April 2021 Phillies Minor League Transactions

[julio]

4/1:
Philadelphia Phillies selected the contract of 2B Ronald Torreyes from Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Philadelphia Phillies sent LHP Kyle Dohy outright to Phillies Alternate Training Site.

4/2:
Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent SS C.J. Chatham to a minor league contract.
SS C.J. Chatham assigned to Reading Fightin Phils.

4/3:
Lehigh Valley IronPigs activated RHP Mark Appel from the restricted list.

4/11:
Philadelphia Phillies recalled LHP JoJo Romero from Phillies Alternate Training Site.

4/13:
Philadelphia Phillies recalled RHP Spencer Howard from Phillies Alternate Training Site.

4/14:
Philadelphia Phillies recalled CF Mickey Moniak from Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies optioned RHP Spencer Howard to Phillies Alternate Training Site.

4/16:
Reading Fightin Phils released C Nerluis Martinez.

4/18:
Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent LHP Rob Kaminsky to a minor league contract.

4/19:
Philadelphia Phillies recalled LHP Cristopher Sanchez from Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies recalled LHP Damon Jones from Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies recalled SS Nick Maton from Phillies Alternate Training Site.

4/20:
Philadelphia Phillies optioned LHP Damon Jones to Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies recalled RHP Ramon Rosso from Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies optioned LHP Cristopher Sanchez to Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies recalled LHP Bailey Falter from Phillies Alternate Training Site.

4/21:
Philadelphia Phillies optioned RHP Ramon Rosso to Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies recalled 3B Scott Kingery from Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies recalled RHP Spencer Howard from Phillies Alternate Training Site.

4/26:
Philadelphia Phillies selected the contract of CF Odubel Herrera from Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies optioned LHP Bailey Falter to Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies optioned RHP Spencer Howard to Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies optioned CF Mickey Moniak to Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent OF Ryan Cordell to a minor league contract.
OF Ryan Cordell assigned to Reading Fightin Phils.

4/29:
Jersey Shore BlueClaws released CF Malvin Matos.
Jersey Shore BlueClaws released LHP Josh Tols.
Clearwater Threshers released RHP Robinson Martinez.
GCL Phillies East released C Cesar Rodriguez.
GCL Phillies East released C Victor Diaz.
GCL Phillies East released RF Raymond Mora.
GCL Phillies East released LHP Cam Beauchamp.
GCL Phillies East released LHP Brenden Kudlinski.
GCL Phillies East released RHP Jamie Sara.
GCL Phillies West released RHP Luis Pacheco.
GCL Phillies West released RHP Connor Hinchliffe.
GCL Phillies West released RHP Daniel Vilchez.
GCL Phillies West released RHP Eudiver Avendano.
GCL Phillies West released C Bruce Wang.
Phillies Organization released SS Jake Holmes.
Phillies Organization released RHP Carlos M Francisco.
Phillies Organization released RHP Jaylen Eichler.

4/30:
Philadelphia Phillies recalled C Rafael Marchan from Phillies Alternate Training Site.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs released RHP Luke Leftwich.

[zambonir]

So Chathams's been back for a while but wasn't re-signed in time to make the alternate site roster. Are they actually allowed to move guys on and off it? Would seem impractical and ill-advised, in terms of travel and quarantine. I assume he's ultimately an Iron Pig in any case, and still a long way away from sniffing Philly with Kingery and Maton on the 40.

[andyb]

Brito is up with the alternate squad as a developmental player but is probably ticketed to Reading when the season starts. And for now I think playing Kingery and getting him right is the immediate priority.

[zambonir]

Was also interesting to me that they left Stott in Clearwater.

[Squire]

I feel fairly certain that Maton will be the AAA Lehigh Valley shortstop and Stott will be the AA Reading shortstop. Chatham will get utility type innings around one of the infields. Assuming that the other two starting shortstops are Luis Garcia and Casey Martin I don't know which goes to Jersey Shore (now the High A Affiliate) and who goes to Clearwater (now the Low A affiliate)

[andyb]

I'd put Stott in Reading too, assuming he is on the fast track. It does seem to be an organizational philosophy these days to keep all these middle infielders playing some 2B and 3B also, so it is reasonable to expect that each level could have 2 different shortstops. Martin and Garcia might both end up in Jersey Shore and Jamari Baylor (plus a kid from DSL/GCL in 2019) would be in Clearwater.

Jonathan Guzman is still lurking too. He did not hit in winter ball, but a 614 OPS in Lakewood in 2019 is not exactly awful for a middle infielder. No idea where he ends up but he might be the best defensive SS of the whole bunch we are discussing.

[Austinfan]

Wouldn't Simmons be at Clearwater?

