Nobody gets paid in the off-season or ST so no issue there. But yeah this theoretical manuever would likely only last until after Christmas. Certainly he would need to report to spring training if he's still on the Phillies, regardless of what might happen (trade, demotion, negotiated release) next.
I think the Phillies have some obligation to him in the bigger picture as well. People make a lot of noise about how a guy like this shouldn't lose his career; well, that's not even close to happening based on how it's gone for other people who were accused of DV. But if MLB's domestic violence program, his legal resolution and his mandatory counseling have any real meaning the Phillies should be there for him (and his girlfriend, who is very young, and, like Herrera, from another country that is not in a good place) as a person and employee.
I think Herrera's value is probably similiar to Santana's, but with a lot less money to move. But including him in a deal where you're taking some salary back and also getting something seems perfectly feasible to me. Some teams won't want anything to do with the PR of course. But at worst he is capable 4th OF and at best he might still be a solid everyday player whom a low-budget team could also flip. Truth be told if he was right-handed he'd be perfect for our bench.
