Phillies Spring Training Discussion 2024

[andyb]

Either would be expected to be able to play both if they were a reserve, so it is just getting a look at them in each position. Cave was mostly a CF in the minors and early in his career. Not a good one these days, but he can play it.

[xogfog]

Nola not sharp today...

[zambonir]

Heck they played Weston Wilson at SS this week (when Sosa got scratched).

Re: Pache it's all still too early to mean anything and they also might just be trying to boost his trade value (Thomson talked about how he can even hit RHP now) but they sure do still seem high on him.

[andyb]

Turnbull very good today. Covey not.

[fish]

A clean inning with 3k for Griff McGarry- a must see- whistling fastball, nasty slider, and dropped the hammer on the lefty for a k. In command of it all.

[Jazzhead]

Looks like Kingery and Dahl are making moves to be considered for bench roles. Each homered today, and each has two so far this spring.

[zambonir]

Kingery is still the longest of shots as a RHB. Dahl might beat out Cave if he tears it up. But then I'm old enough to remember when Jake Cave tore it up in spring training to make the team last year.

And doesn't Pache have two HRs himself?

[zambonir]

Phillies’ Taijuan Walker won’t pitch for a few days due to right knee soreness

[phillychuck]

Kingery is 5000:1 to make the team out of Spring Training. Dahl is maybe 2000:1. Hope both of them rake for the Iron Pigs.

[zambonir]

Yeah. I mean, Darrick Hall and Kody Clemens were also both over 1.000 OPS last spring training. Basically, spring training is AAA (or at least AAAA). And if you are a player not on the 40 they are going to keep you stashed in AAA. Dahl would really have to outplay Cave by a lot to force the Phillies to DFA Cave. And then there's Pache.

But ironic that whatever slim path Kingery might have had is now blocked by the player the Phillies always wanted him to be (along with Zobrist).

[bkeich]

Weird preseason so far, I believe we are 3-3-3. 3 ties so far.

Yea, yea, I know, it doesn’t matter at all, just like the numerically oddity

[zambonir]

How can you not love the late innings of a spring training game when a guy like this is batting for the Phillies?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamsimoneit/

And he singles!

[zambonir]

Winning record now.

[zambonir]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2024/03/03/nick-ahmed-san-francisco-giants-arizona-diamondbacks/72820141007/

Nightengale (IYKYK). MLBTR got a whole post out of that one sentence!

≻ MLB team executives widely believe that two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell will ultimately sign with the Los Angeles Angels or possibly the San Francisco Giants, while Texas Rangers’ postseason hero Jordan Montgomery will wind up with the Boston Red Sox.

≻ The Philadelphia Phillies have interest in Blake Snell, but only on a one-year or short-term contract.

Phillies Interested In Blake Snell On Short-Term Contract

Even as a short-term signing, however, Snell has its drawbacks for the Phillies. The club would have to give up $1MM in international bonus pool funds and its second- and fifth-highest picks in the 2024 draft, because Snell rejected a qualifying offer and because Philadelphia was a luxury-tax payor in 2023. In fact, the Phils have crossed the Competitive Balance Tax threshold in each of the last two years and are poised to make it a trifecta in 2024, with a projected CBT number of $261MM (as per RosterResource).

This figure is already over the second-highest penalty threshold of $257MM, and adding Snell would surely put Philadelphia over the third tier of $277MM. Teams who cross that third tier face the further penalty of a ten-slot drop for their first selection in the following season’s draft, as well as even steeper financial costs. As a three-time tax payor, the Phillies would be taxed at a 95% rate for every dollar spent above the $277MM mark.

[BaseballCat]

I would not be a fan of getting Snell with all the penalties involved, but if it happens, it happens.

[LoneStarPhan]

Signing Snell, with the penalties involved, would be foolish.

In the game today, Sele pitches 2.2 innings of scoreless ball for the Braves. The Phillies had chances (3 hits, 2 walks, a HBP) but no runs. For the Phillies, Brogdon (hit, walk), Marte (walk), and Lehman (HBP), have put up scoreless innings. Scoreless after 3.

Final: Braves win, 3-2.

Bohm was 3 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

[andyb]

Perfect inning for the much maligned Brett Schulze!

[zambonir]

I don't think there's much fire to the Snell smoke but how great is it that the Phillies are now a team that agents and journalists use to drum up interest and goose bidding? And that's not to say they haven't talked to him either.

[Aquapong]

They might check in, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. With his less than stellar command, you’re lucky to get 5 innings from him. We’re already down to a 4 man bench since we have a dedicated DH and having to pitch 4 innings of relief every time the guy goes out can out your bp in a tough spot more often then we want.

[phillychuck]

I don't want Snell, but I don't think that's a fair criticism. Snell only pitched 13 innings less than Nola did last year in the same number of starts. Not many pitchers average more than 6 IP per start anymore; we're lucky to have Wheeler, who is one of the higher IP/Start guys.