The Philadelphia Phillies 40-man roster is still in flux as spring training ramps up in Clearwater, Florida. Like most teams, the Phillies' current roster is a combination of veteran players who have accrued service time over the course of their MLB careers and younger players who still retain some organizational control via options.
For those not familiar with the concept of options, all players start with three options when they begin their careers. These options give big league clubs the flexibility to send a player on the 40-man roster back to the minor leagues based on roster needs or if a player could benefit from more time against minor league competition.
Players with options are an important part of a team's year-to-year roster construction. With injuries to core members of the team a reality, having reliable help that can be called up to make a spot start or fill at a position is a need that pops up over the course of the 162-game season.
While some players have been called up for the Phillies and have not had any options used, many have bounced back and forth from the major league roster to the minor leagues over the course of their careers. Some of these players have one option remaining, which forces tough decisions throughout a season. Today, we're going to take a look at Phillies players with options remaining.
Phillies players with minor league options on the 40-man roster
Which Phillies players have 3 minor league options remaining?
- Bryson Stott, 2B
- Orion Kerkering, RHP
- Michael Mercado, RHP
The Phillies only have three players on their 40-man roster who have three options remaining. Of the three, it would be a total shock if the Phillies used any of Bryson Stott's options in 2024. It's more likely we will see the option on Orion Kerkering used this season, especially if the young and talented righty struggles at the big league level in 2024.
Michael Mercado's three options are helpful because he'll likely be viewed as a bullpen depth piece in 2024 and could find himself splitting time between the Phillies and Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Which Phillies players have 2 minor league options remaining?
- Alec Bohm, 3B
- Brandon Marsh, LF
- Johan Rojas, CF
- Weston Wilson, UTL
It might surprise some people that Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh still have minor league options remaining. While it's highly unlikely either would be sent to Triple-A, the team still has that control if that was ever a situation where a bold move was required.
All signs point to Johan Rojas being given every opportunity in spring training to win the starting center field job. The recent injury to Brandon Marsh probably works in Rojas' favor, as no significant upgrade to major league outfield depth was made this offseason. If Rojas scuffles at the plate to begin the season, these options will be important if the team decides he needs more at-bats against minor league pitching.
Weston Wilson made his debut for the Phillies in 2023 in an eight-game call-up, and the utility player saw action in the infield and outfield in that short MLB look. He will likely spend most of 2024 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and one of his remaining two options could be used if the team faces injuries at the major league level.
Which Phillies players have 1 minor league option remaining?
- Garrett Stubbs, C
- Gregory Soto, LHP
- Rafael Marchán, C
- Darick Hall, 1B
- Kody Clemens, UTL
- Rodolfo Castro, UTL
- Kolby Allard, LHP
- Nick Nelson, RHP
- Max Castillo, RHP
- Kaleb Ort, RHP
- Michael Rucker, RHP
- Yunior Marte, RHP
- Luis F. Ortiz, RHP
The Phillies have 13 players on the 40-man roster with only one option remaining. Gregory Soto has a firm lock on a bullpen spot in 2024 and is only a few years removed from being an All-Star closer for the Detroit Tigers. Yunior Marte and Luis Ortiz both spent considerable time in the Phillies bullpen in 2023, and Marte looks like he could begin the season with the Phillies. Barring injuries, Garrett Stubbs is likely to enter his third season with the big club in his familiar role as backup catcher.
The remainder of these players could find themselves in some interesting situations in 2024. Players like Darick Hall and Kody Clemens have spent considerable time with the big league club over the last two seasons. If called up again during the season, they could be players designated for assignment if the Phillies need to clear space to make roster moves.
Rodolfo Castro seemed to have an inside track to fill a utility role for the Phillies until the end of last season when his lack of production saw him removed from the roster for all three rounds of the playoffs. With only one option remaining, it's possible Castro will spend the majority of the 2024 season in Triple-A unless he impresses during spring training.
The Phillies are limited when it comes to catching depth at the higher levels of the minor league system, so that works in Rafael Marchán's favor. Marchán is starting to become known as less of a prospect and more of an organizational depth piece at this stage of his career. Following two stints with the Phillies in 2020 and 2021, Marchán has only one option remaining. Look for him to spend the majority of 2024 at Triple-A unless injuries to J.T. Realmuto or Garrett Stubbs force a roster move.
As far as pitchers are concerned, it will be interesting to see how the Phillies operate with some offseason acquisitions. Michael Rucker, recently acquired from the Chicago Cubs, seems to have a bullpen role with the big club, while newcomers Kolby Allard and Max Castillo look the part of guys who will be called up to make a spot start during the season. Nick Nelson has made appearances with the big club the last few years and has a good chance to get a look in 2024 if injuries hit the starting rotation.
Which Phillies players have no minor league options remaining?
- Kyle Schwarber, DH
- Trea Turner, SS
- Bryce Harper, 1B
- Nick Castellanos, RF
- J.T. Realmuto, C
- Edmundo Sosa, INF
- Cristian Pache, OF
- Jake Cave, OF
- Zack Wheeler, RHP
- Aaron Nola, RHP
- Ranger Suárez, LHP
- Taijuan Walker, RHP
- Cristopher Sánchez, LHP
- José Alvarado, LHP
- Jeff Hoffman, RHP
- Seranthony Domínguez, RHP
- Matt Strahm, LHP
- Connor Brogdon, RHP
- Spencer Turnbull, RHP
- Dylan Covey, RHP
Half of the Phillies' 40-man roster are either out of options or have established themselves long enough in the majors to be exempt. Most of the players on this list are no-doubters, ranging from established veterans to superstars, there are a few names to watch for, however.
The biggest questions among position players will be the fates of Edmundo Sosa, Jake Cave, and Cristian Pache, who will likely fill out the bench come Opening Day. If the team wants to remove them from the active roster, they must pass through waivers to be sent to Triple-A.
Among pitchers, Cristopher Sánchez is the only starter without an established track record, so with zero options remaining, the Phillies are counting on him to perform like last season to avoid a sticky situation. The other pitchers worth mentioning here, Connor Brogdon, Spencer Turnbull, and Dylan Covey, are all depth pieces. If they end up in the big leagues, they'll need to be designated for assignment and clear waivers before being assigned back to the minors.