The Phillies announced a series of roster moves on Saturday morning.
Outfielder Cal Stevenson was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, alongside right-handed pitcher Kyle Tyler. Four other players — infielder Christian Arroyo, catcher Josh Breaux, right-handed pitcher Nabil Crismatt and outfielder Oscar Mercado — were reassigned to minor league camp.
These moves dwindle the club’s roster down, meaning only a few players remain in the mix for the final few spots on the Opening Day roster.
Kody Clemens and Buddy Kennedy, both without minor-league options, are vying for the final bench spot. Either would join Rafael Marchan, John Rojas and Edmundo Sosa on the Phillies bench to start the season.
The final rotation and bullpen spots are both fluid situations. With the Phillies waiting to see how Matt Strahm and Ranger Suárez feel, there could be a few spots, especially in the bullpen, open. Right-handers Tyler Phillips and Michael Mercado remain in camp. They’re in the mix for a bullpen spot, depending on the availabilities of Strahm and Suárez for Opening Day.
If Suárez isn’t ready and Strahm is — the likeliest scenario as of Saturday morning — Taijuan Walker would be in the rotation to start the year, with Phillips or Mercado in the bullpen. The Phillies won’t use a fifth starter until the sixth game of the season on April 3.
Also, according to multiple reports, Justin Crawford is going to start the year in Triple-A. Chase Ford first reported the news on Friday. According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, Gabriel Rincones Jr. will join Crawford in Lehigh Valley’s outfield.
Crawford, Phillies Nation’s fourth-best Phillies prospect, only appeared in 40 games at Double-A last year, batting .333 with an .834 OPS. He went 4-for-11 this spring in Grapefruit League play.
Rincones showed off his power in big-league camp. Three of the left-handed hitter’s five hits in the Grapefruit League were home runs. Rincones also drove in seven runs. He was limited because of an injury last season. In 224 at-bats for Double-A Reading, he hit .263/.357/.487 with 11 homers.
