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Weston Wilson Weston Wilson Suffers oblique injury
Fri, Feb 21, 2025, 12:17 PM
Wilson suffered an oblique injury Friday while hitting in the batting cage, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Analysis: He will be examined further before the severity of the injury is determined. If healthy, Wilson has a good shot to win a spot on Phillies' Opening Day roster as a reserve. He's hit an impressive .288/.375/.490 over 120 plate appearances at the big-league level. |
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Joe Ross Joe Ross Next man up for rotation spot
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 10:25 AM
Ross is building up a starter during spring training, but he's expected to open the season in the bullpen if all five members of the Philadelphia rotation are healthy heading into Opening Day, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Analysis: The right-hander seems to be the next man up for a starting spot if any of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo or Cristopher Sanchez aren't available to make their first turn through the rotation to begin the season. Ideally though, manager Rob Thomson said Monday that Ross will serve primarily as a multi-inning or one-inning leverage option out of the bullpen. While with Milwaukee during the 2024 regular season, Ross struggled over his 10 starts (4.98 ERA, .321 wOBA, 39:18 K:BB in 47 innings), but he was effective across 15 relief appearances (1.67 ERA, .258 wOBA, 27:11 K:BB in 27 innings). |
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Trea Turner Trea Turner Could bat leadoff in 2025
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 10:09 AM
Manager Rob Thomson said last week that he's considering moving Kyle Schwarber down to third or fourth in the Phillies' everyday lineup this season, potentially clearing the way for Turner to serve as the club's primary leadoff hitter, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Analysis: In 2024, Schwarber started 149 of the Phillies' 162 games out of the leadoff spot, with Bryson Stott (10 starts) and Whit Merrifield (three) setting the table in the other 13 contests. Merrifield wasn't re-signed in free agency, and Stott doesn't appear to be an ideal candidate to slot in atop the lineup when the Phillies are at full strength since it would create an imbalance atop the batting order with three lefties (Stott, Schwarber and Bryce Harper) in the first four spots. With Thomson having acknowledged after the past season, during Winter Meetings and last week that he feels Schwarber's power production would be better served in the No. 3 or 4 spot behind Harper, Turner represents the most logical candidate to fill the void atop the lineup. Turner batted exclusively out of the two-hole in 2024, but he made 15 starts out of the leadoff spot during the 2023 campaign and saw plenty of usage atop the order during his stints with the Nationals and Dodgers earlier in his career. A move to the leadoff spot could open up increased running opportunities for Turner, whose 19 steals in 2024 were his fewest in a season since the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. |
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Max Kepler Max Kepler Good to go for spring
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 7:52 PM
Kepler (knee) faced live pitching Sunday and appears to be back to full health for spring training, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Analysis: While with the Twins last season, Kepler didn't play after Sept. 1 due to left patellar tendinitis as well as a sore hip, but neither injury is believed to have affected his offseason workouts. After hitting free agency in the winter, Kepler inked a one-year, $10 million deal with the Phillies and is likely to slot in as a strong-side platoon player in the corner outfield. The 31-year-old slashed .253/.302/.380 with eight home runs, 42 RBI and 43 runs over his 105 games with the Twins in 2024. |
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Bryce Harper Bryce Harper Misses workout due to illness
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 10:07 AM
Harper will miss the Phillies' first full-squad workout Monday due to illness, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Trea Turner is also away from the club because his wife recently gave birth. Turner is expected to join workouts Wednesday, and Harper will likely be ready by then, if not before. |
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Edmundo Sosa Edmundo Sosa Could give center field a try
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 8:55 AM
The Phillies will give Sosa reps in left field and possibly center field this spring, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Analysis: Sosa played three innings in left field in 2022 and saw two innings of action in center field in 2023, which is the extent of his outfield experience in the majors. If Sosa -- who will turn 29 in March -- looks comfortable in center field, it would give the Phillies another right-handed hitting option there in addition to Johan Rojas. |
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Kyle Schwarber Kyle Schwarber Might bat third or fourth
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 8:48 AM
Phillies manager Rob Thomson is considering batting Schwarber third or fourth this season, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Analysis: Schwarber has batted leadoff in 85 percent of his plate appearances with the Phillies, but Thompson is mulling a change atop his batting order. If Thomson does opt to mix things up, he's expected to hit Trea Turner leadoff and Bryce Harper second, with Schwarber and Alec Bohm occupying the next two spots in some order. The potential change would ding Schwarber's runs projection a bit but boost his RBI potential. He's reached the century mark in both categories in each of the last two regular seasons. |
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J.T. Realmuto J.T. Realmuto Workload expected to be reduced
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 12:21 PM
The Phillies plan to give Realmuto fewer starts at catcher this season in order to preserve his body, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Analysis: Manager Rob Thomson has already spoken to Realmuto about the plan and the two are on the same page. While there is no set number of games for Realmuto to catch, he said Thursday that his body "feels as good right now as it ever has" and he believes he can start 120-plus games at catcher, if needed. The Phillies are expected to give Realmuto some starts at designated hitter and first base, and they've even floated the possibility of using him in left field on occasion. Slated to turn 34 in March, Realmuto was limited to 99 games in 2024 due to knee surgery, and while he remained productive at the plate, his stolen-base total dropped to just two. Realmuto blamed the knee for his lack of aggressiveness on the bases, saying he "wasn't able to be as explosive," but he feels like he's "in a good spot" now. |
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Oscar Mercado Oscar Mercado Joins Philly as NRI
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 9:26 AM
Mercado signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Friday that includes an invitation to big-league spring training.
