Phillies Nuggets: Dave Dombrowski talks Johan Rojas, Matt Strahm and more

PHILADELPHIA — As the Phillies wait to find out whether they will face the Los Angeles Dodgers or Cincinnati Reds in the NLDS, they worked out Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. 

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski chatted with media members for more than 20 minutes, hitting on a variety of topics. Here are some notes from that and elsewhere. 

• The Phillies haven't yet decided their roster, which isn't surprising considering they don't know their opponent. Given that it's a best-of-five series with off days after Games 1, 2 and 4, there's a strong case to be made for going with 14 hitters and 12 pitchers for this round. One guy who won't be ready to play in this series, though, is Johan Rojas, who is dealing with a left quad injury. Rojas could still be an option for the NLCS, although his inclusion in that round would seem less likely with the Phillies likely to go back to 13 and 13 if they get there. 
• It's unclear even if Rojas was healthy if he would have been on the playoff roster. But with him out of the picture for the NLDS, that would seem to lock both Otto Kemp and Weston Wilson into roster spots, assuming the Phillies cary 14 hitters. 
• Rojas is part of a stay-ready camp of players who aren't going to be on the playoff roster, but continue to prepare in case they are needed as injury replacements or otherwise later in the postseason. That group also includes RHP Nolan Hoffman, RHP Alan Rangel, RHP Seth Johnson, catcher Caleb Ricketts, infielder Rafael Lantigua and infielder Donovan Walton. 
• This was a cool story from Dombrowski on being careful about not giving up on struggling players: 

Max Kepler, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh all struggled earlier in the season. Dave Dombrowski didn’t give up on them.

He shared an example of a future Hall of Famer he didn’t give up on, either.

(via @GraceDelPizzo) pic.twitter.com/SmKEmNoAJW

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) September 30, 2025

• Matt Strahm had a provision in his contract where he needed to pass a physical at the end of the 2025 season for his $7.5 million vesting option for 2026 to be guaranteed. The 33-year-old lefty passed the physical, so his option has been guaranteed. 
• Over on our uniform tracker — which will be updated throughout the postseason — we calculated the record for the Phillies in each of their threads: 

Phillies record by uniform this season

Red Pinstripes: 27-12

Creams: 12-10

Powder Blues: 6-1

City Connects: 10-3

Grays: 41-40

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— Tim Kelly (@timkellysports.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 7:28 PM

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