The offseason has not officially begun for baseball, but it is effectively here for the Phillies as the front office will begin to have to make some quick decisions on minor league free agents and Rule 5 protection. Here are the players with important roster status milestones heading into the offseason.
Major League Free Agents
- C J.T. Realmuto
- DH Kyle Schwarber
- OF Max Kepler
- LHP Jose Alvarado (Team Option)
- RHP Jordan Romano
- LHP Ranger Suarez
- OF Harrison Bader (Mutual Option)
- RHP Walker Buehler
- RHP David Robertson
- RHP Lou Trivino
40 Man Out of Options
- IF/OF Weston Wilson
- C Garrett Stubbs
- RHP Seth Johnson (Johnson is likely to qualify for a 4th option year)
Minor League Free Agents
Due to being outrighted during the season and having the requisite amount of service time, Donovan Walton and Devin Sweet have already been able to elect free agency. Andrew Bechtold, Gabriel Barbosa, and Jose Colmenares have already re-signed with the Phillies and will not be free agents. There is a chance that a player on this list signed a multi year minor league deal with the Phillies that was not reported as such. The Phillies would need to add any of these players to the 40 man roster following the conclusion of the World Series to prevent them from being free agents.
- IF Erick Brito
- RHP Gunner Mayer
- OF Marcus Lee Sang
- RHP Eiberson Castellano
- OF Leandro Pineda
- RHP Gabe Mosser
- C Josh Breaux
- IF Luis Verdugo
- IF Nick Dunn
- OF Brewer Hicklen
- RHP Matt Manning
- C Payton Henry
- IF Rodolfo Castro
- RHP Adonis Medina
- RHP Jacob Waguespack
- RHP Phil Bickford
- IF Christian Arroyo
- OF Oscar Mercado
- RHP Lucas Sims
Rule 5 Draft Eligible
The Phillies would need to add the following players to the 40 man roster in November to prevent them from being eligible for the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings. An in depth preview of these players will come later in the offseason.
First Time Eligible
- RHP Alex McFarlane
- RHP Alex Rao
- RHP Andrew Painter
- LHP Andrew Walling
- LHP Braeden Fausnaught
- 1B Brock Vradenburg
- OF Cade Fergus
- C Caleb Ricketts
- RHP Daniel Harper
- LHP Danny Wilkinson
- RHP Danyony Pulido
- OF Gabriel Rincones Jr.
- RHP Jack Dallas
- C Jordan Dissin
- RHP Jose Pena Jr.
- LHP Kleyderve Andrade
- RHP Micah Ottenbreit
- RHP Nathan Karaffa
- IF Nick Biddison
- OF Raylin Heredia
- IF Robert Moore
- RHP Saul Teran
Repeat Eligible
- 1B Alex Binelas
- RHP Andrew Baker
- RHP Christian McGowan
- RHP Estibenzon Jimenez
- 1B/OF Felix Reyes
- RHP Griff McGarry
- RHP Jaydenn Estanista
- C Paul McIntosh
- RHP Ryan Cusick
- RHP Tommy McCollum
- LHP Tristan Garnett
- 1B Carson Taylor
- RHP Giussepe Velasquez
- RHP John McMillon
- C Luis Caicuto
- RHP Gabriel Barbosa
- IF Jose Colmenarez
- LHP Juan Amarante
- RHP Andrew Bechtold
- LHP Cristhian Tortosa
So do the protect Felix Reyes and Griff McGarry?
There are a few other players currently on the 40 man roster who might be let go to open a spot, including Rafael Lantigua, Alan Rangel, Michael Mercado, Max Lazar, Nolan Hoffman and Jean Cabrera. So, along with the 5 certain open spots listed as free agents above (Romano, Kepler, Buehler, Robertson, Trivino) and the likely loss of at least one other free agent, there will be room to protect at least 5 to 8 minor leaguers this year. So yes, they should protect Reyes and McGarry, along with the obvious choices of Painter and McFarlane. Rincones is another possibility. Then there are players like Jack Dallas, Daniel Harper and Tommy McCollum who are on display in the AFL (and all doing well in the early days). I’m sure there are other candidates. Makes the off season interesting.
Very true. Good points. I’ve always pulled for Rincones but I think that ship has sailed. I wouldn’t protect him.