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Howie Kendrick absent from Phillies lineup again; DL looms

"We have to consider the DL," manager Pete Mackanin said. "I can't keep having a player I can't play on defense."

Howie Kendrick is still bothered by the hamstring.
Howie Kendrick is still bothered by the hamstring.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

SEATTLE — In an ongoing melodrama that has now reached a week  —  involving Howie Kendrick's tight left hamstring  —  the veteran hitter arrived Wednesday morning at Safeco Field and told his manager he could not play. A trip to the disabled list feels all but certain.

The situation is a little complicated. The Phillies will wait until Friday in New York (they do not play Thursday) to render a decision. But Kendrick, who has not played in the field since June 21, did not feel well Wednesday after five at-bats Tuesday as a designated hitter.

"He said he doesn't want to push it," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "We have to consider the DL. I can't keep having a player I can't play on defense."

Ty Kelly started again Wednesday at second base. He has split time there with Andres Blanco. The Phillies, if they put Kendrick on the DL, will not have another healthy infielder on the 40-man roster. The only available position players are prospects Jorge Alfaro, Dylan Cozens and Nick Williams.

The Phillies, then, could replace Kendrick on the roster with a pitcher and play with a short bench. But the only reliever on the 40-man roster not in the majors is Edubray Ramos, who was just demoted and must regain confidence at triple-A Lehigh Valley. So the Phillies could summon Jake Thompson or Mark Appel for an extra arm.

Or they could jiggle the roster to push someone such as veteran infielder Pedro Florimon onto it. The 40-man roster is full, and there are obviously players on it who do not figure into the team's plans. But they need some of those extra bats and arms to survive the remainder of this season.

Another development that complicates the 40-man roster situation: Elniery Garcia, a lefty pitching prospect, must be reinstated from the restricted list Monday when his 80-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drug expires. So the Phillies will have to free a roster spot then.

The injury to Kendrick does not kill his trade value, but it does not help it. If the Phillies shift him to the disabled list sometime this week, he would be eligible to return immediately after the all-star break. The trade deadline is July 31.

"We'll figure it out," Mackanin said.

Extra bases

Aaron Altherr has a 10-game hitting streak. He's 14 for 44 (.318) with four extra-base hits in those 10 games. … Double-A righthander Drew Anderson and outfielders Carlos Tocci and Jiandido Tromp were named Eastern League all-stars. … Michael Saunders, released by the Phillies last week, signed a minor-league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Saunders was an all-star last season for Toronto. He will report to triple-A Buffalo. … The Phillies will start a three-game series Friday in New York with Ben Lively matched against Jacob deGrom.