40-man roster politics
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40-man roster politics
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
The World Series begins tonight and we're talking about the 40-man roster in Philadelphia. Another slap of harsh reality in the face, but here's guessing Whitney nets better primetime ratings in this city than FOX does. (OK, let's not say things we can't take back.)
Regardless, the Phillies already started massaging their 40-man roster in preparation for the winter. Pete Orr and Brandon Moss were outrighted to triple-A Lehigh Valley to clear two spots. The roster stands at 38.
Five days after the final game of the World Series, that number will drop to 33 when the five free agents are removed. Then it'll go to 31 when Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge's options are declined. Even then, names like John Bowker, Scott Mathieson and Erik Kratz remain.
The point is, the Phillies have some flexibility with the 40-man roster, and they may need it.
Part of the fall period is for evaluating players on the fringe. A little over a month remains until the Phillies must set their roster prior to the Rule 5 draft. The current CBA states that players signed at age 19 or older must be protected after their fourth year in the organization. Players signed at 18 or younger have five years until that juncture.
Of course, an addition to the 40-man roster means an automatic invitation to big-league camp in spring training. So it's more than a label (and possibly more money).
The Phillies sent many of their more interesting decisions to the Arizona Fall League for further evaluation. We know the Rule 5 draft has generally been kind to the Phillies (Shane Victorino, David Herndon, Michael Martinez), but rarely have the Phillies lost a player of substance. (Remember Miguel Asencio?) That means, generally, they have been able to make the right call on who or who not to protect.
The biggest name to hit Arizona is Tyson Gillies, who is actually playing baseball -- and that matters more than any of his numbers. Figure the Phillies will protect Gillies, so long as he demonstrates health, because he was acquired in the Cliff Lee trade. Gillies started strong in his first round of extensive games in two years but is 0 for his last 6 with four strikeouts. He's hitting .227 in nine games with more walks (seven) than hits (five). Nonetheless, if Gillies can stay on the field this fall and avoid the hamstring and foot issues that befell him, it's a success.
Another name to watch in Arizona is Tyler Cloyd, a 6-foot-3 righthander. He was an 18th-round pick in 2008 and posted a 2.78 ERA at double-A Reading with a stellar 99:15 K:BB in 106 2/3 innings. He turns 25 in May and began the season at single-A Clearwater, pitching below his age. But he was moved to Reading in June, turned into a starting pitcher, and something clicked. He was shelled in his third AFL start, so he has a 6.00 ERA in nine innings.
Cody Overbeck stands to gain a lot, too. He's much in the mold of Matt Rizzotti, who went to Arizona and hit .333 last fall. That was enough to garner a 40-man roster spot and look-see in spring training. It didn't last long because the Phillies saw an overmatched Rizzotti against better pitching than he sees in the Eastern League.
Like Rizzotti, Overbeck doesn't have a position. The 25-year-old is at first base after the Phillies tried him at third and left field. However, unlike Rizzotti, Overbeck has shown an ability to hit for power beyond double A. Rizzotti hit .333 in the AFL last fall, but only two hits were for extra bases. Overbeck already has two in eight games. He slugged .416 in 68 games at triple A to finish the season. Given what the Phillies did with Rizzotti last winter -- plus the injury to Ryan Howard -- Overbeck could merit a spot for further evaluation come springtime.
The guys over at Phuture Phillies have a decent discussion going about other names. Phillippe Aumont is a lock for a 40-man spot. So is Sebastian Valle, the young catching prospect who needs at least two more years. (And yes, teams have been known to snag unprotected single-A catching prospects before.) Jiwan James has a lot of promise after only three years since becoming a full-time hitter, but it's raw. (He also runs a fantastic Twitter account.) Because of that, James could be on the bubble. The Phillies may decide his profile indicates no team will take a chance on him. Or, just to be safe, he can be added.
That's probably not enough to distract you from remembering that Game 1 was supposed to be in South Philadelphia tonight.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
VOTE: Phillies: Stay or Go?
