The Phillies announced Monday that right-hander James Norwood has been designated for assignment in order to open a spot on the roster for fellow right-hander Michael Kelly, whose contract has been selected from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The Phils also reinstated catcher Rafael Marchan from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A.
Acquired from the Padres in an offseason deal that sent minor league infielder Kervin Pichardo to San Diego, Norwood has pitched 17 1/3 innings of relief out of the Philadelphia bullpen but has been tagged for 17 earned runs in that time. The damage hasn’t been confined to one or two poor outings, either, as Norwood has yielded runs in eight of his 20 appearances on the season so far. Overall, he’s yielded 24 hits (two of them homers) and nine walks while punching out 22 batters.
Norwood is out of minor league options — a large reason he was designated by the Padres in the first place — so the Phils couldn’t send him down without first designating him for assignment. They’ll have a week to try to trade him or pass him through outright waivers now. The former seventh-rounder has a decent track record in Triple-A, a fastball that averages just under 97 mph and a splitter that gets him plenty of chases and whiffs. Add in a decent track record in the upper minors, and it’s not out of the question that another bullpen-needy club would want to speculate via waiver claim or perhaps a small trade.
As for the 29-year-old Kelly, he’ll make his big league debut whenever he steps onto the mound for the first time. It’s the culmination of a 11-year baseball odyssey for the 2011 No. 48 overall pick. Originally selected by the Padres, Kelly also spent time with the Orioles, Astros and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League before joining the Phillies as a minor league free agent this winter. He’s pitched to a lackluster 5.00 ERA in 18 innings with the IronPigs so far, but Kelly has also punched out 33.8% of his opponents in that time.
I can’t remember him having an inning where he didn’t give up a run. I feel for the kid, but he’s been awful.
Good to see Marchan back playing. Still think he has potential to contribute.
Great, now DFA Familia and Alverado.
Familia is what he is. Not good. Not awful Alvarado has been bad, but you can’t DFA these guys unless you have suitable replacements. Phils need bullpen arms.
Finally, but why Kelly? Appel is right there!
I will never forget James Norwood as the start of that incredible Mets comeback that probably eventually led to Girardi getting canned.
Thank you, James Norwood.
Norwood had no business being in that game. That was typical Girardi nonsense. Credit to the Mets, but that’s one I place fully on Girardi’s pen mismanagement.
eugh, if Norwood is on your team and you can’t trust him with a six run lead, then when can you (the answer is never, but it makes more sense then bringing him in tied or one-run games like Joe did usually)?
@DarkSide830 Fair, but at that point Norwood already deserved to be DFAed. The night before in a 1-0 game in which our starter pitched 8 innings, Girardi still managed to use over 5 relievers for some stupid reason. So most of the bullpen was needlessly exhausted. Guys like Alvarado (who is terrible, I get it) and Dominguez should have been used during that Mets game, but instead Girardi got cute and threw one away. Girardi should have been fired that week IMO.
Mets are a very good team, but that was a game the Phils just threw away .
97mph. If he could learn to find control, that could be a good arm to have. Looks like a standard Angels mid-season acquisition.
I watched a couple of Norwood’s outings. Definitely a guy who pitches himself in to trouble, lots of high pitch counts…
No way Kelly should have been promoted over Mark Appel, but this is the Phillies, so never show good bullpen judgment. Nick Nelson and Alvarado should also be gone, but…
Mark Appel needs more time. He’s an important piece of the Phils future. They cannot rush or ruin his development as they have with so many others.
Isn’t he close to 30 by now? Granted he doesn’t have the wear and tear on his arm because of his hiatus.
Yes he is 30 and he definitely should be called up this year. Maybe to replace Suarez. I just don’t know if now is the time.
An important piece of the Phil’s future?? I really hope you’re being sarcastic.
Usually a safe bet. I do hope he contributes this year, but I expect very little.
Nelson is fine. In an era where teams use 9 RP when able, he’s a perfectly fine 9th guy.
Any reason they aren’t bringing up Morales? Thought he was being converted into a reliever.
still relatively inexperienced as a RP and got roughed up recently at AAA.
I wish him well! Again …the Phillies look to a pitcher who can strike out batters. YET!!!!! He is another Philly pick up who lacks control His walk totals are BAD! All too many philly pick up in the past few years a pitcher who lack control. OUCH!