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Phillies inch closer to final roster, which could feature youthful bench

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The nervous energy that tends to fill major-league clubhouses this time of spring infiltrated the Phillies' locker room Tuesday before a rare night game at Spectrum Field. Chris Coghlan's corner locker was emptied in the afternoon. And, one by one, players on the fringe were summoned to the manager's office.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The nervous energy that tends to fill major-league clubhouses this time of spring infiltrated the Phillies' locker room Tuesday before a rare night game at Spectrum Field. Chris Coghlan's corner locker was emptied in the afternoon. And, one by one, players on the fringe were summoned to the manager's office.

One of them, Alec Asher, was traded to Baltimore for a player to be named later. Five others were informed they would not break camp with the Phillies. That left three pitchers for two bullpen spots and three batters for two bench spots.

In a spring absent of drama, this qualifies as intriguing for the Phillies because there is still a scenario in which two minor-league players are rewarded for their strong springs. Both Brock Stassi and Jesmuel Valentin remain in camp and very much in play to be with with the team Monday in Cincinnati.

"There isn't only one way to make up a bench," Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said. "I think in broad terms you'd like to have players who can hit from both sides of the plate and coverage at a variety of defensive positions. Whether those are experienced players or younger players, every team is going to be a little different in that realm.

"Where we are as a franchise right now, it doesn't bother me that we might have younger players on the bench. We have young players on our major-league team, that's where we are right now. That's OK."

It is possible that Daniel Nava, 34, makes the team over either Stassi or Valentin. He, too, has enjoyed a productive spring. Nava is on a minor-league deal that does not allow him to exercise an opt-out clause until June 15. The Phillies could send him to triple-A Lehigh Valley as depth.

The Valentin conundrum is an interesting one. He does not turn 23 until May, and he has shown so well this spring that it could be more beneficial for him to play every day as Lehigh Valley's second baseman. But the Phillies, after trading Asher, have only one spot open on the 40-man roster. They could keep Valentin in the majors to delay the removal of another player.

The Phillies made a similar decision by releasing two veteran catchers so Andrew Knapp, 25, could be the backup catcher.

Klentak said the larger picture is most vital.

"We've been talking a lot about making sure we're disciplined to the notion that the end of spring training is not a finish line," Klentak said. "The end of spring training is the starting line for a long major-league season. Whatever we can do to preserve as many assets and players and different possibilities as we can, we need to factor that."

Valentin has hit .378 with a .980 OPS in 41 plate appearances this spring. He has limited experience in recent seasons at shortstop and third base, but the Phillies have worked with him there this spring.

Klentak said Valentin is a "gritty gamer who knows how to play the game the right way." Valentin's father, Jose, played in the majors for 16 seasons. If the Phillies carry Valentin to start, they could always flip that decision later for more playing time in the minors.

"The kid's had a really good camp and that's why he's still here," Klentak said. "Sometimes you come in and players surprise you and that's a good thing when it's this way."

Stassi has surprised, too. His surge has slowed in the last 10 days, but it's possible that the 27-year-old career minor leaguer did enough earlier in camp to win a spot. He is hitting .320 with a 1.050 OPS in 54 plate appearances.

Nava hit better than Coghlan, who started Game 1 of the 2016 World Series and signed late in the winter but appeared to have a role with the Phillies. Coghlan asked for his release Sunday, and rather than pay him $3 million to be on the bench, the Phillies let him walk. The emergence of Stassi, Valentin and Nava facilitated that.

"While we don't enjoy making the tough decisions," Klentak said, "it's a good thing to be in this position."

mgelb@philly.com

@Mattgelb

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