With the Philadelphia Phillies' season now over, all attention has shifted to an offseason that has the chance to bring about great change to an organization that hasn't experienced much in the way of turnaround over the last three offseasons. With three consecutive failures in the postseason attached to the Phillies name, it comes as little surprise that owner John Middleton and members of the baseball operations department are reportedly considering changes to the roster.
Without baseball games driving the discussion, all attention shifted to Tuesday's season-ending press conference featuring Dave Dombrowski and Rob Thomson, plus other notable dates on the MLB calendar, such as the start of free agency, the upcoming GM Meetings, and beyond.
But the baseball business hasn't completely come to a full stop. Some of the easiest roster decisions have already been made concerning a trio of minor league free agents who had spent considerable time on the Phillies 26-man roster over the last few seasons.
3 familiar Phillies pitchers elect free agency
The first subtractions of the offseason came last Thursday when it was announced that left-handed pitcher Nick Nelson and right-handers Andrew Bellatti and Dylan Covey had all opted for minor league free agency.
The news shouldn't come as a shock as it seemed the writing was on the wall that the trio were no longer in the Phillies' future plans. Free to test the market this offseason, it's very likely all three will enter spring training camp wearing another team's uniform.
Nelson had a short stint with the Phillies this season, appearing in four games, surrendering eight hits, and recording a 5.06 ERA and eight strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings pitched.
Opening the season as starting pitching depth, he never got the opportunity to slide into that role when openings in the rotation presented themselves, spending the majority of the season putting up unremarkable numbers at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Designated for assignment in August, the Phillies resigned him as minor league depth and stashed him in the minors for the rest of the 2024 season.
Bellatti spent parts of two seasons as a member of the Phillies bullpen and was designated for assignment by the team in February before signing a minor league free agent deal to stay in the organization.
Bellatti didn't see time with the big club in 2024, spending the entire season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, producing an uninspiring record of 4-2 and a 5.48 ERA in 42 2/3 innings pitched. In 86 games with the Phillies, the 33-year-old was 5-4 with a 3.87 ERA and two saves, in addition to striking out 78 batters in 79 innings.
It was a lost season for veteran journeyman Dylan Covey. After signing with the Phillies following his release from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Covey appeared in 28 games while pitching in a variety of roles in 2023.
After a right shoulder strain suffered in spring training this year put him on the shelf, he was transferred to the 60-day IL in June, then outrighted to Triple-A in August when a roster spot was needed. After not appearing in the majors this season, Covey will seek new opportunities and leave behind a Phillies 1-3 record and a 3.77 ERA, with 27 strikeouts in 39 innings.