The Phillies appear to be moving on from Phil Gosselin and Blake Parker
The Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly made additional roster changes that extend beyond outrighting just lefty Adam Morgan and right-hander Heath Hembree off of their 40-man roster. According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, the Phillies recently made two similar moves that clear space on their 40-man roster — also outrighting infielder Phil Gosselin and right-hander Blake Parker.
If Gosselin, Hembree, Morgan, and Parker clear waivers, all four arbitration-eligible players are expected to enter free agency rather than accept an assignment to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Upcoming Deadlines:
- Sunday, November 1: Veteran reliever David Robertson ($12 million) and David Phelps ($4.5 million) also have club options that must be decided by Sunday. If the Phillies decline either, they would have to pay a $2 million and $250,000 respective buyout.
- Sunday, November 1: The Phillies must decide by Sunday whether they will issue qualifying offers to any of their current seven free agents, which include Jose Alvarez, Jake Arrieta, Jay Bruce, Didi Gregorius, Tommy Hunter, J.T. Realmuto, and Brandon Workman.
- Wednesday, December 2: Catcher Andrew Knapp; first baseman Rhys Hoskins; and right-handers Seranthony Dominguez, Zach Eflin, David Hale and Vince Velasquez still remain eligible for arbitration. Assuming the Phillies will decline fellow righty Hector Neris‘ $7 million club option for 2021, he, too, will join the list. The Phillies have until December 2 to tender these players contracts before the arbitration process begins.
Gosselin, 32, slashed .255/.312/.363 with 11 extra-base hits, 19 RBI, 13 walks, and 43 strikeouts spanning 83 games and 170 plate appearances in red pinstripes between the 2019-20 seasons. The Malvern Prep High School alumnus fielded five different positions for his hometown team this past season, including first, second and third base, as well as the corner outfield spots.
Parker, 35, fared well for manager Joe Girardi’s squad in 2020, going 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA and 25 strikeouts spanning 16 innings. The Phillies acquired the right-hander from the Minnesota Twins at the July 2019 deadline, and re-signed him through free agency last February; the organization parting ways with Parker so early in the offseason is the most surprising of the four names.
The Phils outrighting Gosselin, Hembree, Morgan, and Parker does not preclude them from re-signing any of them later this offseason.