As Opening Day approaches, teams across the league are finalizing their 26-man rosters, and the Philadelphia Phillies have taken significant steps towards reaching that goal with their recent roster cuts.
When it comes to position players, the decisions were relatively straightforward, with few uncertainties about who would make the team.
Apart from a couple of bench spots that were still up for grabs, the Phillies had already established their lineup, which includes several star players.
The bullpen was the area of the team with notable competition, especially after Dave Dombrowski confirmed that the starting rotation was finalized. Concern arose regarding the availability of rising star Orion Kerkering for Opening Day due to his flu diagnosis and limited participation during spring training. There were considerations that he might not make the initial roster.
However, any decision regarding Kerkering’s inclusion will have to wait until later, following the recent roster cuts made by Philadelphia on March 19. Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that pitchers Kolby Allard and Max Castillo, infielder Rodolfo Castro, and first baseman Darick Hall were sent down to Triple-A.
The Philadelphia Phillies made additional roster moves, assigning pitchers Austin Brice and Ricardo Pinto, as well as catcher Cody Roberts, to their minor league camp.
Among the players sent down, Kolby Allard was considered a potential sixth starter or long reliever after being claimed off waivers by the Phillies. Darick Hall has mainly played in the minor leagues with limited MLB opportunities in recent years, while Rodolfo Castro was acquired at the trade deadline in 2023.
The decision to send Brice, Pinto, and Roberts to the minor league camp was expected, considering that Brice and Pinto signed minor league deals, and Roberts played in Double-A last season.
While these moves may not drastically alter the roster, they indicate that the Phillies are narrowing down their final group and are likely considering who will be part of the team for the season opener at Citizens Bank Park.
