The Phillies made a variety of notable offseason splashes, adding significant talent in several areas of the roster. While it might have been hoped that other players would thrive in reduced roles, that simply hasn’t been the case. As Matt Gelb writes for The Athletic (subscription link), the Philadelphia bench has been abysmal this year. In particular, the reserves have lagged the entire rest of the National League in overall batting output. As we explored recently, the bullpen has also been a problem area. It’s easy to look back and blame the front office for failing to add additional roster pieces last winter and/or during the summer trade period, it’s fair also to note that a variety of injuries, failures of young players to make strides, and unforeseen circumstances (in particular, Odubel Herrera’s suspension) have strained the roster.
If the Philadelphia org is to make its way into the postseason, it’ll need to squeeze value out of every corner of the 40-man. Here’s the latest on a few potentially key pieces:
- Outfielder Jay Bruce appears likely to return at some point this season, though it’s not clear whether he’ll be able to take the field. The veteran slugger is launching a minor-league rehab stint but won’t throw, as Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer was among those to cover (Twitter link). Bruce has been sidelined with a flexor strain. Fortunately, the Phils also picked up Corey Dickerson in advance of the deadline. Both of those lefty hitters have performed at approximately league-average rates since landing in Philadelphia. Bruce remains under contract with the Phils for 2020, though the Mariners are responsible for most of the tab.
- The Phillies’ veteran relief arms have not performed to expectations thus far in 2019. Now, Pat Neshek may join David Robertson and Tommy Hunter with a season-ending procedure. As the Inquirer’s Matt Breen tweets, Neshek’s injured hamstring may require surgery or a platelet-rich plasma injection. Both of those invasive approaches would put him on ice for the remainder of the campaign. Soon to turn 39, Neshek can be retained next season with a $7MM club option, but it seems quite likely he’ll instead be paid a $750K buyout.
- Righty Edubray Ramos may be a likelier late-season contributor, but he’ll have to avoid any complications as he works to return from a shoulder problem. The 26-year-old is launching a rehab assignment, per a club announcement, which puts him on track to make it back for at least a few weeks. Ramos was a big contributor in 2018, when he worked to a 2.32 ERA over 42 2/3 innings, but he has not repeated that showing in 2019. Through 14 frames this season, he has coughed up eight earned runs on 18 hits (four homers) with a 9:5 K/BB ratio.
- With those bench troubles in the backdrop, there were some questions about the club’s recent decision to send down Maikel Franco instead of Sean Rodriguez. As Lauber reports, the organization’s goal was to preserve versatility by keeping the multi-positional Rodriguez. (I’d add that the team also would have had to part with Rodriguez, since he can’t be optioned.) Skipper Gabe Kapler also emphasized that the aging utilityman holds an advantage over the younger Franco in his track record of pinch-hitting against left-handed pitchers. In any event, it seems fair to presume that Franco will be back as soon as the minimum ten-day option period is met. But as Lauber notes, it’s increasingly difficult to imagine him as part of the organization’s plans for 2020 and beyond.
It’s a shame the bullpen went to shambles. I actually agreed with Klentaks approach to building the roster as far as load up the offense and bullpen and then hope one or two of Velasquez, Eflin, Pivetta and Eickhoff can turn into something. And then go grab whatever SP you need at the deadline. But the bullpen was just doomed from the start. Morgan, Dominguez, Arano, Hunter, Neshek and Robertson have all essentially missed the entire year. If even half of those guys are healthy for the full season you’re looking at at at least another five wins.
Too bad for the Phillies their farm system is a raging dumpster fire.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the Dodgers don’t have room to bring up a top of the Top 100 list prospect to join a roster loaded with young talent from their farm which they built while winning their division for the past six years and going to two World series.
The Phillies organization is the definition of incompetence.
That same loaded Dodgers organization that’s hasn’t won a title in 30 years?
