2018 Phillies Spring Training News/Notes/Discussion

[Lucky_Beagle]

Kingery making the team now means another slot on the 40 man roster needs to be cleared, correct? I believe Hutchinson was going to take the slot created by removing Rupp.

[tom81]

Jim Salisbury (JSalisburyNBCS)

[Jazzhead]

So that means the bench will be Knapp, Kingery, Williams and Florimon. Quinn only if they go with a five man bench to start

[tom81]

So that means the bench will be Knapp, Kingery, Williams and Florimon. Quinn only if they go with a five man bench to start

Maybe, they could still make a trade or they could still decide to keep Quinn on the bench and send Williams down if they go with a 4 man bench.

[zambonir]

you really got it in for Williams! I don't think he's getting sent down, why count his ST more than what he did last year? MLB Is where he needs to prove it.

they could do the five-man bench on and off in April presumably,especially with the planned 10-day DL use.

[xogfog]

I would have preferred Valentin over Florimon, but in reality neither will get a lot of playing time. At least Valentin should get a lot of at bats at AAA. I would try to trade Hernandez, I think packaged with another prospect we could get something, hopefully a LH starting pitcher, like Duffy from KC for example.

[Slinging_Southpaw]

Duffy to the DL with shoulder issues.

[LoneStarPhan]

Kingery may not start at the same position every day but he should be an everyday starter, occasional day off excepted. If he is not going to start, he needs to be sent to AAA, which of course, he is not happening.

Time for Kingery to get a new number.

[zambonir]

Obviously the best line-up has both Kingery and Hernandez in it each day. Unlike with Williams I am inclined to say that Franco's ST shows who he already is. But, he still gets some time to prove otherwise. Just not as much as he would have yesterday.

If Duffy (or anyone the Phillies liked) had been available with Hernandez as the key piece it would have happened already.But we'll see what July brings.

[tom81]

you really got it in for Williams! I don't think he's getting sent down, why count his ST more than what he did last year?

I like Williams, I just think Quinn is the better baseball player and Altherr is a much better player than either and he should be the regular RF’er. I think Quinn is better suited to be the reserve OF, he is a much better base runner and defender and he has shown a higher OBA than Williams in his entire career.

[nycphils]

Pinto guaranteed to be claimed, right? Not great, but 24 y.o. And 26K in 29 IP in the majors last year. Just has to bring down the BBs.

[phillychuck]

Yeah, Pinto was a strange DFA. Florimon is a lot less valuable since Valentin can basically replace him everywhere...And I think I would have DFA'd Milner before Pinto.

[Austinfan]

Pivetta looked very good today, but only 3 innings, his command was better, but other than a good curve, didn't see much in secondary pitches.

Lively was throwing 92-93 again, the uptick in velocity seems to be real. He had one rough inning, but showed 4 pitches, including a 75 MPH curve that had hitters lunging. Think he has the 5th starter spot for now.

[xogfog]

Duffy to the DL with shoulder issues.

Actually Duffy is not on the DL and is still slated to start the season opener on time.

[andyb]

Yeah, Pinto was a strange DFA. Florimon is a lot less valuable since Valentin can basically replace him everywhere...And I think I would have DFA'd Milner before Pinto.

I was definitely willing to DFA the loser between Milner and Curtis before Pinto. Not that Pinto is that great. There is a chance they have a trade in line for him (and Rupp obviously). We should offer to pick up most of Rupp's salary if someone wants to give us a competitive balance pick.

[andyb]

Rosenthal back from back surgery with some notes on Arrieta and Kingery.

Agents are critical of the 3 option years in the contract as too team friendly. Of course one of those is basically replacing a 4th arbitration year if Kingery had been called up on April 13th.

Next steps in the wake of this contract will be interesting. Nola obviously is a candidate for an extension. And Hoskins should think about it too. I will note that the extension needs to be signed by opening day for the low 2018 salary to figure into the long term AAV of the deal. If we are sure about Nola I would lock him up now if possible. Hoskins is trickier because they might have to guarantee him lots of money based on SSS performance last year which means he could be overpriced.

Rosenthal: Why Altuve's deal makes sense; Boras gives his...

Good to have Rosenthal back and Stark should be starting this week too at the Athletic.

[teabag259]

Quinn sent down today.

[Austinfan]

They'll wait a couple years on Hoskins, both sides probably want more data before deciding to get married.
But I think this will be their MO, the same way Hextall likes to sign his RFAs to long-term deals.
Risk some money now to have cost certainty over a long period.

For the players, it's choose to be rich v a chance to be very rich.

[bigegypt0417]

They'll wait a couple years on Hoskins, both sides probably want more data before deciding to get married.
But I think this will be their MO, the same way Hextall likes to sign his RFAs to long-term deals.
Risk some money now to have cost certainty over a long period.

For the players, it's choose to be rich v a chance to be very rich.

This seems to defy logic...why would they wait longer on Hoskins who was successful at the ML level while giving someone who hasn't had a single AB a contract?

[David_Criss]

I don't get the rush on acting so quickly on Kingery to get him on the opening day roster. We were only talking a couple of weeks and he isn't playing everyday.