The Phillies announced that right-hander Alan Rangel has been recalled to the big league roster. He’ll be making his major league debut as soon as he gets into a game. Fellow righty Seth Johnson was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley as the corresponding move.
Rangel, 27, has actually been in the big leagues before. He was on Atlanta’s roster during the 2022 season but on optional assignment for most of it. They recalled him late in September but optioned him back to the minors three days later without getting him into a game. He was non-tendered after that season and has been stuck in the minors since then.
The Phillies signed him to a minor league deal last summer and evidently liked what they saw. They added him to their 40-man roster in November to prevent him from qualifying for minor league free agency. He has been in good form this year, having tossed 57 1/3 innings over 12 Triple-A starts. The 5.02 earned run average doesn’t look too exciting but his 25.4% strikeout rate and 8.7% walk rate are both good numbers. The ERA has seemingly been inflated by a .325 batting average on balls in play and 16.2% home to flyball ratio.
Philadelphia is doing a bullpen game tonight, with Aaron Nola on the injured list and Zack Wheeler on the paternity list. Joe Ross will technically be the starter, though he’s been in the bullpen this year and likely can’t go more than two innings. Taijuan Walker was stretched out earlier in the year but has only thrown one inning in the past week. Rangel gives the club a fresh arm capable of covering multiple innings.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images
Seth Johnson pitched very well yesterday
Seth has pitched four MLB innings now. When he strikes someone out that will be his first MLB strikeout.
They should save the ball for him.
Phillies BP is a mess. Romano is not a closer.
Rangel is stretched out, tied for the international league lead in GS. Could be a throw in piece to a multi-player trade to offset 40 man roster spots, and/or provide innings to a team in desperate need. The Phillies should get out in front of the trade market and add a dominant RP and RH bat, if possible. Suggested five combos on the radio today that would fill both needs, with the first two being the most realistic.
– Lane Thomas / Emmanuel Clase (Thomas has been awful, cheapskate Guards might entertain Clase if Phillies took on Lane’s $8 million, Phillies buying low on both)
– Aroldis Chapman / Rob Refsnyder (Chapman profiles as an older Jose Alavardo, only with 2 WS rings. Refsnyder mashes lefties and knows his role)
– Andres Munoz / Dylan Moore (Seattle could sell high on Munoz, and add multiple big league or big league ready pieces. Dylan Moore gives this scuffling defense a GG back up at essentially every position)
– Jake Meyers / Josh Hader (Meyers is a GG caliber CF, controllable for a couple more years, that makes plenty of contact, especially against LHP. Hader is a bonafide closer, allowing Romano, Strahm & Kerkering work the 7th & 8th)
– Byron Buxton / Griffin Jax (Buxton will earn $15 million per season thru 2027, reasonable considering MLB is void of CF superstars. Can bump to LF next year when Crawford arrives, which helps with health. Jax, originally drafted by the Phillies, leads the AL in holds after a rocky start to the season.
I’m sure Bednar is available. Nutting would love to dump his salary for a couple of prospects.