Who cares about that. Seriously. Dodgers went to back-to-back World Series. They keep giving their team chances every year to win it all. That’s what a good team does. They go for chances. Not go for broke every once in a long while which seems to be what the Phillies are doing.
I think dodgers fans would care. Would you rather have years of success and say “hey guys! Look! We won our division for 6 years in a row and went to a few World Series”
Or, actually getting their and WINNING one
What’s harder to do as a front office? Consistently win every year. No doubt, sustained long term success such as the Dodgers have had over the last half-decade or the Yankees have had over the last two decades is incredibly hard to do.
With that in mind it’s a hard pill to swallow when you make the playoffs every year in a decade and win 1 WS or make back-to-back WS and win none. Luck? Maybe, who knows. Sustained success is still more impressive and harder to do.
Fans of those teams don’t have to wallow through awful stretches of losing season after losing season either.
The Braves were a model of success from 1991 to 2005…..missing the playoffs only ONE TIME, yet only won the World Series once. (1995).
Their fans were probably a little frustrated, but mostly happy that their team was constantly “In The Hunt”
The Phillies did pretty much the same thing 10 years ago that the dodgers are doing now, except for maybe maintaining a solid farm system.
Only difference is, the Phillies actually won a World Series
“The Phillies did pretty much the same thing 10 years ago that the dodgers are doing now, except for maybe maintaining a solid farm system.
Only difference is, the Phillies actually won a World Series.”
And they went through the Dodgers to do it (2008) and make it back (2009). Dodgers fans really have no smack to talk when it comes to the Phillies.
Yea Dodgers fans have no right to smack talk because their team lost 2 series over a decade ago…. rght…
“Yea Dodgers fans have no right to smack talk because their team lost 2 series over a decade ago…. rght…”
Division titles are nice and so are pennants. Come back to this conversation when you actually win something after 1988. Thanks for playing.
…….just a troll
unless you are LA or NYY, you rarely can maintain a stellar farm system while staying a top-flight team. to say the entire organization is incompetent really begs the question of what the actual issue is, because simply not having prospects at the end of a rebulid doesnt make you rhe definition of incompetence.
Phillies would be wise to clean house after this season. Maybe ask Yankees about Miguel Andujar, trade Hoskins for SPing, and bring up Bohm to play 1B.
Not sure the Phillies have anything that would interest the yankees for an andujar trade. also don’t get trading Hoskins at all
Yea him kingery and nola are probably the only contracts with surplus value atm.
Damn. That sucks after handing out that 13 year mega contract to Harper. I guess it’s not surprising though considering the Phil’s outbid everyone for him. If the other teams weren’t willing to pay him that then they probably wouldn’t do it now either. I think Realmuto’s contract still has surplus value even if it is only through next season. I think the Phils might be smart to try and get a bunch for Hoskins though. He isn’t defensively versatile and he has been disappointing this season compared to projections. If he has another season like this his value drops a lot. Right now he is so young and inexperienced plenty of teams will look at this season as a fluke bad season like the Phils did with Harper last year. They could still get a ton for him and he might never materialize into that incredible hitter that plays D well enough to start every day in the National League. Plenty of other teams would be willing to take that risk now but after next season that number could drop.
clean house how? Phils arent rebuilding again, and Cesar is the only guy i see that could be moved if they still want to contend, and given he’s stuck this long, i dont see it.
additionally, for probably the 100th time on this site; Andujar is not going anywhere.
I disagree 100%. The clubhouse is a mess, kapler seens to want to be everyone friend. The GM is awful(we can’t ID one good pitcher). Yes this team is one game out of the WC but they stink on the road and the lack of depth in the minors has hurt(with the injuries).
The problem with Sean Rodriguez is that he is seen by many as having a roster spot solely because of Kapler. Rodriguez & Kapler played together in Tampa Bay & some Latino players, fans & members of the media feel like that is why he is on the roster. Neris & Segura have both expressed disappointment in Franco being sent down over Rodriguez, especially when Brad Miller is on the roster & he and Miller have basically the same skill set. Kapler has to be careful because the locker room can split when there is perceived favoritism.
