The Phillies made a boatload of roster moves Saturday morning with less than a week until Opening Day:

Optioned to Triple-A

  • OF Cal Stevenson
  • RHP Kyle Tyler

Reassigned to minor-league camp

  • INF Christian Arroyo
  • C Josh Breaux
  • RHP Nabil Crismatt
  • OF Oscar Mercado

Cal Stevenson and Christian Arroyo being optioned and re-assigned sets up Kody Clemens and Buddy Kennedy as the last two in the race for the last bench spot. Both players are out of options and the Phillies like both players.  Clemens seems to be a slight favorite just because of his experience, but the Phillies had Kennedy learn the outfield this offseason for a reason.

I thought Nabil Crismatt had a good chance to make this roster, but this could be a sign that both Ranger Suarez and Matt Strahm will be ready for Opening Day. The Phillies know that Strahm and Suarez are both close, so if they put Crismatt on the roster for a few games, they’d have to DFA him once one of those two return, and they don’t want to do that.

According to Todd Zolecki, Strahm is pitching Saturday morning at the complex. If that goes well, it seems like Strahm has the green light to be ready on March 27th.

Tyler Phillips and Michael Mercado are the two other arms that still remain in camp. One of those two would take that last bullpen spot if one of Suarez or Strahm isn’t ready to go. Taijuan Walker, who was originally slotted in as the last reliever, would enter into the rotation if the Phillies decide to play it safe with Suarez.


The Phillies now have 31 players in camp. The roster needs to be down to 26 by time MacKenzie Gore throws his first pitch on March 27th.