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19 Non-Roster Players Invited To Spring Training

The Phillies have announced 19 non-roster players to join the club in Clearwater for Spring Training.

Who gets the call?

Carlos Carrasco, right-handed pitcher
Mike Cervenek, first baseman
Ron Chiavacci, right-handed pitcher
Vic Darensbourg, left-handed pitcher
Jason Donald, shortstop
Greg Golson, outfielder
Tuffy Gosewisch, catcher
Tim Gradoville, catcher
Paul Hoover, catcher
Brennan King, third baseman
Gary Knotts, right-handed pitcher
Lou Marson, catcher
Brian Mazone, left-handed pitcher
Josh Outman, left-handed pitcher
Valentino Pascucci, outfielder/first baseman
Joe Savery, left-handed pitcher
Casey Smith, infielder
Andy Tracy, first baseman/third baseman
Brandon Watson, outfielder

Of these names, the prospects are Carrasco (Phils No. 1), Donald, Golson, King, Marson, Mazone, Outman and Savery. The most logical choices to make the big leagues out of the gate would have to be Darensbourg and Watson.

The former is a 37-year-old journeyman who went 1-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 22 games for Detroit in 2005. He had a 9/7 SO/BB ratio. Last year for AAA Toledo, he went 6-2 with a 1.72 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 50 games and 52.1 IP. The lefty could definitely see time as the team’s LOOGY, possibly fighting with Shane Youmans for that spot.

The latter, Watson, is a speedster with a nice swing. The 26-year-old centerfielder is going to be the new Michael Bourn. In limited action with the Nationals, he went 5/18 with a double and two ribbies, stealing a base. With the Phils thin outfield corps (for now), Watson looks like a strong option to see some time in Philly this season. At the very least, I’d put him above Roberson on the depth chart.

The most intriguing name on this list is Savery, the Phils 2007 first round pick. Savery has pitched well since signing, especially during his time in the Arizona Fall League. I suspect a stint in Clearwater will determine how the Phils place him for 2008. He could very well stay in Florida and start the year in high-A. If that’s the case, a mid-2009 MLB debut could be in the cards for the former Rice University star.

One final observation is the plethora of non-roster catchers reporting. The big league club has Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste, with AAA-worthy Jason Jaramillo waiting in the wings. (One can’t forget Pete LaForest, but I will.) It’s likely whoever wins out on the catching battle (save for Marson, who will start the year in AA), may be the emergency third/fourth catcher in 2008.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.