It comes down to versatility. If Franco was a better defender and could hit LHP he’d be on the roster. The guy has had chance after chance after chance to prove himself, and all he’s proven is that he’s not very good. Not to say that Rodriguez is a great player because he’s really no better, but he can play multiple positions, same goes for Miller.
Rodriguez couldn’t be sent down because he doesn’t have an option
Not favoritism
Not having an option is a cop out. They have Phil Gosselin & Andrew Romine in AAA who can do the same thing as Rodriguez does. They also already have Miller on the roster who is the same type of player. The Phillies really don’t need Rodriguez at all. It isn’t like Rodriguez is lighting it up offensively. He’s only hitting .214 & his defense isn’t even that good. If someone claimed him, the Phillies would get by just fine
Is Franco better? Seriously
And stop with Andrew Romine and Phil Gosselin. If they had anything better to offer than Seán Rodriguez wouldn’t you think they’d be up by now?
The problem is not Rodriguez. The problem is the lack of talent they have in the organization to contribute. Their bench has been an embarrassment
He got signed to the Phillies organization out of favoritism. Yes, he’s more versatile than Franco, but so is Gosslin who is tearing it up at LHV. He’s not even on the 40-man anymore. They can’t even use him in September!
Why?
They didn’t want to “lose” Rodriguez through DFA, so they DFA’d Gosslin (who had better numbers and has better speed) in favor of Rodriguez. So, essentially, this goes much deeper and longer than Franco.
30 year old ball players “tearing it up at the AAA” doesn’t leave much to be desired at
Franco can’t hit and was a liability at third
If your choices are Seán Rodriguez and Phil Gosselin to debate on who should be where, that’s pitiful
Sure is an option… cut him, he sucks! 1 for last 15 against lefthanders which is what he’s supposed to be here for.
Rodriguez and Miller are much more defensively versitile and had not been slumping nearly as bad as Franco had been, and only Franco could be optioned. as much as id have rather, say, traded for Galvis and sent Rodriguez packing, there was not way Franco deserved to stay.
I agree 100%. After Rodriquez hit his homer, Kapler embraced him a little too long. Franco should NEVER have been sent down.
The Phillies should do everything to their power to get the best team on the field come early-mid September. Can easily beat the Braves and screw them out of the playoffs like 2011 all over again. The season is not all lost Philly fans.
I see you’re still on here being a moron.
And I can easily leap tall buildings in a single bound.
easier than scoring more than 1 run against the Rockies?
easier than winning a playoff series?
gay.
Yes AOGHAU it’s as simple as an Easy Bake Oven!
…Now back to Ollie with the weather.
Ollie: Its gonna Rain!
It is easy to talk random nonsense on the internet when you cherry pick the one game the braves have lost in the last 9…. news flash btw, the Phillies are terrible, not even the third best team in the NL East now
It’s raining sideways!!
News flash. That terrible Phillies team is a game out of the wild card
Considering how bad they’ve looked at times? And the play down to the level of lesser competition?
Or maybe the National League is filled with terrible teams
You mean the same Phillies team that can’t beat the marlins if their season depended on it. Have all your brains abandoned you. Lol.
This is not basketball or football. Any team can win any game in baseball. Besides, I’m not implying the Phillies are better than the Braves. The Phillies whether in contention or not will try their darnest to beat the Braves and screw them over. Playing spoiler in baseball can be satisfactory to those who miss out on the playoffs.
The Braves already proved this season they will lose to bad teams. Take losing 2 to the Royals. Would not surprise me if they lose to the Jays and the Sox.
its not reallt about beating the Marlins to be honest. this tea. has a terrible penchant for losing to bad teams but hanging in or even dominating good teams. this has been happening for years now, and as far as im concerned, i dont care. youre competing against the good teams, so Id rather beat those teams.
