Inbox: Who fills out rotation? Who's in 'pen?

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies relaxed on Monday. Well, almost everybody. Right-hander Zach Eflin threw a simulated game at BayCare Ballpark, so a handful of people were there for that. But Monday was one of only two days in March when the Phillies do not play a Grapefruit League game.

It is a good opportunity to answer some questions:

Who’s been the most impressive player so far this spring? And who do you think will be the most under-the-radar piece for us this year? -- @ArcainiLuke

I feel like three players have been mentioned more than anybody this spring by manager Joe Girardi, coaches, players and others: left-hander José Alvarado, right-hander Spencer Howard and outfielder Mickey Moniak.

Alvarado is an interesting story. He struggled the past two seasons, but he rededicated himself since the Phillies acquired him in a Dec. 29 trade with the Rays. Alvarado is more than 30 pounds lighter than he finished last season. He hit 100 mph twice on the radar gun in his Grapefruit League debut on Friday. If he returns to his 2018 form, he should be a major piece in Philadelphia’s bullpen.

Howard has been equally as impressive. The club's top prospect wasn’t happy with the way he pitched last season, but he had the opportunity this winter to prepare like he wanted. He entered camp stronger, healthier and throwing harder. The only question with Howard is where he begins the season. He clearly has the stuff to win a job in the rotation, but the Phillies want to monitor his workload, too. Can they do that if he’s in the rotation? What about the bullpen? Girardi has successfully brought along starters in the bullpen before. He could piggyback Matt Moore or Chase Anderson in the regular season.

Or maybe Howard starts in Triple-A where the Phillies can really monitor his workload. I projected Philadelphia’s Opening Day roster on Sunday, and I did not have Howard on it, but only because he has three options remaining and it seems like it really could go any number of ways. Or put it this way: I am not taking bets that Howard does not make the team.

Moniak is the biggest and strongest he has ever been. The Phillies like the at-bats he had last fall, when he made his big league debut. They love what they have seen this spring. He is 4-for-8 with one double, two home runs and two RBIs. A lot of people wonder if he could make the Opening Day roster. He might be a darkhorse candidate at this point, if only because the players ahead of him on the depth chart have more experience. But if he continues to play well, he could force the issue.

Will they name a closer (Archie Bradley) or will they play nice guy and wait until Opening Day to tell us that the closer is Archie Bradley? -- @Joe3PA

Girardi has not announced anyone’s bullpen role yet. It is too early for that. But he has said that he likes relievers to have roles, so I suspect it will happen at some point. Bradley is the favorite, but Héctor Neris is also in the mix. He introduced a slider the other day, and Girardi loved it.

What have you seen from Matt Moore and Chase Andersen so far? -- @DGarson34

Both pitched well in their spring debuts. They remain favorites to win the two remaining jobs in the rotation behind Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Eflin. Moore makes his second appearance on Tuesday, pitching against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Anderson makes his second appearance on Wednesday, pitching against the Tigers in Clearwater. Moore will follow Vince Velasquez, while Anderson will follow Howard. Girardi is flipping the rotation candidates from last week -- Velasquez followed Moore, while Howard followed Anderson -- so that everybody has an opportunity to start.

Who do you see winning the center-field job? And do you think we will see Spencer Howard in the starting rotation at some point this year? -- @Snapshottz

Adam Haseley is expected to miss four weeks with a strained left adductor, which effectively takes him out of the running. Odúbel Herrera is the favorite at this point, though the Phillies would have to add him to the 40-man roster. He is 4-for-9 with one home run, one RBI, one strikeout and one stolen base. He has played well in the outfield, too. Scott Kingery is 2-for-11 with one home run, one RBI, one walk and four strikeouts. Roman Quinn is 3-for-9 with one double, one walk and five strikeouts.

As for Howard, if he does not win a rotation job coming out of camp, it would be surprising if he is not in there at some point this season.

Who would have thought it? It seems the Phillies have an abundance of relief pitchers having a great spring! They have a 40-man roster problem, too. Do you see some trades (Velazquez) or will they release or put top young pitchers like [JoJo] Romero, [Connor] Brogdon and Howard back in the Minors? -- @DDNags20

There are four or five non-roster players who have legitimate chances to make the Opening Day roster: Herrera, Matt Joyce, Brandon Kintzler, Tony Watson and Héctor Rondón. Not everybody is going to make it. It is impossible to imagine the Phillies clearing that much room from the 40-man roster. They could make some trades, and Velasquez has been mentioned as a candidate. Quinn is out of options, so if he does not make the team the Phillies seem likely to lose him. Certainly, any young controllable pitcher with options is a candidate to start the year in Triple-A. Do the Phillies decide to move forward with power arms like Howard, Brogdon and Romero? Or do they try to blend power with veterans like Kintzler and Watson? They probably can do a little bit of both. But they can’t do it all.