Phillies will regret not adding Tony Watson to 26-man roster
By Matt Rappa
With less than a week until Opening Day, the picture regarding the eight-man Philadelphia Phillies bullpen has become clearer.
Wednesday marked the deadline for three of the team’s non-roster invitee veteran relievers — Brandon Kintzler, Hector Rondon, and Tony Watson — to exercise an opt-out clause in their minor-league contract. The Phillies then had two days to add them to their currently filled 40-man roster.
The fate of the first of these three players was revealed on Thursday, with the release of Rondon. On Friday, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury reported that Watson has opted out of his deal with the Phillies, requesting and being granted his release. The Athletic’s Matt Gelb later reported that Kintzler — along with outfielder Matt Joyce — have made the team.
The Phillies cutting ties with Tony Watson is a surprising move.
Kintzler, 36, notably joined the Phillies through the recruitment of Bryce Harper — leaving a guaranteed deal on the the table from his former team in the division-rival Miami Marlins. The gamble ultimately paid off for the veteran, who has tossed 8 2/3 innings this spring and allowed just one earned run while striking out nine and walking two.
Rondon, 33, struggled this spring down in Clearwater, posting an 8.10 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across seven appearances and 6 2/3 innings. The right-handed pitcher allowed eight hits, seven runs (six earned), and one home run, albeit striking out seven batters and walking just two.
The 35-year-old Watson had one bad outing this spring in which he allowed five hits and four runs through just a third of an inning pitched, but otherwise has been effective out of the bullpen, striking out seven and walking just two spanning five innings and seven appearances.