Phillies' Matt Strahm: Won't pitch due to fingernail issue
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Strahm (shoulder) will not make a schedule Grapefruit League appearance Monday versus the Rays due to left middle fingernail irritation, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
The issue is not believed to be serious and Strahm remains on track to be ready for Opening Day later this week. The left-handed reliever has made just two Grapefruit League appearances this spring due to a shoulder impingement that's caused inflammation, but he's been throwing lately without any problems with the shoulder.
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Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Hopes to return sometime in April
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Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Monday that he is hopeful Suarez (back) "would pitch sometime in April," Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Suarez is dealing with a back injury and will begin the season on the 15-day injured list. He is throwing on flat ground but will need time to get built back up, which Dombrowski believes will take "three weeks or something at least." Philadelphia will use Taijuan Walker as its fifth starter until Suarez is ready.
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Phillies' Buddy Kennedy: Misses out on Opening Day roster
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The Phillies will attempt to trade Kennedy before Opening Day, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Kennedy did not make the Opening Day roster, but the club has received trade interest in the 26-year-old and will attempt to swing a deal. If a trade doesn't come to fruition, Kennedy will be designated for assignment, as he is out of minor-league options.
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Phillies' Kody Clemens: Earns bench spot
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The Phillies informed Clemens on Monday that he has made the Opening Day roster, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Clemens nabbed the final bench spot over Buddy Kennedy after posting an .857 OPS with two home runs this spring. He will be used mostly in a pinch-hitting role while providing backup at multiple positions.
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Phillies' Tyler Phillips: DFA'd by Philly
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The Phillies designated Phillips for assignment Sunday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander allowed nine runs with a 14:7 K:BB over 10.2 innings during spring training, so Philadelphia elected to DFA him in favor of waiver-claim Carlos Hernandez. Phillips threw a complete game shutout last year but overall struggled in the majors, finishing the regular season with a 6.87 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 36.2 frames.
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Phillies' Carlos Hernandez: Claimed by Philly
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The Phillies claimed Hernandez off waivers from the Royals on Sunday.
The right-hander was put on outright waivers after missing out on Kansas City's Opening Day bullpen Saturday, and it didn't take long for him to be scooped up by another team. Hernandez had a 3.30 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 27:16 K:BB over 30 innings during the regular season last year, but he struggled in spring training with eight runs allowed and an 8:5 K:BB over 10.1 innings.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Nabs rotation spot
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Manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Walker will be included in Philadelphia's season-opening rotation, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The veteran right-hander entered camp with the expectation of working as a reliever, but instead he's needed in the rotation with Ranger Suarez (back) headed to the injured list. Walker had a 6.92 ERA and 6:3 K:BB through 13 innings during spring training, and he fared even worse in 19 appearances during the 2024 regular season with a 7.10 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 58:37 K:BB over 83.2 innings.
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Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Needs IL stint
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Manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Suarez (back) will begin the season on the injured list, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The left-hander suffered a back injury last week and will be unavailable for at least the first couple weeks of the regular season. Taijuan Walker will step into Philadelphia's rotation while Suarez is sidelined.
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Phillies' Michael Mercado: Doesn't make Opening Day roster
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The Phillies optioned Mercado to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.
Mercado had a rough spring, posting a 7.04 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 8:5 K:BB over 7.2 innings. The 25-year-old also struggled during his first look at the majors last year, posting an 11.08 ERA, 1.92 WHIP and 10:9 K:BB across 13 regular-season frames. Mercado put up solid numbers with Lehigh Valley last year, and he could get another call-up at some point in 2025 if he continues to show development in the minors.
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Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Plays catch again Saturday
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Manager Rob Thomson said Suarez's back is feeling better after playing catch again Saturday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
The Phillies still haven't determined if Suarez will make his first start or head to the IL to begin the season, but Thomson said that decision will be made by Monday. The 29-year-old lefty is slated for another round of catch Sunday, which might help the team decide on his fate.
