Out-of-options pitcher in roster limbo ahead of Phillies’ Opening Day
Tyler Phillips finds himself stuck in a tough spot with spring training winding down.
The Philadelphia Phillies final Opening Day roster decisions remain murky with a little over a week to go as spring training play begins to wind down. With roster battles playing out at the backup catcher position between Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchán, and a handful of pitchers all vying for the final spot in the bullpen, it remains unclear who will make the final cut ahead of the season opener against the Washington Nationals on March 27.
With only eight games left on the Phillies’ spring training schedule, this is usually a time of high anxiety for veteran players in camp lacking minor league options, non-roster invitees, and young prospects looking to crack their first MLB roster. There’s little doubt that Phillies manager Rob Thomson is close to having some tough conversations with a handful of names Phillies fans have gotten used to over the past couple of seasons.
And when the dust finally settles early next week after Opening Day rosters are announced, there’s a good chance one of last summer’s key contributors could be on the outside looking for a roster spot.
Tyler Phillips is out of options and waits in roster limbo ahead of Phillies’ Opening Day
It’s no secret that the fifth spot in the rotation was a major weakness last season. The team lost Spencer Turnbull to a lat injury in June and struggled with Taijuan Walker putting together one of the worst seasons by a Phillies pitcher in 30 seasons. The Phillies tried to find lightning in a bottle by turning to minor league depth options like Michael Mercardo and Tyler Phillips to start games by the middle of summer. The end results were clearly not what Thomson or the Phillies front office was looking for.
