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Phillies Offseason Notes: Who could break camp as the 13th pitcher?

Sam Coonrod will compete for a bullpen spot during spring training. (Don Otto)

There’s not a lot of intrigue when it comes to the roster heading into spring training.

The Phillies have eight everyday players, four starters and seven relievers locked into their roles, barring injury. Garrett Stubbs is the backup catcher and Edmundo Sosa is their top utility infielder.

The most high profile camp battle this year will be for the final spot in the rotation. Andrew Painter, one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, could break camp with the team and debut for the Phillies as a teenager. Or they could give the spot to Bailey Falter if they believe Painter should begin the season in Triple A.

The Phillies also have one more spot reserved for a pitcher on the roster left to sort out. MLB prohibits clubs from carrying more than 13 pitchers on the 26-man roster from Opening Day to Sept. 1. Unless the league decides to amend the rule like they did the previous season coming out of the lockout, all 30 clubs will have to operate with that limitation in mind.

Rob Thomson indicated on Wednesday that there is a chance the Phillies could open the season with a six-man rotation.

“There’s always potential for that,” Thomson said. “Even if it’s not at the start of the season, I’m sure we’ll go to a six man at some point for a period of time and maybe a couple times over the course of the year just to give those guys maybe a couple of extra guys.”

The more likely outcome is that the Phillies run a traditional eight-man bullpen and there will be plenty of competition for that final spot. Here are some names that could be in the mix:

Sam Coonrod

It’s obvious the Phillies believe Sam Coonrod still has something to give when they retained him in arbitration for $775,000. A shoulder injury delayed his season until August, but when he returned, he was not effective. He can still be optioned to the minor leagues.

Nick Nelson

It wouldn’t be surprising if Nick Nelson wins the last spot in the bullpen. He logged 68 2/3 innings out of the ‘pen for the Phillies in 2022, more than any other reliever. Unless Thomson calls on Connor Brogdon to pitch multiple innings more often next year, Nelson is a good bulk option.

Cristopher Sánchez

Is he a reliever? Is he a starter? Who knows. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Cristopher Sánchez has a fourth option year, so the Phillies can move him back and forth from Lehigh Valley and use him as a swing man. With three lefties in José Alvarado, Gregory Soto and Matt Strahm in the back end, it’s tough to see Sánchez make the roster as a reliever out of camp. He’ll also compete for the fifth starter’s job during spring training.

Yunior Marte

The Phillies acquired Marte in a trade with San Francisco for Erik Miller. He’s got a high 90s fastball and a devastating slider that he needs help commanding. He pitched more than one inning 14 times last season with the Giants.

Waiver Claims and Trades: Luis Ortiz, Andrew Vasquez and Erich Uelmen

These are all guys that were picked up on waivers at some point this offseason and will come to camp to compete for a bullpen spot. Vasquez feels like the odd man out considering he’s a lefty with no minor league options remaining.

Ortiz, a former first-round pick, was solid in just six appearances with the Giants in 2022. Uelmen made his MLB debut against the Phillies last season and has a really funky delivery.

Non-roster invitees

The Phillies haven’t officially announced their non-roster invitees, but the team’s transaction page has right handers Jon Duplantier, Louis Head and Jake Jewell as former big leaguers signed to a minor league contract.

It’ll be interesting to see which minor league relievers get an invite to big league camp. Guys like McKinley Moore

, Andrew Schultz and even the hard-throwing Andrew Baker could be contributors this year, but the added depth acquired through free agency, trade and the waiver wire means the Phillies are not necessarily looking for a young guy to step up immediately.

The Phillies signed Andrew Bellatti to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training last season and all he did was accumulate the second-highest strikeout total among all Phillies relievers last season and throw the final pitch of a World Series victory. If any of these guys pan out the way Bellatti did, the Phillies will be thrilled.

Phillies Notes

Thomson told reporters Wednesday he expects every player to report to camp healthy, with Bryce Harper being the exception.
Harper, who is about two months removed from Tommy John surgery, is doing some light rehab. He could begin swinging a bat in late March, according to Dave Dombrowski during an interview with 94 WIP. The Phillies are sticking to the same timeline for Harper they’ve had all offseason, meaning he will be back before the All-Star break.
Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long visited “almost all” of the hitters over the offseason. “He’s pretty comfortable with everybody and how they’re coming along and how they’re progressing,” Thomson said.