the 2026 season and assigned to the 2026 IronPigs – LHPs Genesis Cabrera, Tucker Davidson, RHPs Conner Gillispie, Jonathan Hernandez, Trevor Richards, Bryse Wilson, Chase Shugart (40-man), catchers Markos Kolosvary (60-IL), Rene Pinto, infielders Sergio Alcantara, Christian Cairo (40-man), Liover Peguero, Carter Kieboom, and outfielders Bryan De La Cruz, Oscar Mercado, Pedro Leon (40-man).

With so few openings for promotions for players from the lower levels, many players are going to be repeating especially at Reading and Jersey Shore.  Recently Clearwater has been the starting point for the previous year’s draft class.  No reason to expect that to not continue.  Any releases that have occurred so far were players squeezed out between AA/High-A and High-A/A mostly Jersey Shore.

Minor league Break Camp Rosters have pretty much been finalized across all levels.  They will be published by the affiliates soon.  Note that 7 NRIs are still on the books.

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
• March 27, 2026: Lehigh Valley season opener at home v. Toledo
• April 2, 2026: Reading season opener at Akron
• April 2, 2026: Clearwater season opener at Fort Myers
• April 3, 2026: Jersey Shore season opener at Wilmington
• 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 – a slightly more accurate and up-to-date accrual for March

March 2026
03/28/2026 – Phillies sent RHP Orion Kerkering on a rehab assignment to Lehigh Valley
03/28/2026 – Phillies sent RHP Zack Wheeler on a rehab assignment to Lehigh Valley
03/28/2026 – Phillies sent C Garrett Stubbs outright to Lehigh Valley
03/27/2026 – Phillies signed FA INF Sergio Alcantara to an MiLB contract
03/27/2026 – Phillies signed FA RF Óscar Mercado to an MiLB contract
03/27/2026 – SS Sergio Alcántara assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/27/2026 – RF Óscar Mercado assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/27/2026 – RHP John McMillon assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading
03/27/2026 – SS José Rodríguez assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading
03/27/2026 – Lehigh Valley placed RHP Andrew Bechtold on the 7-day IL
03/27/2026 – Lehigh Valley placed RHP Michael Mercado on the 7-day IL
03/27/2026 – Lehigh Valley placed RHP Daniel Robert on the 60-day IL
03/27/2026 – Lehigh Valley placed C Mark Kolozsvary on the 60-day IL
03/27/2026 – Lehigh Valley placed SS Erick Brito on the 60-day IL
03/27/2026 – Lehigh Valley placed SS Aidan Miller on the 7-day IL
03/27/2026 – Lehigh Valley placed OF Keaton Anthony on the 7-day IL
03/27/2026 – Lehigh Valley placed RF Gabriel Jr. on the 7-day IL
03/26/2026 – Jersey Shore released SS Zach Arnold
03/25/2026 – Phillies activated RHP Andrew Painter
03/25/2026 – Phillies selected the contract of CF Justin Crawford from Lehigh Valley
03/25/2026 – Phillies selected the contract of SS Christian Cairo from Lehigh Valley
03/25/2026 – Phillies optioned SS Christian Cairo to Lehigh Valley
03/25/2026 – Phillies placed RHP Orion Kerkering on the 15-day IL retroactive to 3/22, right hamstring strain
03/25/2026 – Phillies placed RHP Max Lazar on the 15-day IL retroactive to 3/22, left oblique strain
03/25/2026 – Phillies placed RHP Zack Wheeler on the 15-day IL retroactive to 3/22, right shoulder surgery
03/25/2026 – Phillies designated C Garrett Stubbs for assignment
03/25/2026 – RHP Andrew Painter changed number to 24
03/25/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated SS Christian Cairo
03/25/2026 – Clearwater released RHP Josbel Garcia
03/24/2026 – Cleveland traded 3B Carter Kieboom to Phillies for cash
03/24/2026 – RHP Griff McGarry returned to Phillies from Washington
03/24/2026 – 3B Carter Kieboom assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/24/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated 3B Carter Kieboom
03/24/2026 – RHP Griff McGarry assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/24/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Griff McGarry
03/24/2026 – C Caleb Ricketts assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading
03/24/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated C Caleb Ricketts
03/24/2026 – 2B Robert Moore assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading
03/24/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated 2B Robert Moore
03/23/2026 – LHP Jonathan Gonzalez assigned to Clearwater from FCL Phillies
03/22/2026 – Phillies extend RHP Cristopher Sanchez to 2032 with 2033 option
03/22/2026 – Phillies signed FA LHP Tim Mayza
03/22/2026 – Phillies signed FA 2B Dylan Moore
03/22/2026 – Phillies designate C Garrett Stubbs for assignment
03/22/2026 – RHP Zach McCambley returned to Miami from Phillies
03/22/2026 – Phillies optioned RHP Chase Shugart to Lehigh Valley
03/22/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Chase Shugart
03/22/2026 – RHP Jonathan Hernandez assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/22/2026 – RHP Lou Trivino assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/22/2026 – INF Christian Cairo assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/22/2026 – INF Liover Peguero assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/22/2026 – OF Bryan De La Cruz assigned to Lehigh Valley
03/22/2026 – RHP Moisés Chace assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
03/22/2026 – Reading placed LHP Braeden Fausnaught on the 60-day IL
03/22/2026 – Jersey Shore placed RHP Ethan Chenault on the 60-day IL
03/22/2026 – Jersey Shore placed RHP Micah Ottenbreit on the 60-day IL
03/22/2026 – Jersey Shore placed RHP Casey Steward on the 60-day IL
03/22/2026 – Jersey Shore released RHP Nathan Karaffa
03/22/2026 – Jersey Shore released LHP Erik Ritchie
03/22/2026 – Jersey Shore released LHP A.J. Wilson
03/22/2026 – RHP Naoel Mejia assigned to Clearwater from FCL Phillies
03/22/2026 – Clearwater placed LHP Kleyderve Andrade on the 60-day IL
03/22/2026 – Clearwater placed RHP Kyler Carmack on the 60-day IL
03/22/2026 – Clearwater released RHP Marcus Morgan
03/22/2026 – Clearwater released RHP Eli Trop
03/21/2026 – Phillies acquired INF Carter Kieboom from Cleveland for cash
03/21/2026 – RHP Trevor Richards reassigned to Minor League camp
03/21/2026 – Lehigh Valley released LHP Tim Mayza
03/21/2026 – Lehigh Valley released 2B Dylan Moore
03/20/2026 – RHP Genesis Cabrera reassigned to Minor League camp
03/19/2026 – Phillies optioned RHP Seth Johnson Lehigh Valley
03/19/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Seth Johnson
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 OF 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
03/15/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Nolan Hoffman
03/15/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated RF Pedro León
03/14/2026 – Phillies optioned RHP Alan Rangel to Lehigh Valley
03/14/2026 – INF Keaton Anthony reassigned to Minor League camp
03/14/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Alan Rangel
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
03/07/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Jean Cabrera
03/07/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Yoniel Curet
03/07/2026 – Lehigh Valley activated RF Gabriel Rincones
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
03/02/2026 – Phillies signed FA RHP Ronaldson Estevez to an MiLB contract
03/02/2026 – RHP Wandelin Garcia assigned to DSL Phillies White lies Prospects