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Phillies' Justin Crawford: Moving to Triple-A
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Crawford will begin the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Upon reaching Double-A Reading midway through last season, Crawford slashed .337/.386/.462 with 26 RBI and 16 stolen bases over 185 plate appearances. Rather than sending him back for more Double-A reps, the Phillies will quickly promote the 21-year-old outfielder to Triple-A. If Crawford's dominance at the plate continues at Lehigh Valley, he may have a chance to make his MLB debut at some point in 2025.
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Phillies' Kyle Tyler: Dispatched to Lehigh Valley
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The Phillies optioned Tyler to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.
Tyler really never had much of a shot to make the Phillies' Opening Day rotation, and he didn't help his chances with five runs allowed and a 7:6 K:BB over 9.1 spring innings. He'll instead begin the year in Lehigh Valley's rotation and look to improve upon the 5.82 ERA he accumulated upon joining the Phillies organization back in August.
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Phillies' Cal Stevenson: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Phillies optioned Stevenson to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.
Stevenson will end the spring with a .179/.313/.333 slash line to go along with 19 strikeouts in 39 at-bats. He'll look to get back on track in the minors, but his career .514 OPS doesn't inspire much confidence in his ability to produce in the majors if he gets called up to Philly.
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Phillies' Matt Strahm: Pitching in minors game Saturday
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Strahm (shoulder) will pitch in a minor-league game Saturday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
If that goes well, he will pitch in the Phillies' Grapefruit League finale Monday, setting him up to be ready to go for Opening Day. Strahm's last game appearance came on March 5, as he's been shelved by a left shoulder impingement that's caused inflammation.
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Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Playing catch Friday
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that Suarez (back) "felt a lot better today" and will play catch Friday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Suarez underwent testing due to back stiffness, but nothing alarming was found and he's been cleared to resume throwing. The left-hander isn't out of the woods yet, particularly since he dealt with back issues last season, too, but it looks like he will have a chance to avoid a stint on the injured list.
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Ready to play outfield
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Rojas (shoulder) is starting in center field and batting leadoff in Thursday's Grapefruit League contest against Atlanta, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Rojas had been limited to designated hitter duty after suffering a right shoulder injury during the Dominican Winter League, but he's been throwing without issue lately and is finally ready to play the field. The defensive ace is expected to operate as the Phillies' fourth outfielder this season.
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Phillies' Garrett Stubbs: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Phillies optioned Stubbs to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
This transaction locks in Rafael Marchan as the backup catcher behind J.T. Realmuto in Philadelphia to begin the 2025 regular season. Stubbs had a respectable spring with an .804 OPS in 10 games, and he has developed a reputation as a well-liked clubhouse presence, but he is a career .215/.294/.311 hitter in the major leagues.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Could be next man up in rotation
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Walker took the loss in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees after giving up six runs (three home runs) on nine hits and two walks with just one strikeout in 3.2 innings, but Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia believes the right-hander could play a meaningful role to open the season.
With Ranger Suarez dealing with mild back stiffness, it's become uncertain whether he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. If Suarez is unable to make his first turn in the rotation or needs to begin the campaign on the injured list, Walker is the next man up on the depth chart to fill his spot. The right-hander is in line to get one more start this spring, and regardless of role, he's all but guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster despite carrying 6.92 ERA and 1.69 WHIP with six punchouts over 13 frames in exhibition play. Walker's name has been previously mentioned in trade rumors, but a deal seems unlikely at this point given Suarez's injury and the remaining two years and $36 million left on Walker's contract.
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Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Undergoes tests on stiff back
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Suarez underwent tests after feeling tightness in his back Sunday, one day after pitching in an intrasquad game, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson contends that the back issue is "not as bad" as the one that cost Suarez more than a month of action during the second half last season. However, he will not start Friday's Grapefruit League game versus the Blue Jays and more will be known about his status within the next 2-to-3 days. If Suarez is not ready for the start of the season, Joe Ross could slide into the Phillies' rotation in his place.
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Phillies' Matt Strahm: Throwing bullpen session
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Strahm (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Strahm's last Grapefruit League appearance was back on March 5, as he's been working his way back from a left shoulder impingement. The southpaw could still have time to get ready for Opening Day if things break right, but it's not a guarantee.