Analysis: The 30-year-old spent last season at the Triple-A level in the Tigers and Padres organizations, compiling a .222/.308/.405 slash line with 12 homers and 16 steals over 93 games. Mercado posted a .761 OPS as a rookie with Cleveland in 2019, but he has a .596 OPS in 183 big-league games since that debut campaign. |
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Christian Arroyo Christian Arroyo Lands in Philadelphia as NRI
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 9:18 AM
The Phillies signed Arroyo to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Arroyo's 2024 campaign was spent at Triple-A Nashville in the Brewers organization, where he put up a .627 OPS with two homers in 30 contests. He'll compete for a reserve role but is almost surely headed to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to begin the season. |
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Bryson Stott Bryson Stott Affected by sore elbow last season
Tue, Feb 11, 2025, 10:47 AM
The Phillies believe Stott's offense was limited by elbow soreness last season, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Stott never went on the injured list in 2024, but he evidently dealt with a sore elbow for much of the season that the club believes affected his ability to drive the ball. The numbers back up the theory, as the 27-year-old's regular-season slugging percentage fell from .419 to .356, his home-run total dropped from 15 to 11 and his doubles output dipped from 32 to 19. Stott is expected to be healthy at the start of spring training and could be in line for a bounce-back year at the plate. |
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Taijuan Walker Taijuan Walker Fighting for bullpen spot
Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 7:23 PM
Walker is in a battle for the Phillies' final bullpen job this spring, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Walker opened the offseason knowing that he was at best keeping a seat warm for Andrew Painter, who's expected to eventually earn a rotation spot once he's fully built back up from Tommy John surgery. Then the Phillies acquired Jesus Luzardo in a trade with the Marlins, bumping Walker to the bullpen. While the two years and $36 million remaining on Walker's contract make a compelling case for the Phillies to find some use for him, his 5.27 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 17.6 percent strikeout rate over the first two years of his deal give the team plenty of reason to cut bait. |
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Weston Wilson Weston Wilson Good shot at final bench spot
Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 7:17 PM
Wilson is a strong candidate to win the last spot on the Phillies' bench, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Wilson is a 30-year-old with just 49 games of MLB experience to his name, but he's performed well in his limited opportunities, hitting .288/.375/.490. The fact that he bats right-handed could give him the edge over lefty Kody Clemens, as the Phillies have a lefty-heavy roster already. If Wilson does win a roster spot, the largest role he can likely hope to win at the start of the year is the short side of a platoon in left field with Max Kepler. |
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Garrett Stubbs Garrett Stubbs Roster spot at risk
Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 7:09 PM
Stubbs is not the favorite to win the Phillies' backup catcher job, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Stubbs has backed up J.T. Realmuto for three straight seasons, offering good vibes in the clubhouse but very little at the plate, slashing .222/.305/.324. He'd probably do a capable job in that same role this season, but 25-year-old Rafael Marchan is now out of options and has a better chance to be part of the team's future. |
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Rafael Marchan Rafael Marchan Favorite for backup job
Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 7:07 PM
Marchan is favored to win the Phillies' backup catcher job this spring, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Marchan is a decent enough prospect on both sides of the ball who's been knocking on the door ever since 2020, when he appeared in three games and hit his first professional home run at any level. He hasn't done anything to force his way onto the roster, however, hitting .238/.328/.328 at the Triple-A level across parts of four seasons. The 25-year-old is now out of options, which could give him the leg up over career backup Garrett Stubbs, who offers little more than clubhouse leadership. With J.T. Realmuto now in his age-34 season and set to be a free agent, Marchan could be auditioning to be the catcher of the future this spring. |
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Edmundo Sosa Edmundo Sosa Signs new deal with Philadelphia
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 6:59 PM
Sosa agreed on a one-year, $3 million contract with the Phillies on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Sosa will get a $1.3 million raise in 2025 after batting .257 with seven home runs, 31 RBI, 39 runs scored and seven stolen bases over 249 at-bats in 90 regular-season games with Philadelphia last season. The 28-year-old can play in both the infield and outfield and he'll likely operate as a utility option for the team in 2025. |
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Alec Bohm Alec Bohm Settles at $7.7 million
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 2:58 PM
Bohm agreed to a one-year, $7.7 million contract with the Phillies on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: The third baseman was the subject of trade rumors early in the offseason after a tumultuous finish to 2024, but it appears he'll be sticking in Philadelphia for the start of the upcoming campaign. Bohm totaled 15 home runs, 97 RBI and 62 runs with a .280/.332/.448 slash line in 143 games during the 2024 regular season |
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Brandon Marsh Brandon Marsh Settles at $3 million
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 2:23 PM
The Phillies and Marsh avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3 million contract Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Marsh will get a big pay increase in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The 27-year-old hit .249/.328/.419 with 16 long balls and 19 stolen bases for the Phillies in 2024. Marsh is projected to be the club's primary center fielder against right-handed pitching in 2025. |
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Ranger Suarez Ranger Suarez Gets $8.8 million from Philadelphia
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 2:10 PM
The Phillies and Suarez avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $8.8 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It was the third and final year of arbitration eligibility for Suarez. The veteran left-hander had a 2.76 ERA in the first half but just a 5.65 ERA in the second half of 2024 while being limited to eight starts due to a back injury. Suarez entered the offseason healthy and will be heading into his walk year in 2025. |
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Bryson Stott Bryson Stott Settles with Philadelphia
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 2:01 PM
The Phillies and Stott avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.2 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Stott gets a nice raise in what was his first year of arbitration eligibility. He regressed to just a .671 OPS in 2024 but remained useful for fantasy managers with 11 home runs and 32 stolen bases. |
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