It's amazing how something that seemed so all-important two weeks ago is totally meaningless to me tonight. I'll be looking for reruns of 2.5 Men, CSI, anything...— dasher- Hear, hear. — Nostromo
- Try the X-Factor...it's as disappointing as Ryan Howard at bats against lefthanded relief specialists. — bearsfriend
- Good column Matt. Howard's injury definitely gives Overbeck a chance at first. The main decision, aside from short, is what to do in left field. They could platoon Mayberry with somebody like free-agent Jason Kubel (or Bowker). They need to get some more speed and a good target is outfielder Ezquiel Carerra of the Indians.— JayW
- Good article? I find it sickening that a Matt Rizzotti can have the kind of season he had at Clearwater and Reading in 2010 and NOT earn a promotion to AAA! (That Jeff Larish signing worked out great,didn't it?)...45 At Bats at AAA does not give an indicator that he can't hit, especially with the busted hand he had in August of 2010....Rizzotti came back to Reading, hit .295 with 24 hrs and an OPS of .905....seems to me he'd make a better candidate to be the Gload/Bowker guy in coming seasons, or at least try him...Remember, Cholly didn't think Mayberry was much in limited spring trainings in 2009 or 2010 as well. — bearsfriend
- As far as Rule 5 being a success...it can be if the player has long range potential to help to overcome the roster inflexibility when the team has to keep the player on the 25 man roster all season...Victorino has been a home run!....the same CANNOT be said for Herndon or Martinez... — bearsfriend
- People forget--or didn't notice--that the Phillies lost pitcher Carlos Monasterios to the Dodgers in 2009 in the Rule 5 Draft. He had a good year in 2010 but then had Tommy John surgery this past season. — JayW
- Rangers v Cardinals = zzzz. I'll be checking in occasionally but unless it's late and close - not interested. That and I'll never understand the 8PM start time. Yes - I get it's about the advertising money but give me a break. It would be hard enough if the Phils were in it and even then we'd have to watch so we'd deal with it. Unless your team is in it or your a baseball junkie - no one cares.— DennyP
- Wish we'd keep that bulldog Oswalt— robinlupe
- You write Matt that the Phils rarely have lost anyone of consequence in the Rule 5 draft--does the name George Bell sound familiar? All he did was help lead the Blue Jays to 2 WS titles in the 90s==one at the expense of the Phils.— bobbyuk
- Bobby, Sounds like that rule 5 pick was during the 80's. I think the term "rarely" is appropriate. — maurysline
- Bobby, check ur facts bro...George Bell was not on the 93 Blue Jays...he played in the 80's. Your thinking of Joe Carter...don't believe me, google it! — tl8125
- I hope the Phillies ask the Nats about Jesus Flores, their one-time catcher of the future, who suffered a shoulder injury two years ago and was out of baseball for one season. Last year he was behind current catcher of the future Wilson Ramos and Pudge Rodriguez. He played most of the year at AAA. The Nats still can bring Pudge Rodriguez back to be Stephen Strasburg's personal catcher (remember two years ago, when they activated Pudge from the DL for Strastburg's debut?) and to keep mentoring Ramos. It wouldn't hurt either that Pudge is inching closer to the 3,000 hit plateau. Flores, who is arbitration eligible, has no place in the Nats' roster. The Nats also have two young catching prospects in the minors, one who is currently playing in the Arizona Fall league. So his days with Washington seem to be over. At 27 year old, he'll be an ideal back up to Carlos Ruiz and in a few years to take over. Currently, he's playing in the Venezuelan Winter League and is on fire. He has 11 hits in 18 AB. In an interview recently and on Twiter, he expressed his frustration. Maybe the Phillies should send somebody over to Venezuela to take a look at him, then they should ask the Nats, because he's going to be traded.— EL Zorro
- Zorro, have you not seen Erik Kratz play?....He's a huge target and he swings a powerful stick. The writer should not have dismissed him like he did in this article. — bearsfriend
- You can mention name after name, till you are blue in the face. It does not take a rocket sienist to know that the fighinng Phillies, desperetly need FIREPOWER. Offence,offence and more offence. Sluggers, that can maintain 300 average or better. Then and only then can our beloved Phillies, win the 2012 World Series. That loss of 1-0 was DEVASTATING, TO ME. 2012, will not be as exiting as 2011 if Charlie does not get the FIREPOWER. The only answer for our Fighting Phillies, is doing whatever it takes, WHATEVER, it takes!!! The norm must be 300 or better batting average. That wisdom would have gotten the Phillies into tonight game with the Texas Rangers. Period.— johntvalentine
