Phillies will shop waiver wire for outfielders

CLEARWATER, Fla. - This is the time of spring, general manager Matt Klentak said, when teams around baseball begin to communicate with one another about which players will be making their clubs and those who will be cut. The Phillies, who have a significant need in the outfield, will be listening closely.

The Phillies hold the first priority in baseball's waiver order. They will have the first option to claim any player who is waived from a roster as teams begin to trim toward the 25-man limit.

Without a move, the Phillies' four outfielders on their 25-man roster would likely be Peter Bourjos, Tyler Goeddel, Cedric Hunter, and Odubel Herrera. Aaron Altherr will miss most of the season after having wrist surgery. Cody Asche's tweaked oblique has kept him out of Grapefruit League action.

"With Altherr obviously being out for an extended stretch and with Asche not on the field, if there's a way for us to add depth I think it's something we'll have to explore," Klentak said.

Maikel Franco homered for the seventh time this spring and Ryan Howard hit a grand slam Friday in a 15-12 win over Pittsburgh. Howard, who homered for the second straight day, finished 3 for 4 with a pair of singles. Franco's seven spring homers lead the majors. Bourjos and Cameron Rupp also homered.

"The sky's the limit for Maikel," Howard said. "His ball gets small really quick. When he hit that home run, I was standing there and watched it go straight up and almost disappear. I was like, 'Yeah, it's a homer.' It just kept going."

David Hernandez pitched one inning in a minor-league game Friday and the Phillies expect their highest-ticketed free agent to be ready for the start of the season.

Hernandez threw 13 pitches and retired each of the three batters he faced, including two by strikeout. He mixed in his change-up and slider with a fastball that topped out at 94 mph. The righthander is scheduled to throw in a Grapefruit League game this week, which he has not done since March 1.

"His ability to open the season healthy is on track and is looking fine," Klentak said.

Manager Pete Mackanin left Bright House Field on Friday afternoon before his team's win over Pittsburgh to watch Hernandez throw on the back fields at the Carpenter Complex. Infielder Andres Blanco caught Hernandez' one inning.

Hernandez, 30, was signed in December for $3.9 million. He is expected to pitch in the back of the team's bullpen, perhaps as the closer. The pitcher is months removed from Tommy John surgery and sidelined himself earlier this month after feeling discomfort in his triceps.

"My arm is definitely getting better," he said. "I have no discomfort when I'm pitching, just a little stiffness when I'm cooling down. I have no trouble getting loose and staying loose and that's a good sign."

Charlie Morton allowed five runs in four innings against Pittsburgh. Morton's former team tagged him for two home runs. . . . Jimmy Cordero was sent to minor-league camp after pitching his first inning of a Grapefruit League game. He retired the first two batters he faced before yielding a run on consecutive singles. Cordero was sidelined in camp with biceps soreness and will likely start the season in double A.