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Phillies: Options for Three-Player Permissible Taxi Squad

By Bryce Turner

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: Deivy Grullon #73 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during game one of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: Deivy Grullon #73 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during game one of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 05: Cole Irvin #47 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch during the fourth inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Spectrum Field on March 05, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 05: Cole Irvin #47 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch during the fourth inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Spectrum Field on March 05, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Should the Phillies try guys that still need to prove themselves?

Left-handed pitcher Cole Irvin is already on the 40-man roster and would seem likely to join the active roster at some point, potentially as part of the starting rotation.

Irvin impressed as starter in his major league debut last season, giving up only one earned run in seven innings pitched against the Kansas City Royals. His following two starts moved him in the wrong direction, but he pitched really well out of the bullpen during his September call-up, where he gave up only one earned run in 12.1 innings pitched.

Irvin has a 20-5 record, 3.07 ERA and 1.165 WHIP in two seasons with AAA Lehigh Valley. He’s shown potential and could be kept in the Phillies’ back pocket as part of the taxi squad until the team’s ready to add him to the active roster.

Leftfielder Kyle Garlick made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, hitting three HR, six RBI and .250/.321/.521 in 30 games. He showed significant improvement at the Dodgers’ AAA Oklahoma City between 2018 and 2019, hitting six additional HR (23) and 13 additional RBI (59) despite 53 less at-bats with 16 less games.

Garlick also improved his slash line from .253/.287/.478 in 2018 to .314/.382/.675 in 2019. He’s shown the potential to serve a bench role with the Phillies this season and can be part of the taxi squad until the team potentially moves him to the active roster.

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