Players will begin reporting to the Complex in Clearwater this week or next.  Some will be continuing rehab from injuries sustained last season.  Some will take part in a job program with the city of Clearwater that allows them enough time to work out at the Complex.  Some will begin reporting on their own dime. Continue reading Minor League Discussion: Week of January 7, 2019 →

Happy New Year!

Early next month, the Phillies will host nine players to their prospect seminar in Philadelphia.

Players will begin reporting to the Complex in Clearwater by the middle of the month.  Some will take part in a job program with the city of Clearwater that allows them enough  time to work out at the Complex.  Others will begin reporting on their own dime. Continue reading Minor League Discussion: Week of December 31, 2018 →

Happy New Year!  The Hot Stove Season cooled off over the holidays.  Unfortunately, that didn’t stop the torrent of rumors created to generate online clicks.  There was very little activity.  None by the Phillies.  Our anxiety continues into another week. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of December 31, 2018 →

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. Continue reading Minor League Discussion: Week of December 24, 2018 →

Merry Christmas!  The Hot Stove Season continues.  There was a flurry of activity as we approach the holiday week.  The Phillies signed a handful of minor league free agents, but nothing happened that would alleviate the anxiety of most of the people following the Phillies’ off season.  Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of December 24, 2018 →

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. Continue reading Minor League Discussion: Week of December 17, 2018 →

While we wait for news to come out of Baseballs’ Winter Meetings, some sports outlets are releasing their top ten prospect lists.  Baseball Prospectus released theirs this week. Continue reading Minor League Discussion: Week of December 10, 2018 →

The Hot Stove Season continues.  The big week is finally upon us.  Baseball’s Winter Meetings begin in Las Vegas this week.

A couple weeks ago, I would have expected a big Phillies’ announcement this week.  Expectation has turned to hope.  I still expect them to make announcements, just not as quickly as I would like. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of December 10, 2018 →

The Hot Stove Season continues.  Nothing scheduled between now and the start of the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas next week.  The MLBPA Executive Board Met and announced the extension of executive director Tony Clark through 2022. 

This past Friday, teams announced their contract non-tenders.  The Phillies had 11 arbitration eligible players and 11 pre-arb players.  They non-tendered in-season additions Luis Avilan and Justin Bour.  Both became free agents.  Any of the arb-eligible players who decline the team’s tender will enter the arbitration process. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of December 3, 2018 →