Phillies decide who will take the final three bullpen spots on Opening Day

The dizzying number of transactions continued on Sunday as the Philadelphia Phillies get closer to finalizing the 26-man roster before Opening Day. Before the Phillies faced the Toronto Blue Jays in Grapefruit League play, the team announced a trade that sent bench bat Jake Cave to the Colorado Rockies for cash considerations, opening the door for Cristian Pache to make the team as the fourth outfielder. The Phillies also agreed to a contract extension with lefty Matt Strahm that will keep the important bullpen arm under contract through the 2025 season.

In addition to the Cave trade and Strahm extension, the Phillies also announced another round of roster cuts, and we now have a better idea of what the 13-man bullpen will look like when they leave for Philadelphia to open the season.

In the most recent cuts, Andrew Bellatti and Jose Ruiz were reassigned to minor league camp. Bellatti is the most notable name here, and the right-handed pitcher seemed a possibility to make the Opening Day roster with injuries creating three holes in the bullpen over the course of spring training. Bellatti has spent parts of the last two seasons with the Phillies but was designated for assignment in February and brought back on a minor league contract shortly after clearing waivers.

With pitchers Orion Kerkering, Dylan Covey, and Michael Rucker all headed to the IL to begin the regular season, the Phillies have set their bullpen for Opening Day with today's roster moves.

Brogdon, Ortiz, and Marte will complete the Phillies bullpen to start the season

The Phillies will carry right-handers Connor Brogdon, Luis Ortiz, and Yunior Marte as the final bullpen pieces on the 26-man roster. Brogdon has spent considerable time with the Phillies over the last four seasons, and the 29-year-old has a career 10-7 record with a 3.55 ERA in 139 games and 142 innings with three saves.

Ortiz has spent parts of four major league seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants and the Phillies. In 14 appearances with Philadelphia in 2023, he earned one save and struck out 16 batters in 19 innings with an ERA of 3.32. This spring, Ortiz was 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA during his eight appearances, while striking out eight in nine innings.

Marte has spent a decent amount of time in the big leagues over the last two seasons, including 39 games pitched in relief for the Giants in 2022. Last season for the Phillies, Marte appeared in 40 games out of the bullpen and posted a record of 1-1, with two saves and a 5.03 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings pitched. Marte was near perfect on the mound this spring with a 0.00 ERA, and eight strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings while allowing three hits and five walks.

With today's flurry of moves, the Phillies roster appears set as they get ready for the home opener against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.