TAMPA, Fla. -- The Phillies’ Opening Day roster is crystalizing.
There are only 29 active players in camp, following a flurry of roster moves this week. It started Thursday, when the team optioned Garrett Stubbs to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, making Rafael Marchán the backup catcher. It continued Saturday, when the team optioned outfielder Cal Stevenson and right-hander Kyle Tyler to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and reassigned infielder Christian Arroyo, catcher Josh Breaux, right-hander Nabil Crismatt and outfielder Óscar Mercado to Minor League camp.
Here is where everything stands before the Phillies play their final two Grapefruit League games on Sunday and Monday:
- Johan Rojas will be the fourth outfielder.
- Kody Clemens or Buddy Kennedy will win the final bench job.
- Michael Mercado and Tyler Phillips are on standby, if Ranger Suárez or Matt Strahm (or both) are not ready to open the season because of injuries.
Suárez has not pitched since last Saturday because of a sore lower back. He played catch this Saturday at Carpenter Complex. He will play catch again on Sunday.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Suárez “theoretically” could still make his first scheduled start of the season on April 3, but there is no reason to rush him, especially with his history of back issues.
“He’s feeling better,” Thomson said.
Thomson said the Phillies will probably make a call on Suárez in the next 48 hours.
If Suárez is not ready to pitch, right-hander Taijuan Walker will take his spot in the rotation.
If that happens, Mercado or Phillips will take the last job in the bullpen. Mercado has a 7.04 ERA in 7 2/3 innings this spring, striking out eight and walking five. Phillips has a 7.59 ERA in 10 2/3 innings, striking out 14 and walking seven. In his last three innings of work, however, he has struck out six.
Phillips is out of options, likely giving him the edge.
Both would make the bullpen if Strahm isn’t ready. Strahm threw a scoreless inning on Saturday morning at Carpenter Complex against Blue Jays Minor Leaguers. It was his first appearance since March 5 because of inflammation and a bone bruise in his left shoulder. He struck out three and allowed a double.
If Strahm feels good on Sunday, he is scheduled to pitch on Monday. If he feels OK after that, he is expected to make the team.
“It felt good today,” Strahm said. “I haven’t seen the numbers. But everything felt good. Around this time of year, it’s usually 91-93 [mph]. Once it starts warming up, that’s when I get into my 93-95 range. I’m not too worried about it. The biggest thing for me is just recovering so I can throw every day.”
The Phillies have not announced it, but Rojas will be the fourth outfielder. Prospect Justin Crawford will start the season in Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Crawford, like Rojas, is a brilliant defensive center fielder. He also is the No. 63 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.
There is no reason to have both Rojas and Crawford in Lehigh Valley.
Crawford turned 21 in January and had only 180 plate appearances last season with Double-A Reading, making this a relatively aggressive move. But it says the Phils are ready to push him. It also says Brandon Marsh and Rojas will need to produce in the big leagues. If there are issues and Crawford plays well in Triple-A, he could push for a promotion much earlier than anticipated.
So, three of four jobs on the Phillies’ bench are set: Marchán, Edmundo Sosa and Rojas.
Clemens or Kennedy will take the last spot. Both are out of options, so the Phillies risk losing either player if they don’t make the team.
Clemens is batting .314 (16-for-51) with two doubles, one triple, two home runs, seven RBIs and an .874 OPS this spring. Kennedy is batting .162 (6-for-37) with one double, three homers, seven RBIs and a .779 OPS.
Senior Reporter Todd Zolecki has covered the Phillies since 2003, and for MLB.com since 2009.