Here is your new spot for spring training prospect chatter. As always, check out the blueclaws blog, which has good coverage of the minor league ST games, and also be sure and watch for updates from Dave and Gregg from Clearwater.

One note and topic for discussion. In the limited looks I’ve seen of Michael Martinez, I think he’s going to make the 25 man roster. He can play 2B, SS, 3B and the OF positions. He’s not a world beater and doesn’t have a ton of upside, but his versatility should prove quite useful. Unlike the NRIs like Young and Barfield, Martinez can’t be optioned or re-assigned to the minors, and would have to be offered back to Washington. His speed and defensive flexibility should make him a nice fit, as the Phillies currently do not have anyone on their projected bench who would steal even 15-20 bases per season. With the Luis Castillo signing, Martinez might be part of a numbers game, but I think a spot is still there for him to take. On the Castillo signing, by the way, I’m a huge fan. Its a non-guaranteed minor league deal. If the Phillies like what they see, they add him to the 25 man roster and pay him $414K this season, with the Mets on the hook for the rest. If they determine he is in fact done, then they cut him and they owe him a very nominal amount of money. For a team with a $160+ million payroll, taking a risk like this is a no-brainer. Castillo had a fluky bad 2010 season, in terms of his batted ball data. He still draws walks and still makes contact. That’s the extent of his skill set right now, but he does come with extensive major league experience. The Mets apparently didn’t like his attitude/body language. To be fair to Castillo, if I was stuck on that team, I’d probably be pretty miserable too. The Phillies risk nothing here, but it probably means they didn’t feel Young or Barfield were a great bet to just step in and play every day.

I’d project the Phillies roster as such, with Martinez making the team

C: Ruiz, Schneider
INF: Howard, Castillo, Rollins, Polanco, Valdez, Martinez
OF: Ibanez, Victorino, Francisco, Gload, Mayberry

The Phillies could, of course, carry only 11 pitchers, which would make an awful lot of sense given the likelihood of their starters eating up a ton of innings and lessening the need for a long reliever, but that doesn’t seem likely. If they do carry 11 pitchers, either Young or Barfield could make the roster.

Time for a new place to discuss the latest happenings during spring training. And we’ll also put a bonus poll out there as well for your voting/discussion pleasure.

The Phillies have made their first round of cuts, according to David Hale’s Philled In blog.

The optioned/re-assigned are:

Drew Carpenter, RHP
Michael Schwimer, RHP
Justin De Fratus, RHP
Joel Naughton, C
Drew Naylor, RHP
JC Ramirez, RHP
Harold Garcia, 2B
Cesar Hernandez, 2B
Matt Rizzotti, 1B
Carlos Rivero, INF

Mike Stutes remains in big league camp, which is an indication that he at least has an outside shot of making the team. Hale comments that Charlie Manuel was especially impressed with Schwimer and De Fratus and sees them contributing at some point in the near future.

Courtesy of veteran commenter Ricky Branch
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Click this link for a large, readable version.

Most interesting tidbit? Jeremy Slayden is back in camp.

Here is your new discussion post for the next few days. Discuss prospect performances in spring games, and anything else prospect related. Go!

The news is everywhere. It sucks.

His injury (the hook of the hamate bone in his hand) isn’t all that uncommon. The team is leaning toward surgery, which is smart, because if you don’t have it repaired surgically, there is a chance for tendon and ligament damage down the road if it heals improperly. I think. Anyway, this puts an end to his spring training, and more consequently, it will impact his entire 2011 season. With his hand immobilized, it will take him time to re-gain 100% of his power, and then of course he’ll need to get his timing and rhythm back.

The one bright spot is, he will now be able to go back to AAA and rehab the injury and get himself back into a groove and he can stop pressing and worrying about making the team out of spring training. I wish him the best and a speedy recovery.

Edit –> I should have noted (but typed this quickly to get something up) that recovery time can range anywhere from 3 weeks to months. Some guys come back right away and they are fine. Some guys have more residual soreness that takes longer to shake off. Hand injuries are typically a blow to a player’s power, for obvious reasons. His recovery time frame has a wide range of outcomes. Softened up my original post. Lets hope for the best.

I’ll give you a new topic.

Mike Stutes is staking his claim early on. Its unlikely he’d make the team out of camp unless they carry 12 pitchers and Baez isn’t one of them, but he’s been impressive.

And again, its important to not get too wrapped up in spring training numbers early on, either good or bad. Guys are making adjustments, guys are shaking off months of rust, and teams are using huge squads of players, which means inconsistent playing time and also less than awesome levels of competition. This part of spring is just for guys to get loose. Start paying attention in a few weeks when starters are playing more, and teams start making cuts.

Go!

Here is where you panic about Domonic Brown’s slow spring start, whether or not we now regret trading Michael Taylor, and anything else you want to talk about, prospect related of course. I just gave you a bunch of topics. Go!