Phillies Add Four To 40-Man Roster

Catcher Tommy Joseph,  outfielders Aaron Altherr and Kelly Dugan, and lefty Rob Rasmussen were added to the Phillies 40-man roster today, bringing the Phillies active roster to 39.

Joseph, 22, is playing Dominican Winter ball after missing a majority of the 2013 season with concussion-related issues. Joseph was the headlining piece of the trade that sent Hunter Pence to San Francisco in 2012.

Altherr, 23 in January, hit a career-high 12 homers to go along with career high on-base and slugging percentages for High-A Clearwater with 23 steals in 28 attempts.

Dugan, 23, hit a career-high 20 homers between Clearwater and Reading, continuing a power surge that took hold once he became fully healthy in 2012. Dugan was the Phillies’ first pick in the 2009 draft.

Rasmussen, 24, was the Marlins second round pick in 2010 and came to the Phillies in August for Michael Young. Rasmussen averages about seven and a half strikeouts per nine innings pitched. Used primarily as a starter, Rasmussen likely has a future in the big leagues as a reliever.

Analysis: The two names that stand out as missing for me are reliever Mike Nesseth and outfielder Anthony Hewitt. Nesseth, 25, may have pitched himself out of contention with a poor AFL and the Phillies may believe Hewitt, 24, the 24th overall pick in the 2008 draft, would be able to survive the Rule V.

Of note, Seth Rosin, 25, piece of Pence trade,  and Nefi Ogando, 24, bounty in John McDonald deal, were also left unprotected.