Maybe the Phillies brass had a little too much caffeine or something, but they have been busy on Sunday morning. Actually, the whole weekend, the final weekend before Opening Day, has been a wild one.
It didn’t come as any surprise, but the Phillies made it official on Saturday that pitcher Andrew Painter and center fielder Justin Crawford have both officially made the team. Crawford figures to be in the starting lineup Thursday against the Texas Rangers and Painter makes his MLB debut Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park against the Washington Nationals.
Saturday also brought the announcement that super-utility player Dylan Moore has made the roster for Opening Day. Moore had triggered an opt-out clause in his contract that forced the Phillies to decide on his spot with the team. Then, the Phillies made a minor deal with the Cleveland Guardians – the first with Cleveland in over 10 years – to acquire utility infielder Carter Kieboom in a cash deal. Kieboom had signed a minor league deal with Cleveland over the winter, but did not have a good spring. The Phillies will send Kieboom to their minor league camp and he will most likely begin the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
First thing this morning came news of a six-year, $107-million contract extension with Cristopher Sanchez. The Cy Young runner-up had an extension that he had signed in 2024, but the Phillies decided to take that out a little longer with money more fitting of his performance.
Then, things really started to pick up:
- Left-handed reliever Tim Mayza asked for his release so he could pursue other opportunities. That may have been a little nervy for a guy with a 5.40 ERA in eight relief outings this spring, but it worked. The Phillies added him to the 40-man roster and gave him a spot in the bullpen. Mayza’s inclusion means that the Phillies bullpen will have four left-handers and four right-handers.
- Zach Pop has also made the Phillies bullpen as have Kyle Backhus and Jonathan Bowlan.
- With the addition of Mayza, Rule 5 pitcher Zack McCambley, also a lefty, has been offered back to the Miami Marlins. McCambley pitched well, but issued six walks against just four strikeouts in 7.1 innings.
- Also on the Rule 5 front, Griff McGarry was returned to the Phillies by the Washington Nationals. McGarry had the same issue as McCambley with decent numbers, but 5 walks and 6 strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
- Bryan De La Cruz, Christian Cairo, Liover Peguero, Jonathan Hernandez, and Lou Trivino have all been sent to the minor league camp for reassignment. Chase Shugart was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
- Now on the IL: We knew that Zack Wheeler would open the season on the IL. Relievers Orion Kerkering (hamstring) and Max Lazar (oblique) were also placed on the IL. Kerkering just has not had enough time to prepare for the season after developing a hamstring issue early in camp. Lazar left the WBC early when he felt pain in his side.
- The scariest news came when Daniel Robert, who had a cardiac incident during the offseason but had been cleared to resume workouts, collapsed early in his first bullpen session of the spring. Medical personnel rushed to him and he was able to walk to an emergency vehicle on his own a little while after the incident.
The Roster
Rotation: Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Painter, Sanchez, and Taijuan Walker
Bullpen: Left-handers – Jose Alvarado, Kyle Backhus, Tanner Banks, Tim Mayza; Right-handers – Jonathan Bowlan, Jhoan Duran, Brad Keller, Zach Pop
Catchers: Rafael Marchan, J.T. Realmuto
Infielders: Alec Bohm, Bryce Harper, Dylan Moore, Edmundo Sosa, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner
Outfielders: Justin Crawford, Adolis Garcia, Otto Kemp, Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber
Injured List: Kerkering (hamstring), Lazar (oblique), Zack Wheeler (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery)
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