CLEARWATER, Fla. – Opening Day is 15 days away.
Let’s try to project what the Phillies’ 26-man roster will look like on March 26, when they play the Rangers at Citizens Bank Park:
Catcher (2): J.T. Realmuto, Rafael Marchán
One of the team’s undecided roster spots is backup catcher. It’s Marchán vs. Garrett Stubbs. Both are out of options, so the Phillies could lose the catcher who doesn’t make the team.
Stubbs signed a split contract with the Phillies, meaning he will be paid $925,000 in the big leagues or $575,000 in Triple-A. If Stubbs doesn’t make the Opening Day roster and clears outright waivers, he can accept the outright assignment or elect free agency. But if he elects free agency, he forfeits the contract that guarantees him a relatively significant Minor League salary. It’s not a problem if Stubbs finds a big league job elsewhere, or if another team is willing to match or exceed his Triple-A salary. But other organizations could pay him less, which would give him something to think about.
If the Phillies lose either Marchán or Stubbs, René Pinto is probably the organization’s No. 3 catcher.
First baseman (1): Bryce Harper
The only question is where he hits in the lineup.
Second baseman (1): Bryson Stott
He hopes to carry a strong second half in 2025 into his first All-Star season.
Shortstop (1): Trea Turner
The projected leadoff hitter again.
Third baseman (1): Alec Bohm
He will be a free agent after the season, so he has plenty of motivation to have a big year.
Outfielders (4): Justin Crawford, Adolis García, Brandon Marsh, Otto Kemp
Crawford is going to get a long look as the team’s center fielder. Marsh and Kemp will platoon in left. The Phillies hope García can recapture the form that made him a Rangers legend in 2023.
DH (1): Kyle Schwarber
The only question is where he hits in the lineup.
Bench/Utility (2): Dylan Moore, Edmundo Sosa
Phillies manager Rob Thomson has said this spring that his ideal fourth bench guy is a true utility player, meaning somebody who can play the infield and outfield. Recently, he mentioned Stubbs as a possibility. But Moore won a 2024 Gold Glove as a utility player, so he fits the bill more than perhaps anybody else in camp.
Moore is not on the 40-man roster, so the Phillies would have to make room for him. (The Phillies will clear a spot if either Marchán or Stubbs come off the roster before Opening Day.)
Starting Pitchers (5): Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker, Andrew Painter
Zack Wheeler threw his fifth bullpen session on Tuesday at BayCare Ballpark. He threw 36 pitches in two simulated innings. It went well. Thomson said by Thursday, they will know what comes next, but a live BP is getting close. It’s unclear if Wheeler will pitch in a game before the end of camp on March 23, but it won’t be a surprise to see him pitch in at least a Minor League game at Carpenter Complex before then. Either way, Wheeler is zooming toward an April return.
Relief Pitchers (8): Jhoan Duran, Brad Keller, José Alvarado, Orion Kerkering, Tanner Banks, Jonathan Bowlan, Kyle Backhus, Chase Shugart
The first six spots are locks, leaving two jobs available. Thomson said that he would like a third lefty in the bullpen, although it isn’t a requirement. Backhus, who is left-handed, has pitched five scoreless innings in five appearances, which includes a scoreless inning in an exhibition against Team Canada. He has allowed two hits and two walks. He has struck out five. He has options, which would give the Phillies' roster flexibility during the season. The other job might be between right-handers Seth Johnson (6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K) and Shugart (5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K). Both have options.
Right-hander Zach McCambley (7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 5 K) is a Rule 5 Draft pick, so he’ll continue to get a look. But the Phils would need to keep McCambley on the roster the entire season to keep him in the organization, or they risk losing him. Right-hander Zach Pop (4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) is out of options, but like Stubbs, he has a split contract that will pay him $250,000 in Triple-A.