[andyb]

Could be. Probably depends on how the team feels about his development the past year. The hitting struggles in Australia could dictate the lower placement. Based on age though, the team could still keep him on that 1-level a year progression they probably had planned for. Of the prospects mentioned here though, Simmons may be a bit less of a SS than the others, though obviously he should keep getting some chances there even if he is not the primary SS at a level.

Matt Winkelman's depth chart page projects a Jersey Shore infield of Martin (2B), Garcia (SS), and Simmons (3B) all at the same level but in that situation they would all play some SS (though Garcia is probably the most realistic SS at the MLB level).

[Austinfan]

I'd want Simmons to start at Clearwater, let his hitting tell you when he should be promoted.

I like the ML changes, I think they were doing marginal talents a disservice by allowing them to hang around the minor leagues indefinitely instead of getting on with their lives, and from a development standpoint, there are only so many competent coaches you can find (even if money is no object), so you want to focus their efforts on "legitimate prospects." A lot of players were being drafted/signed out of LA just to fill out rosters with no real future.

By condensing the minor leagues, you improve the quality of competition, which should improve player development. There simply isn't enough talent for any team to field 2 DSL teams, 2 GCL teams, a A- short season team, etc.

There are still 100+ slots in the US, plus LA leagues where kids can marinate before you bring them over. And you can stash guys in extended spring training, IR, etc. if you think they need a couple years to physically mature.

[bkox]

#Phillies have released the following minor league players:

RHP Luis Pacheco
RHP Connor Hinchliffe
RHP Daniel Vilchez
RHP Eudiver Avendano
RHP Jamie Sara
LHP Josh Tols
LHP Cam Beauchamp
LHP Brenden Kudlinski
C Cesar Rodriguez
C Victor Diaz
OF Malvin Matos
OF Raymond Mora

— MiLB-Transactions ( @tombaseball29 ) April 29, 2021

[julio]

Mod's note: Moved bkox's post from General Minor League Discussion to here, because it seemed more appropriate - J

[phillychuck]

RHP Luis Pacheco
RHP Connor Hinchliffe
RHP Daniel Vilchez
RHP Eudiver Avendano
RHP Jamie Sara
LHP Josh Tols
LHP Cam Beauchamp
LHP Brenden Kudlinski
C Cesar Rodriguez
C Victor Diaz
OF Malvin Matos
OF Raymond Mora

Tols, Diaz, and especially Matos at least flashed some potential at one time (or were mentioned by scouts as having such).

[Austinfan]

Rodriquez was a $500K bonus from Venezuela. Sal's future is starting to look precarious.
Diaz got $250K and never got out of the DSL.
Mora got $400K.

They're being decisive about moving on from the mistakes of the previous regime.

[andyb]

Not sure these moves, especially for the mid-bonus international players 5 years ago can be termed decisive. There are lots of $400K signings (and 6th round picks) that teams move on from after 5 years because they did not develop. This year was always going to have a greater number of releases like this because it is 2 years of releases (the releases last year were largely the 28th round types that were not really prospects in the first place).

Sal is still there though, so it is not like this is the previous regime at all. The $250K-$400K bonus is also today's substitute for what used to be the $100K bonus 10 years ago. It is not good that we have to release some of these players, but it is not surprising as well. We are down 3 affiliates now assuming we go to one DSL and GCL team. Players need to be released in that world and the roster limits are more strict stateside, so the bulk of the releases will probably be from the DSL as teams migrate to new organizational player limits.

[julio]

This year was always going to have a greater number of releases like this because it is 2 years of releases

This... and compounded by the elimination of minor league rosters. There will be more releases before May 4th.

[andyb]

Robinson Martinez also released.

And Ryan Cordell signed (on Reading roster).
https://twitter.com/tombaseball29/status/1387902277613096962

Ryan Cordell Stats | Baseball-Reference.com

Brief appearance with the Mets last year, the White Sox before that. Looks to be a depth move.

[andyb]

I think it is up in the air on 2 GCL and DSL teams this year. I believe there is a 190-player stateside organizational limit that goes down to 180 in season. But most team rosters are expanded up near 30 players this year because of COVID and there will always be 10-20 injured players. That would really make it tough to field 6 teams with 160-170 players.

Only a guess, but I think 1 GCL is more likely though maybe they start the season earlier and players will move around much more where there are roster openings.

[julio]

Bruce Wang has been added to the list of Phils' GCL cuts:

4/29/21: GCL Phillies West released C Bruce Wang.

[andyb]

The Eastern League site is starting to show some transactions from other teams. Nothing from the Phillies yet of course. We'll probably know these rosters at some point over the weekend.

[Clawsgirl22]

Jake Holmes was also released