Phillies: Matt Joyce latest add to spring training roster

The Phillies will still look to improve their roster as spring training nears.

Although the first workout for pitchers and catchers is just days away, the Phillies will not back away from trying to bolster their spring training roster.  Two names to keep an eye on are relievers who logged innings for the Phillies just this past season, left-hander Jose Alvarez and righty Blake Parker. Dombrowski said the club is staying in contract with both of the free-agents.

Alvarez, 31, was limited to just eight games in 2020 due to being struck by a line drive. The left-hander was effective in those outings, allowing just one run through 6 1/3 innings. Parker, 35, likewise saw success while donning red pinstripes in 2020, going 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA across 14 appearances.

“I think everybody’s looking for major-league deals right to the very end, and then they make their final decisions,” Dombrowski added. “I’m sure both of them would like to have major league deals and maybe they will. I don’t really know.”

Along with outfielder Matt Joyce, the Phillies’ other Wednesday minor-league signing Brandon Kintzler, is a right-handed reliever with closer experience who Dombrowski says the team is “happy to have.”

“He was second in the National League last year in saves and games finished,” Dombrowski said. “He’s somebody that comes in and is an established bullpen guy — that can come in, help us, and battle for a job. We’re hopeful that he can contribute.”

“We do keep working to try to make additions. We continue to talk to a couple of people that maybe could help us with infield capacities, and non-roster invitees as far as the bullpen,” Dombrowski said. “We’ll keep doing that. I don’t know if we’ll do anymore, but those have been our main focus.”