Jun 24, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski prior to the game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports John Geliebter
Every week, On Pattison's Tim Kelly and Anthony SanFilippo will answer your Phillies questions from social media. Let's get to it.
@SixersAdam on X: Do you think there is a real chance the last bench spot ends up going to a late spring training trade acquisition (think Cristian Pache in 2023)? If so, any ideas of either specific players or ideal archetypes worth targeting?
Tim Kelly: I do think there's still a chance that takes place, and I wonder if Kody Clemens could be flipped in a deal to get a better fit.
Clemens is a Major Leaguer and offers positional flexibility, although Edmundo Sosa is a better option at most infield positions, and Clemens is a left-handed hitter on a team that's already lefty-heavy. Clemens is out of minor-league options, so it could make sense to move him for a right-handed hitting outfielder who could fill out the bench.
Whether or not a trade involves Clemens, dealing for an outfielder could be a possibility — as could signing one that doesn't make the club they are currently in camp with. You need to have realistic expectations, you're trying to fill the 25th or 26th spot on the roster, you aren't going to get a superstar.
Nelson Velázquez of the Kansas City Royals and Stuart Fairchild of the Cincinnati Reds are two players out of options that I think could be interesting fits. Velázquez is a right-handed hitter who hit 17 home runs two seasons ago. It's unlikely the Royals will move him, but it's worth a phone call. Fairchild is also a right-handed hitter that can play all three outfield positions.
Kevin Pillar (Texas Rangers) and Mark Canha (Milwaukee Brewers) are two veterans in camps currently as non-roster invitees (NRI). If they don't make their respective teams, each would be worth a look. If the Los Angeles Dodgers designate Chris Taylor for assignment, he'd be worth a flier if he clears waivers and could be signed for the minimum.
Hopefully I didn't take all the options from Anthony.
Sunday morning reading: My latest 26-man Opening Day roster projection for the #Phillies onpattison.com/news/2025/ma...
— Tim Kelly (@timkellysports.bsky.social) March 9, 2025 at 9:47 AM
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Anthony SanFilippo: A return engagement with Whit Merrifield, anyone?
I kid, I kid.
Tim did, in fact, take most of the non-roster veterans and guys out of options worth mentioning. I'll give you a few more, none of whom are really enticing.
Eloy Jiménez is a NRI with Tampa Bay and was a one-time top prospect with the White Sox before injuries derailed his career.
Jake Marisnick is in the same situation with Atlanta. He's known for his defense and speed, but certainly not for his bat.
Albert Almora Jr. is another defensive wiz with little offensive upside who is a NRI with the Marlins.
Manny Margot has a major league track record and he's in camp with the Brewers.
Tim also had a post last week about Stone Garrett, who was waived by Washington. He went unclaimed and is still in camp with the Nats as a NRI.
And there's always a possibility of a Pache reunion. He's a NRI who is out of options and in camp with Arizona. Hey, at least that would get the band "Stay Loose and Sexy" back together.
One-time Padres outfielder José Azocar is on the Mets 40-man roster, but is out of options and may well be the odd man out in their outfield mix. The Marlins have a few stragglers battling for a couple outfield spots, and if Derek Hill loses that camp battle, he, too is out of options.
Switch-hitting Leody Tavares is out of options in Texas, if the Rangers decide to keep Pillar, so that could be a possibility as well.
I know, none of these options sound all that appealing, which makes one wonder why the Phillies didn't address this need for a right-handed outfielder in the offseason.
@Mike.Ryan.2 on Threads: I need a therapist. Can you just make me optimistic? I’m sure as it gets closer I will get the excitement but with how last year ended, this is the least excited I’ve been for an opening day since the last Gabe Kepler year.
Tim Kelly: Rings culture really has ruined sports debate.
I'm not saying you can't be skeptical of whether the Phillies offense will come through in enough postseason games when they aren't hitting home runs. But there's going to be a six-month season between now and then. There will be injuries, a trade deadline, etc.
The Phillies enter the season with one of the 10 best rosters in baseball certainly, and potentially one of the top five. Enjoy the ride.
Anthony SanFilippo: I'm with Tim on this. The Phillies will be there in October and give you a chance at chasing that ring that you covet.
Don't act like they have no chance to win the whole thing. That's asinine.
Sure, you can have doubts — we all do — but the reality of it is, they are one of the seven best teams in the sport. Usually, at least one of those teams — if not two of them — are in the World Series.
Pick the sport. Any sport. And if you go into a season with those odds of reaching the championship matchup at the beginning of the season, you'd be insane not to welcome that.
That's what makes the season interesting. Knowing they're going to be there when the chips are down. And if they do get over the hump and get that elusive championship, how good will it really feel if you were disinterested with the entire journey to get there?
Enjoy the trip — no matter how it ends.
The 2025 #Phillies ratings from 'MLB The Show' make no sense
onpattison.com/news/2025/ma...
— Tim Kelly (@timkellysports.bsky.social) March 7, 2025 at 9:03 AM
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@ThirtyBallparks on Threads: Now that we’ve seen Thomson tinker with the lineup all spring, who do you think should lead off?
Tim Kelly: Thomson has continued to rotate between Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber leading off in Grapefruit League games. I thought by now it might just be at the point where Turner was leading off and the Opening Day lineup would be pretty anticlimactic.
But I think once the door was cracked open for someone other than Schwarber leading off in Thomson's end-of-season press conference last October, someone else pretty much had to be in the top spot on Opening Day. I believe that will be Turner.
If you asked me who I think will be leading off on Fourth of July, my answer would probably be different.
Anthony SanFilippo: It's going to be Turner on March 27. From there, we'll see. I'm gonna bet we see Schwarber there at some point. Possibly even Bryson Stott, if he returns to form after struggling through elbow discomfort while swinging the bat last year.
But you asked the question, who do I think should lead off. My answer is someone who doesn't like to lead off and likely never will for the Phillies — Bryce Harper.
Alas, I don't get to make the lineup. And I don't have to deal with the roster/lineup politics that comes with paying a superstar $330 million. So, I don't get any say in the matter.
@Thomasmrobson on BlueSky: I think I'm getting too clever for my own good right now, but with all the teams needing pitching, could we get any value by moving Ranger Suarez and then ride with Taijuan? It's a gamble for sure, but sometimes that's how you win big.
Tim Kelly: You're getting too something. Respectfully, I don't know that I'd call if clever (this is where I would laugh if I was saying it in audio form).
Anthony SanFilippo: This isn't as crazy as it may sound, albeit with a tweak.
With Matt Strahm dealing with a shoulder issue, would I be opposed to sliding Suárez into a high-leverage relief role and letting Walker start the season as the No. 5 until Strahm is ready?
No, I wouldn't.
Not saying I'd stick with that long-term, but you might get better value out of both Suárez and Walker for a short period of time in this configuration and then punt a decision on what to do with whom when Strahm returns.
But as I said with the lineup question, I don't get to make those decisions. Maybe, for the Phillies, that's for the best.
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