CLEARWATER, Fla. -- With a handful of moves made Friday morning and an impending organizational meeting on Sunday, the Phillies' 25-man roster is nearing completion as the team preps for Opening Day.
The team began the day optioning outfielder Tyler Goeddel and right-hander Jake Thompson to Minor League camp.
With a prospect-filled outfield at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Goeddel was sent to Double-A Reading.
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"I'm not too happy about that, but you can't control it," Goeddel said.
After being selected with the first overall pick in the 2015 Rule 5 Draft, Goeddel spent the '16 season on the Phils' 25-man roster.
Goeddel said the coaching staff told him he would likely get everyday playing time with Reading.
"I want to play every day," Goeddel said. "It was tough last year, playing sparingly. Getting at-bats is going to be great. Obviously, I wish it was up here."
Although Goeddel will begin the season two levels down in the organization, his status on the 40-man roster means he is primed to be the first called up should an outfielder miss time with an injury.
The move leaves Chris Coghlan and Daniel Nava, both of whom are non-roster invitees to Spring Training, fighting for the fifth outfield spot on the roster.
Manager Pete Mackanin said the organization is considering carrying just four bench players on its 25-man roster and eight relievers.
"I don't want to do that, especially in the National League, but we're talking about it," Mackanin said after Friday's 3-2 loss to the Yankees.
Thompson was briefly sidetracked by a sore right wrist this spring after making his Major League debut in 2016. He made 10 starts after an August callup, with a 3-6 record and a 5.70 ERA.
The plan for Thompson all along was to start 2016 in Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he led the International League last season with a 2.50 ERA and tied for the league lead with 11 wins in just four months.
Given his experience last season with the Phillies, the team's cautious handling of Zach Eflin after double knee surgery and the inexperience of Nick Pivetta and Ben Lively, Thompson seems the likely choice to fill a spot in the Major League rotation if any starter misses time with an injury.
Additionally, infielder Hector Gomez, catcher Logan Moore and right-hander Dalier Hinojosa were reassigned to the Minors.
As a non-roster invitee to Spring Training, Moore hit .220/.282/.356 with Reading and Lehigh Valley in 2016. After starting the season in the Phillies' bullpen, Hinojosa pitched in 10 games before spending time on the disabled list with a right hand injury and then being optioned to Lehigh Valley. He was outrighted off the 40-man roster in October. Gomez played the 2016 season overseas in Korea.