The Phillies have outrighted infielder/outfielder Darnell Sweeney, as Matt Breen of Philly.com tweets. While it isn’t yet clear how the 40-man spot will be used, Breen’s colleague Matt Gelb previously reported that righty Alec Asher could get the call.
Sweeney, 25, struggled in brief MLB action last year and had spent the entire 2016 season at Triple-A. Over his 443 plate appearances, he slashed just .232/.299/.346. Sweeney, who came over in the Chase Utley trade, had been looked upon as a possible utility piece, given his wide positional flexibility.
The 24-year-old Asher, meanwhile, is in an interesting situation. He is now eligible to return from a PED suspension, but cannot participate in the minor league playoffs because of that ban. Instead, he may become the latest piece of the Cole Hamels deal to join the current Philadelphia roster.
Like Sweeney, Asher scuffled in his major league debut in 2015. But he has been strong in his limited action on the farm this year, posting a 2.37 ERA over 64 2/3 innings — most of them at Double-A or Triple-A — with 6.4 K/9 against just 1.4 BB/9. Per Gelb, the Phils are interested in getting a look at the right-hander while also helping to fill innings down the stretch.
And yet Darin Ruf remains on the 40-man roster. This kid was never granted an opportunity despite struggling in AAA. I would have much rather seen him get a chance to play over Burris or Featherston. He has versatility and decent speed and also has youth, At least he remains controllable through 2018 as a minor leaguer barring his contract being purchased again, so maybe he can figure it out.
Going to have to agree 100%. Don’t see why he was the odd man out given that he still had time to develop.
Plenty of other guys who are going to be off the roster in a month anyway.
Yeah I agree with both of you guys…Give him a chance we already saw what ruf gives and that’s not much
Agree 100% guys like Featherston, Ryan Jackson, Emmanuel Burris, etc.. Should’ve been DFA’d a while ago. If we are rebuilding I don’t see why they would be on the roster. Sweeney should be playing in the bigs to develop. Don’t see why this happened
Think Phils realized he can’t play. Not a guy who will help long term
I’d still prefer him over Emmanuel Burris..
Surprised to see he fell off so badly. Always liked the kids game during his time in the Dodgers org. Never looked like a star – but that AAA slash line this year is just brutal.
Sweeney should be up instead of Burris and Ruf, neither of whom will be here next year. Bourjos is also taking playing time away from players that can be here next year and longer.
Also – what happened to playing Joseph the majority of the remaining season? Howard has played in 2 of the 4 games since the manager said Joseph would play.
I don’t get why they are playing guys that won’t be here next year.
PLAY THE KIDS!!!
What the Phillies should be for the remaining games of the year once our prospects are finished with their playoffs:
1B) Joseph
2B) Hernandez
SS) Galvis
3B) Franco
C) Rupp / Alfaro
LF) Herrera
CF) Quinn
RF) Altherr
Bench – Bourjos / Goeddel / Ellis / Sweeney / Asche / Stassi / Featherston / Ruf
SP) Hellickson (4 starts)
SP) Eickhoff (4 starts)
SP) Thompson (3 starts)
SP) Morgan (3 starts)
SP) Lively (3 starts)
SP) Asher (4 starts)
SP) Buchanan (2 starts)
SP) Klein (2 starts)
RP) Gomez – Neris – Ramos – Gonzalez – Murray
Garcia – Araujo – Hinojosa – Mariot – Hernandez