What other players on the 40-man roster could Phillies move before Opening Day?

This week, the Philadelphia Phillies designated both reliever Andrew Bellatti and outfielder Simon Muzziotti for assignment, clearing 40-man roster spots for players they had acquired via trade or waiver claim.

As we wrote earlier this offseason, the Phillies project to be limited in terms of how many players on their Opening Day 26-man roster they will be able to option to Triple-A Lehigh Valley throughout the course of the season. That’s why it’s notable that Bellatti — who was out of minor-league options — was DFA’d this week, and that the team acquired RHPs Michael Rucker and Max Castillo, both of whom still have one option left. Infielder Diego Castillo was also claimed on waivers earlier in the week, when the Phillies still had a vacant 40-man roster spot. Castillo has one minor-league option left as well.

Whether it’s because they acquire a veteran outfielder and/or pitcher, or that they make additional waiver claims, there’s a very real possibility that the Phillies 40-man roster will look differently on Opening Day than it does right now. Here’s a look at some current players on the 40-man roster that could be candidates to either be traded or designated for assignment before the season begins.

Players Out Of Minor-League Options

• Reliever Connor Brogdon: There had been conflicting information online about whether Brogdon still had one minor-league option left, but Phillies Nation did confirm this week that the 29-year-old is indeed out of options. It would be very surprising given the impressive flashes he’s shown in parts of four MLB seasons if Brogdon was DFA’d. But could he be someone that the Phillies trade for either outfield depth or a pitcher who has remaining minor-league options? That feels possible, although he may very well get a shot to be in the bullpen for the Phillies to start the season.

• 1B/OF Jake Cave: According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the $1 million that Cave signed with the Phillies for to avoid arbitration only includes $500,000 guaranteed. Cave is generally seen as a good defensive outfielder, who added first base to his repertoire in 2023. He also raked in Triple-A last year, homering 16 times and posting a 1.113 OPS in 59 games. However, he underwhelmed at the plate in 184 MLB at-bats in 2023, hitting .212 with a .620 OPS. Cristian Pache and Edmundo Sosa are fellow bench pieces who are also out of minor-league options, so if the Phillies can upgrade at fourth outfielder, Cave might be traded or DFA’d to increase bench flexibility.

• RHP Dylan Covey: The Phillies are thin on starting pitching depth, which may make them try to hold onto Covey. But to do so, he’ll have to open the season as the long man in the bullpen, barring an injury to one of the five projected starters. The 32-year-old — who is out of minor-league options — posted a 3.69 ERA and 4.26 FIP for the Phillies in 28 games a season ago. Covey was not on the roster for any round of the postseason with the Phillies last year.

Players With Remaining Minor-League Options Who Could Still Be Candidates To Be Removed From 40-Man Roster

• INF Rodolfo Castro: Acquired in a trade-deadline deal from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Castro was seemingly kept on the 26-man roster for the bulk of the final two months of the season to preserve his remaining minor-league option for 2024. The 24-year-old hit .100 in 30 at-bats, and felt like he wasn’t a legitimate consideration from Thomson to enter most games. He has an option left, so he may open 2024 at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. But if it comes down to keeping either Castro or Diego Castillo on the 40-man roster, it’s possible Castro will be the odd man out, whether that comes via DFA or trade.

• Both RHP Diego Castillo and INF Max Castillo just joined the Phillies organization, but have already been DFA’d multiple times this offseason. Just because the Phillies acquired them and RHP Michael Rucker recently doesn’t mean they are guaranteed to be part of the organization for an extended period of time. Someone more appealing could be waived this week, and any of that trio could be candidates to be DFA’d to clear a 40-man spot. Being on the fringes of an MLB 40-man roster is probably a pretty miserable existence.

Other Players On The 40-Man Roster To Be Aware Of

• For whatever shortcomings they may have, DH/1B Darick Hall, INF/OF Kody Clemens, catcher Rafael Marchán and RHPs Yunior Marte, Luis Ortiz and Nick Nelson have probably shown you enough that you want to keep them in the organization, even if it’s likely at Triple-A to open the season. None of them are untouchable, though, if the Phillies end up adding multiple veterans to the 40-man roster before the season begins.

• LHP Kolby Allard: The 26-year-old former first-round pick was signed in January to be starting pitching depth for the Phillies, and has one remaining minor-league option, so he’s probably safe.

• RHPs Michael Mercado (three) and McKinley Moore (two) both have multiple minor-league options remaining, and will likely begin the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley as organizational bullpen depth.

• INF/OF Weston Wilson: He has two remaining minor-league options, so he’s among the safest on this list in terms of his 40-man roster spot. That doesn’t mean the 29-year-old will be on the Opening Day roster, but he’ll be an interesting player to watch in Spring Training nonetheless. He hit 31 home runs, posted 86 RBIs and drew 75 walks at Triple-A Lehigh Valley last season. Despite only getting 16 MLB at-bats in the regular season, Wilson was on the NLWCS roster for the Phillies against the Miami Marlins.

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