Phillies spring training roster

Pitchers

74, Elvis Araujo, LHP: Signed in November, the 6-foot-6 reliever from Venezuela hasn't pitched higher than double A, so he will likely begin the season in the minors.

48, Phillippe Aumont, RHP: Out of minor-league options, this spring is the last chance for the cornerstone of the worst trade of Ruben Amaro Jr.'s tenure as general manager.

70, Jesse Biddle, LHP: This spring marks the start of an important season for the Germantown Friends graduate and former first-round draft pick who struggled mightily in 2014 and is expected to begin this year back in double A.

38, Chad Billingsley, RHP: In the wake of Tommy John surgery in 2013 and another operation last year to repair his right flexor tendon, the recently signed veteran will probably enter spring training a bit behind the other starters.

55, David Buchanan, RHP: After posting a 3.75 ERA over 20 starts as a rookie, the 25-year-old righthander will compete for a spot in the back end of the rotation.

30, Justin De Fratus, RHP: A 1.89 post-April ERA makes the 27-year-old one of perhaps four locks to make the opening-day bullpen.

63, Jake Diekman, LHP: Expectations are high for the hard-throwing lefthander after a breakout 2014.

57, Luis Garcia, RHP: He's made just 37 big-league appearances over the last two seasons but figures to be in the mix for one of the final bullpen spots.

53, Ken Giles, RHP: Unless the Phillies work out a Jonathan Papelbon trade during spring training, the team's closer of the future will continue his development out of a setup role.

75, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, RHP: The Cuban righthander will get a chance to start in the second season of his three-year, $12 million contract, though his previous shoulder and elbow problems leave room for doubt.

35, Cole Hamels, LHP: For as long as he's on the team - before the expected trade - the Phillies have one of baseball's best pitchers.

34, Aaron Harang, RHP: The veteran will be tasked with eating innings in the middle of the rotation, in turn helping to preserve the team's promising young bullpen arms.

43, Mario Hollands, LHP: Though not a lock for the opening-day roster, he is certainly in the mix for a spot in the bullpen.

33, Cliff Lee, LHP: Expected to start spring training at 100 percent after last season's elbow issues, the former Cy Young Award winner should become a trade chip once he proves healthy.

49, Ethan Martin, RHP: Back issues ended the starter-turned-reliever's stint in Venezuela this winter, so he enters camp with plenty to prove.

66, Adam Morgan, LHP: The one-time prospect also needs to show he's healthy after a shoulder injury cost him 2014, likely pushing him to triple A to start the season.

50, Hector Neris, RHP: After a stellar winter-ball season in the Dominican Republic, the 25-year-old righthander is a sleeper candidate to make the Phillies' bullpen.

65, Nefi Ogando, RHP: One of the organization's hardest-throwing relievers struggles with control at times and is likely bound to begin another season in the minors.

52, Andy Oliver, LHP: Command will be key for Oliver, one of this offseason's Rule 5 selections, if he is to stay on the team.

58, Jonathan Papelbon, RHP: Unless he's traded, the controversial but still effective $13 million closer will be in that role for a fourth opening day in Philadelphia.

44, Jonathan Pettibone, RHP: Shoulder surgery cost him most of last season, so the organization's lone remaining "Baby Ace" needs to show he's healthy in spring training.

64, Joely Rodriguez, LHP: The return for dealing Antonio Bastardo to the Pirates will get his chances in spring training but is expected to start the season in Lehigh Valley's rotation.

31, Jerome Williams, RHP: A 2.83 ERA in nine 2014 starts with the Phillies earned him a one-year contract, and the journeyman will compete for a spot in the back end of the rotation.

Catchers

73, Tommy Joseph: The once-touted prospect only recently resumed batting practice after August wrist surgery, so he could start camp a bit behind.

51, Carlos Ruiz: The still-productive 36-year-old is another veteran who could become a trade chip before the July 31 trade deadline.

29, Cameron Rupp: After hitting a woeful .183 in 18 big-league games and .165 in 59 triple-A games, Rupp enters spring training as the Phillies' backup catcher.

Infielders

25, Cody Asche, 3B: Though Asche has started doing some outfield drills the last couple of weeks, he enters camp as the Phillies' starting third baseman.

7, Maikel Franco, 3B/1B: Given the service-time implications attached to his making the opening-day roster, the touted prospect will need to clearly outplay Asche at third base to break camp with the Phillies.

13, Freddy Galvis, SS: The slick-fielding but unproven Galvis will get every chance to be the team's everyday shortstop.

16, Cesar Hernandez, 2B/3B/SS: Hernandez, who like Galvis is out of minor-league options, is likely to start the season on the Phillies' bench.

6, Ryan Howard, 1B: One of baseball's most untradeable players enters spring training with the Phils despite Amaro publicly stating he told Howard the team would be better off without him.

26, Chase Utley, 2B: A great first two months last year earned Utley his first All-Star Game nod since 2010, but he hit just .235 after the all-star break.

Outfielders

40, Aaron Altherr, LF: On the heels of a good winter in Venezuela, the 24-year-old could put himself in the outfield conversation with a strong spring.

