A deeper look at Phillies' 40-man roster crunch
The Phillies entered Monday with a .586 combined winning percentage from their minor-league teams, an eye-popping mark that leads all organizations. A farm system is not judged on its win-loss record, but there is no dispute that the talent level has been raised in the minors as the Phillies engage in a rebuilding process.
The reality of that process is few of the players on the current 25-man roster will be around for The Next Great Phillies Team. The current team, while one that has exceeded expectations, is filled with placeholders. Some will stick. Others will leave, as soon as October.
That prompted the lead to Sunday's notes column, about the impending overhaul to the 40-man roster. The Phillies will add some players in September, but more in November and December before the annual Rule 5 draft.
The process is somewhat confusing; not all players are eligible for Rule 5 selection if not protected on the 40-man roster. And the Phillies will not protect every player they like because protection decisions are made for various reasons, one being the likelihood that another team would take a chance on carrying said player on a major-league 25-man roster for an entire season.
With that said, there are some difficult decisions ahead. There is lots of time to make those decisions. Phillies officials say they are great decisions to face; some players not on their radar before have played their way into conversation. The influx of young talent to the 40-man roster is just the next step in the process.
There were names skipped in Sunday's column for the sake of space, but here is a more complete list of possibilities (these are not all of the eligible players) for addition to the 40-man roster, broken down by position:
STARTERS
Mark Appel
Harold Arauz
Elniery Garcia
Ben Lively
Ricardo Pinto
Nick Pivetta
Ranger Suarez
Figure that Appel, Garcia, Lively, Pinto and Pivetta earn spots. All of them are arms that would entice another team. Arauz, acquired in the Ken Giles trade, was eligible last winter. He has success in the low minors, but it's a stretch to envision him sticking on a 25-man roster next season. Same for Suarez.
RELIEVERS
Jesen Dygestile-Therrien
Hoby Milner
Miguel Nunez
Alberto Tirado
Milner, as mentioned in Sunday's column, is an interesting arm since the Phillies moved him to the bullpen and dropped his arm slot. He's been great against lefties. The Phillies have lacked effective lefthanded relief all season. But it'll be hard to find a spot for him. He is, basically, your quintessential Rule 5 pick.
Tirado is grouped here as a reliever, although the Phillies have been starting him. He's had an up-and-down season, characterized by his wild command. But, ever since the Phillies moved him into the Lakewood rotation after an exile to extended spring training, Tirado has thrived. Acquired in the Ben Revere trade, he has a 2.89 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 18 walks in 37 1/3 innings.
Knapp is a lock. Moore, regarded as the best receiver in the system, could come to the majors in September as the third catcher. Grullon, 20, is still stuck at Lakewood.
After the 2010 season, the Phillies added a shortstop who had never posted above a .588 OPS in his first four seasons. They loved the potential in Freddy Galvis' glove, and his chances at adding strength. The same things are said about Canelo, who turns 22 next month, but has regressed somewhat at the plate this season. He will make the Phillies think hard.
So will Walding, who has displayed vast improvement at the plate. It may not be enough to justify a spot. Valentin profiles as a utility infielder in the majors. He does not turn 23 until next May.
OUTFIELDERS
Dylan Cozens
Cameron Perkins
Jose Pujols
Andrew Pullin
Carlos Tocci
Nick Williams
Williams and Cozens are locks, obviously. Williams should be in the majors sometime in September. Pullin, who was retired for the first month of the season, has really hit. Really hit. Again, he has pushed his way into the conversation.
Tocci's case is interesting. Pujols, 20, is a big power and strikeout guy at Lakewood. He's probably too raw to be selected in the Rule 5 draft, so the Phillies could risk not protecting him.
***
There is a valid case for 10, 12, maybe even 14 of the above minor-league players to be added. Some will be left unprotected, and a few may be plucked in the Rule 5 draft. As far as problems go, it is not a bad one. But, with a new front office making evaluations, it will be fascinating to see which players are prioritized.