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A look at the Phillies' 40-man roster

Starting pitchers Alec Asher RHP Asher, 23, struggled in all but one of his first seven major-league starts, and it would take a big spring for him to make next year's starting rotation. It is likely he will begin 2016 as sorely needed depth atop the triple-A rotation.

Starting pitchers

Alec Asher

RHP

Asher, 23, struggled in all but one of his first seven major-league starts, and it would take a big spring for him to make next year's starting rotation. It is likely he will begin 2016 as sorely needed depth atop the triple-A rotation.

Jesse Biddle

LHP

The former first-round pick from Germantown Friends finished his sixth minor-league season on the triple-A disabled list and is seeking a second opinion on his elbow. Next season could be make or break for the soon-to-be 24-year-old, who has yet to consistently harness his above-average pitch repertoire.

Chad Billingsley

RHP

The Phillies took a one-year flier on Billingsley, who was coming off two major elbow surgeries, but it didn't pan out. The veteran was limited to seven starts. If he chooses to pitch again, it likely won't happen with the Phillies on another major-league deal.

David Buchanan

RHP

The 26-year-old took a big step back in 2015 after a more-than-solid rookie season in 2014. He is probably ticketed for Lehigh Valley to begin next season despite opening this one as the Phillies' No. 3 starter.

Jerad Eickhoff

RHP

Aaron Nola is unquestionably the Phillies' top young starter, but Eickhoff, 25, impressed in his eight starts after joining the organization in the Cole Hamels trade. He is a shoo-in for the 2016 rotation.

Severino Gonzalez

RHP

A struggle-filled season leaves Gonzalez, 22, as organizational depth at this point. He posted a 5.52 ERA over 16 triple-A starts and a 7.92 ERA over seven major-league starts.

Aaron Harang

RHP

For the most part, the journeyman Harang accomplished what Ruben Amaro Jr. signed him to do - eat innings in a rebuilding season. Harang, 37, again hits free agency and will likely fill a similar stopgap role elsewhere in 2016.

Matt Harrison

RHP

Plagued by back problems since his all-star campaign in 2012, Harrison did not pitch for the Phillies after joining the team in the Hamels trade. His future on the mound remains uncertain. His contract calls for $13.2 million in base salary in each of the next two seasons.

Cliff Lee

LHP

Lee's tenure in Philadelphia is over. The five-year, $120 million contract he signed in December 2010 comes off the books this offseason. Between his base salary and a buyout of his 2016 option, the 37-year-old will make $37.5 million in 2015 without throwing a pitch in a regular-season game.

Adam Morgan

LHP

Morgan's first season back from a shoulder operation went better than the Phillies could have expected. Despite pitching with decreased velocity from his presurgery days, he likely secured himself a spot in the back end of next year's rotation.

Aaron Nola

RHP

The seventh overall pick of the 2014 draft will be a rotation mainstay for years to come. Although he is only 22, a lack of established options could force Nola into an opening-day starter role in his first full major-league season.

Jonathan Pettibone

RHP

Pettibone underwent shoulder surgery for the second time in 13 months in July. The latest was an interval closure operation, the same surgery Morgan underwent in January 2014. Pettibone has not pitched in a non-rehab game since May 2014.

Joely Rodriguez

LHP

After an encouraging spring training, Rodriguez struggled in triple A and found himself demoted to the double-A bullpen. A 6.12 ERA over 1291/3 total innings this season leaves him as no more than organizational depth at this point.

Jerome Williams

RHP

Williams was signed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal last winter after a solid showing to cap 2014, but he struggled this season and was moved to the bullpen. The journeyman is again a free agent this winter, but this time it is expected the Phillies will let him walk.

Relief pitchers

Elvis Araujo

LHP

Araujo, 24, impressed in his first big-league season, and he could prove a valuable relief option for the future. The 6-foot-7 Venezuelan posted a 3.38 ERA over 342/3 major-league innings before a groin strain ended his season in August.

Justin De Fratus

RHP

The Phillies have an interesting decision to make with De Fratus, who came into 2015 viewed as a bullpen piece for the future. But the 27-year-old compiled a 5.61 ERA this season, and he is arbitration-eligible for the first time. Do the Phillies tender him a contract and hope he bounces back or cut ties and fill his spot with a younger option?

Luis Garcia

RHP

Garcia's season would look better if he wasn't pitching in a setup role for closer Ken Giles. Garcia, who compiled a 3.53 ERA in 661/3 innings this season, is better-suited as a sixth- or seventh-inning reliever.

Ken Giles

RHP

The Phillies' present and presumed future closer performed as well as anyone could have asked after taking over the ninth-inning duties from Jonathan Papelbon. The hard-throwing righthander should only improve with more experience.

Jeanmar Gomez

RHP

For much of the season, Gomez was the steadiest option in the Phillies bullpen. He cooled off toward the end of the season. He is arbitration-eligible this winter, and the Phillies should tender him a contract.

Dalier Hinojosa

RHP

The Phillies claimed Hinojosa off waivers from the Red Sox in July, and the 29-year-old Cuban produced efficiently once called up. He should get a chance to win a job for 2016.

Mario Hollands

LHP

Tommy John surgery in April cost Hollands the 2015 season. It is unknown whether he will be ready come spring training. The 27-year-old had a 4.40 ERA over 47 innings as a rookie in 2014.

Adam Loewen

LHP

Loewen's return to the major leagues as a pitcher was a great story, but the 31-year-old southpaw struggled to find the strike zone. The Phillies lowered his arm slot late in the season and saw better results, but a 7.36 ERA makes his status for 2016 murky.

