Phillies: Breaking down the spring training roster battles
By John Town
Infield bench
With Andres Blanco now a Giant, the Phillies are in search of a new utility infielder. There are plenty of infielders in camp that all could be making a push for a spot.
Of course, the bench situation is complicated by what happens with the bullpen. Both general manager Matt Klentak and manager Gabe Kapler expressed interest in carrying an eight-man bullpen this year to lessen the load on the rotation. This would leave the club with a four-man bench, increasing the need for versatility.
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The front-runner for this job is Pedro Florimon. He had a ridiculous .533 batting average on balls in play in his 15-game stint in the majors with the Phillies last year. However, his season was cut short when he dislocated his ankle on first base. Florimon is back on a non-roster invite this year and has a strong chance to make this time around. He has the versatility needed; he played six different positions in his brief time in the majors last year.
Ryan Flaherty is another option for the job. He never was a great hitter during his tenure in Baltimore, but the former Oriole played every infield position and both outfielder corners.
Strong camps from other players like Tommy Joseph, Will Middlebrooks, and Jesmuel Valentin could force the team into a complicated situation. They would either have to sacrifice a fifth outfielder or the eighth reliever to accommodate but one of them, but it’s within the realm of possibility.