Open Discussion: Week of November 7th

Weekly Discussion

Here’s the open discussion thread for Phillies’ talk and other topics.  (Link to the Phillies’ tentative spring training schedule included below.)

With the completion of the Chicago Cubs’ comeback from a 3 games to one deficit in the World Series, the off season officially began at 9:00 AM Thursday morning.  The Phillies started their off season by activating Zach Eflin, Matt Harrison, Charlie Morton, and Aaron Nola from the 60-Day Disabled List.  They followed those transactions by declining their club options on Ryan Howard and Morton.  On Friday, the Phillies took the first step toward bolstering their bullpen when they completed a trade with the Houston Astros for RHP Pat Neshek.  The Phillies will relinquish a PTBNL or cash in the deal.  The Phillies then exercised Neshek’s $6.5 million club option for 2017. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of November 7th →

Open Discussion: Week of October 31st

Weekly Discussion

Here’s the open discussion thread for Phillies’ talk and other topics.

No new transactional housekeeping moves by the Phillies this week.  But, I came across some international free agent signings that occurred earlier this summer that may or may not have been reported here: Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of October 31st →

Open Discussion: Week of October 24th

Weekly Discussion

Here’s the open discussion thread for Phillies’ talk and other topics.

No new transactional housekeeping moves by the Phillies this week.  But, Emmanuel Burriss elected free agency on the 15th.

With Dalier Hinojosa and Colton Murray apparently having accepted their outright assignments, only four required roster moves remain.  After the completion of the world series and the return of Zach Eflin, Matt Harrison, Charlie Morton, and Aaron Nola to the active roster, four players will have to be moved off the 40-man to make room.   Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of October 24th →

Sideshow ‘Bow

Other Stuff

We are five games into the Arizona Fall League. My recent strong reaction to Tim Tebow’s selection as a participant for this prospect development league has subsided enough to allow me to comment somewhat rationally.  Or maybe not.   Continue reading Sideshow ‘Bow →

Open Discussion: Week of October 17th

Weekly Discussion

Here’s the open discussion thread for Phillies’ talk and other topics.

No new transactional housekeeping moves by the Phillies this week.  But they did report the earlier signings of some free agents to minor league contracts – RHP Jose Perez,  C Ronald Torrealba, and RHP Luis Pacheco.  They also announced the assignment of a player to one of the DSL teams who had been signed during the summer, RHP Derwuin Marchan.

Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of October 17th →

Florida Instructs; October 12, 2016

0. Instructional League

Wednesday Instructs include an intrasquad game in Bright House Field.  Today’s game offered the added incentive that Kevin Gowdy would return to the mound after taking a ground ball off the forearm of his throwing arm.   Continue reading Florida Instructs; October 12, 2016 →

Phillies 2017 Projected Arbitration Salaries

Other Stuff

MLB Trade Rumors has published their annual Projected Arbitration Salaries article for players who are eligible for this year’s arbitration process.

The Phillies have several players who are arbitration eligible.  MLBTR offered projections for four of them.

  • Player                            Service Time    2017 Projection    2016 Salary    Projected Increase
  • Jeanmar Gomez       (5.063 yrs)               $4.6MM                   $1.4MM                     $3.2MM
  • Freddy Galvis              (4.021 yrs)               $4.4MM                    $2.0MM                    $2.4MM
  • Cody Asche                   (3.022 yrs)              $1.3MM                     $525K                        $775K
  • Cesar Hernandez       (2.154 yrs)              $2.5MM                     $530K                       $1.97MM

Darin Ruf, Emmanuel Burriss, and Frank Hermann entered the off season as arbitration eligibles.  Burriss and Hermann have already been outrighted.  Ruf will likely be outrighted also.  I heard around the Complex that he has a $4MM offer to play in Japan.  If true, that is significantly more than his 2016 salary of $527K, and more than he could reasonably expect to make through arbitration or free agency.

Okay, one more thing.  I’ve got nothing against the guy, but I just don’t see how a slash of .213/.284/.360/.635 in 71 games (218 PA/197 AB) with 4 HR and 18 RBI should project Asche for a raise of about 147%.  He joined the MLB team on June 2nd this season and was optioned to Lehigh Valley on August 12th.  I wish I got raises like this when I worked in the private sector.

Oh, one more “one more thing”, Jimmy Paredes and Patrick Schuster have elected to declare free agency.

Florida Instructs; October 10, 2016

0. Instructional League

The Phillies played uninspired ball against the Blue Jays as Instructs entered its final week. The pitchers and defense surrendered nine runs on seven hits, three walks, a hit batter, a wild pitch, and a balk.  Six of the runs were unearned as the Phillies committed five or six errors.  The offense was equally ineffective, scoring only one run, and that came in the bottom of the ninth inning.

However, there is good news.  I spoke with Kevin Gowdy.  His arm feels better.  He has a little swelling, but the discoloration from the bruise was hardly noticeable.  And, he will pitch Wednesday during the intrasquad game.

And there were some good performances. Continue reading Florida Instructs; October 10, 2016 →

Open Discussion: Week of October 10th

Weekly Discussion

Here’s the open discussion thread for Phillies’ talk and other topics.

The Phillies began their off season transactional housekeeping this week when they recalled four IronPigs (Elvis Araujo, Jimmy Cordero, David Buchanan, and Dalier Hinojosa) and outrighted six players to Lehigh Valley (Frank Herrmann, Colton Murray, Jimmy Paredes, Patrick Shuster, Dalier Hinojosa, and Emmanuel Burriss). Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of October 10th →

Florida Instructs; October 8, 2016

0. Instructional League

The Phillies traveled to Dunedin to scrimmage against the Blue Jays.  The game was played at the Blue Jays Mattick Complex under beautiful conditions at 10:00 AM.  The Phillies pitched and played well.  One guy has continued to “up” his stock and will likely be protected from the Rule 5 draft.  But first, let me relay some of the information I picked up around the cage. Continue reading Florida Instructs; October 8, 2016 →