Colton Murray

RHP

Murray was promoted from triple A in September, but he barely pitched. The 25-year-old likely falls into the organizational depth category.

Hector Neris

RHP

Neris should get a chance to win a bullpen job out of spring training next year. The 26-year-old Dominican recorded a 3.92 ERA in 39 innings and spent most of the season with the Phillies.

Nefi Ogando

RHP

Ogando pitched only three major-league innings after his September call-up and posted a 3.00 WHIP. The likelihood is he will begin 2016 back in triple A.

Ken Roberts

LHP

Roberts was claimed off waivers from the Rockies in August. He joined the Phillies in September but was seldom used.

Infielders

Andres Blanco

Utility

Not only did the sure-handed Blanco produce as a utility infielder, the 31-year-old Venezuelan was an invaluable mentor for young Latin American players lsuch as Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco. The Phillies should tender him a contract for 2016.

Chase d'Arnaud

SS

Likely a soon-to-be 40-man-roster casualty, d'Arnaud was a nonroster invitee to spring training who spent most of the season with triple-A Lehigh Valley. If the 28-year-old comes back, it will be on another minor-league deal.

Maikel Franco

3B

Before his left-wrist fracture cost him all but the last few games of the season's final eight weeks, the rookie third baseman was the Phillies' best hitter. The 23-year-old Dominican should be a fixture in the middle of the lineup for years to come.

Freddy Galvis

SS

Galvis held his own offensively in his first full season as a lineup regular but he committed 17 errors. With top prospect J.P. Crawford on the way, Galvis could soon find himself at second base or in a super-utility role. He is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter.

Cesar Hernandez

2B

The jury is still out on whether Hernandez fits into the Phillies' long-term future. He showed flashes at the plate over 405 at-bats this season, but he is mostly a singles hitter and is average at best on defense. Next season will be crucial for him.

Ryan Howard

1B

Howard is entering the final season of the five-year, $125 million contract extension he signed in April 2010. The aging slugger will be 36 next season and, given that he is untradeable, should again play in a platoon with Darin Ruf in 2016.

Tommy Joseph

1B

Joseph made the permanent switch from catcher to first base at triple A this summer after his concussion problems persisted. The former touted prospect will still be only 24 come spring training, but will arrive in Clearwater with a lot to prove.

Darin Ruf

1B

Ruf's struggles against righthanders ended any debate about whether he is an everyday player, but he again showed he can hit lefthanders. Presuming he is back next season, he will likely platoon with Howard.

Darnell Sweeney

2B

The 24-year-old Sweeney struggled in a small sample size after joining the Phillies from the Dodgers in August in the Chase Utley trade. Given this was his first time on a 40-man roster, Sweeney will have all of his minor-league options remaining next year.

Outfielders

Aaron Altherr

Next season may dictate whether Altherr is an everyday player or a backup in the long term. He showed flashes as a regular over the season's final six weeks, but he needs to cut down on his strikeouts. His versatility and defensive prowess are strengths.

Cody Asche

This was a disappointing season overall for Asche, who, coming into the year, was viewed by most as an unquestioned piece of the Phillies' future. The team moved him to left field, but he ended up back at third base after Maikel Franco's injury. At this point, with a .692 OPS in 979 career at-bats, he projects as a part-time player and lefthanded bench bat.

Brian Bogusevic

Although he had a great season in triple A and played in the big leagues in September, Bogusevic does not factor into the Phillies' plans. If he returns to the organization, it will be on another minor-league deal.

Domonic Brown

Brown's rocky Phillies career is all but certainly over as the team is likely to not tender him a contract this winter. The 2013 all-star underwhelmed in each of the last two seasons, becoming one of the bigger prospect busts in recent memory.

Jordan Danks

Claimed last winter as a versatile, defensive-minded player, Danks had a major-league stint this season that consisted of four in-game substitutions. He struck out in 27.2 percent of his plate appearances in triple A. Expect him to be a 40-man-roster casualty over the winter.

Kelly Dugan

The oft-injured former second-round draft pick finally reached triple A, but he hit only .221 and slugged just .298 once there. The 2016 season could be make or break for Dugan.

Jeff Francoeur

The jovial veteran proved a valuable presence for the Phillies' young clubhouse. Although there might not be much playing time for him, Francoeur could come back on another one-year deal.

Odubel Herrera

Herrera was not only the team's biggest surprise, the Rule 5 draft pick was also its MVP. He has hit .290 in his first season above double A and played above-average center-field defense despite this being his first year at the position. The energetic Venezuelan put himself in the Phillies' plans.

Catchers

Jorge Alfaro

The Phillies hope Alfaro is their catcher of the future. One of the prizes of the Cole Hamels deal, he will have all eyes on him in spring training. He will likely begin next year in double A and is not expected to crack the majors until 2017.

Erik Kratz

The Telford native bounced around baseball this year and will probably have to look elsewhere to find a major-league backup gig. Andrew Knapp, the Phillies' breakout minor-league position player of 2015, will likely handle everyday duties in triple A next year, leaving one less spot for Kratz.

Carlos Ruiz

Next year is the final one of Ruiz's contract. The seldom-used veteran will be 37 and make $8.5 million. He will likely find himself again in a backup role behind Cameron Rupp.

Cameron Rupp

Rupp, 27, has yet to prove he is more than a backup catcher in the long term, but he should continue to play every day until Knapp and Alfaro are ready for the big leagues. Rupp handled the Phillies' young starting staff well and displayed a strong arm from behind the plate.