9, Domonic Brown, RF/LF: After a season in which he was statistically one of baseball's worst players, the one-time top prospect gets another chance, this time probably in right field.

15, Jordan Danks, OF: The Phillies claimed him off waivers because of his defense and athleticism, but he has an option, so he's not a sure thing to make the team.

72, Kelly Dugan, OF: Capping each of the last two seasons in double-A Reading, the 2009 second-round draft pick could probably use more seasoning in triple A.

37, Odubel Herrera, OF: The team's top Rule 5 pick will be one of the spring's most intriguing players to watch after his great winter-ball season in Venezuela, but he's never played above double A.

2, Ben Revere, CF: If Revere can stay healthy throughout the year, this could be a telling season in the 26-year-old centerfielder's career.

18, Darin Ruf, LF: He garnered only 102 at-bats in an injury-riddled 2014, and it remains to be seen how much of a chance he will get this season.

24, Grady Sizemore, LF: After displaying enough last year for the Phillies to bring him back on a one-year deal, the veteran should see considerable playing time in left field.

Pitchers

67, Paul Clemens, RHP: He posted a 4.08 ERA in 19 games with the Astros' triple-A club last year, so he's a strong candidate to start this season in Lehigh Valley.

46, Jeanmar Gomez, RHP: The former Pirates reliever has a chance at a bullpen spot as a long man but will have a lot of competition in camp.

56, Cesar Jimenez, LHP: Though outrighted to triple A to make room on the roster for Billingsley, the 30-year-old Venezuelan reliever will still get a chance to pitch in big-league camp.

61, Sean O'Sullivan, RHP: He allowed nine earned runs in 122/3 innings with the Phillies last year but recorded a 4.30 ERA over 25 triple-A starts.

59, Kevin Slowey, RHP: The former Twins starter recorded a 4.45 ERA in 37 games, only 16 of which were starts, over the last two seasons with the Marlins.

Catchers

76, Rene Garcia: The 24-year-old hit .244 in double A last season with the Astros organization.

60, John Hester: Formerly of the Diamondbacks and the Angels, he has just one major-league at-bat since 2012.

47, Koyie Hill: The 35-year-old journeyman spent most of last year with triple-A Lehigh Valley and also filled in for 10 games with the Phillies.

Infielders

4, Andres Blanco, 2B/3B/SS: He appeared in 25 games for the Phillies last season but spent the bulk of his year with Lehigh Valley.

68, Russ Canzler, 1B/OF: The Berwick, Pa., native re-signed after spending the second half of last season with the IronPigs.

62, Chase d'Arnaud, 2B/3B/SS: The older brother of former Phillies prospect Travis d'Arnaud hit .250 with the Pirates' triple-A club last season.

77, Chris McGuiness, 1B: His resumé includes only 10 games of major-league experience with the Rangers, and he hit .264 last year with Pittsburgh's triple-A team.

27, Chris Nelson, 3B/2B: The ninth overall pick in the 2004 draft hit .301 with 33 extra-base hits for Colorado in 2012 but has bounced around with three other teams since.

71, Cord Phelps, 2B: He's hitless in just 12 major-league at-bats since 2012.

Outfielders

17, Brian Bogusevic, RF: The lefthanded-hitting former first-round draft pick did not play in the majors last season, logging 79 games with the Marlins' triple-A club.

3, Jeff Francoeur, RF: The Sports Illustrated cover boy-turned-journeyman hasn't been an everyday major-league player since 2012.

19, Darin Mastroianni, OF: Saw all of 43 major-league at-bats last season between stints with the Blue Jays and Twins and hit .277 over 92 triple-A games.

28, Xavier Paul, LF/RF: He hit .254 in 81 games last season with the Orioles' triple-A affiliate.

J.P. Crawford, SS: The Phillies' top prospect will likely start his second full pro season in high-A Clearwater with a legitimate chance to move up to double-A Reading sooner rather than later.

Aaron Nola, RHP: Last year's seventh overall draft pick will probably begin the season headlining the double-A rotation but could debut with the Phillies as early as later this season.

Zach Eflin, RHP: The highest-regarded of the prospects the Phillies acquired this winter doesn't turn 21 until April and is expected to start the year at double A.

Tom Windle, LHP: Also expected to begin his season in double A, Windle enters his first season with the Phillies as the system's best lefthanded pitching prospect.

Ben Lively, RHP: Acquired on New Year's Eve for Marlon Byrd, the likely double-A-bound Lively was the Reds' minor league player of the year last season.

Roman Quinn, OF: The speedy Quinn, who will start in Clearwater or Reading, is entering his first full pro season as a centerfielder after an encouraging experience in the Arizona Fall League.

Carlos Tocci, OF: The 19-year-old Venezuelan spent the last two seasons at Lakewood, last year hitting just .242 in 487 at-bats.

Aaron Brown, OF: After the Phillies drafted him out of Pepperdine in the third round last June, Brown advanced quickly from short-season single-A Williamsport to single-A Lakewood, where he had success in a brief stint.

Matt Imhof, LHP: The 2014 draft's 47th overall pick recorded a 4.28 ERA in seven 2014 starts at single-A Lakewood.