The Braves have been a better team since the start of the season, and not just in execution. they have been more talented since the start and will win the division and will probably continue to for years. As far as im concerned, finishing second to them is probably akin to being the runner up in the AL or NL west.
I want what you’re smoking. I’m a Phillies Die-Hard, but I am also a realist. Braves have the better roster top to bottom. Phillies haven’t won a series against the Braves since Games 1-3 of the season.
Phillies need to reboot again. They’re rebuild has been a failure.
It has not been a failure, it just hasn’t wowed people like Houston and Chicago’s. There are solid assets that may still pan out….
You’re correct, it hasn’t been a failure. It’s going to require more time. Houston and Chicago’s rebuilds were lengthier and more draft oriented, especially the former.
“Phillies need to reboot again. They’re rebuild has been a failure.”
It has not been a failure. They have a legitimate formation of a core taking shape (Nola, Kingery, Hoskins) supplemented with two players that will be here long term (Harper and Realmuto). Before anyone starts, there is not way Realmuto walks after next season, he will be extended.
Before 2007 to 2010, when their rebuild finally concluded, look at their records from 2001 to 2006:
2001: 86-76
2002: 80-81
2003: 86-76
2004: 86-76
2005: 88-74
2006: 85-77
People tend to forget this period in their history but they were in the hunt every year but always fell just short. That is where this team roughly is right now. To call the rebuild a failure at this point is lunacy. Some just take longer than others.
I have no idea why you’re so confident in Realmuto signing an extension. When has he ever stated that he wouldn’t test the market? He’d be far and away the best catcher on the market and possibly the most valuable position player.
“I have no idea why you’re so confident in Realmuto signing an extension. When has he ever stated that he wouldn’t test the market? He’d be far and away the best catcher on the market and possibly the most valuable position player.”
He has stated multiple times in the media that he is interested in re-signing with the team.
I said it yesterday that this team reminds me of the 2005-2006 Phillies. Trending in the right direction and just a few pieces form being a legitimate playoff contender.
Agreed
this is their first year out of the rebulid lol
“Outfielder Jay Bruce appears likely to return at some point this season, though it’s not clear whether he’ll be able to take the field. The veteran slugger is launching a minor-league rehab stint…”
I thought there was a specific and limited amount of time you could spend in the minors on rehab. Am I mistaken, did something change?
I believe it is 30 days unless there is a setback
It’s 20 days on rehab before the player must be activated.
Man those Phillies really learned from Colorado a few years ago.
While the front office should be looked at for the results of this season – with due credit for some pluses added behind the plate and some parts of the outfield/infield- their obsession with the Harper sweepstakes is coming home to roost. Bad idea then; still not worth the cost/years. That noted, anyone else noticed how mismanagement ON THE FIELD has helped shred this season. Best news I heard recently is that SF may be interested in perusing Gabe after Bochy retires at season’s end. His head is stuck way too far up his analytics, and his judgment has been awful on several occasions. Won’t fix all the problems, but would be a heckuva good start.
this season has been terrible and everyone’s somewhat to blame, but its hard to blame anyone for any large part of it. so many things have gone wrong and they are still technically in it, so there’s something to say to Gabe’s credit at least. (and that’s coming from someone who would rather he be replaced)
Great teams right now have great pitching to coincide with their hitting. The current Phillies do NOT have that. Smyly and Vargas are cheap generic bandaids on a wound that needs an amputation. Bad, bad judgement on Klentak and gang that they thought Pivetta was going to have this miraculous break out season, and Eflin all of sudden feels heavy ,wtf is that? Heavy? What kind of cry baby bullcrap is this? Scouting better restock the farm with real arms for the future because things are looking mighty thin. Morrison, Miller, Vargas, Smyly, Hughes and the other rentals are not talent enough to carry them anywhere other than watching TV in October instead of playing on TV in October.