Phillies Add 11 to Roster, Subtract 2

With a large number of prospects in the minor leagues gaining experience, the Phillies were forced to add a large number of them to their 40-man roster in order to protect them from the Rule 5 draft.   The Phillies on Friday afternoon in advance of the deadline to do so prior to the Rule 5 draft added 11 players.  Two were designated for assignment in order to make room.

The following players were added to the 40-man roster:

• RHP Drew Anderson
• RHP Mark Appel
• OF Dylan Cozens
• LHP Elniery Garcia
• C Andrew Knapp
• LHP Ben Lively
• RHP Ricardo Pinto
• RHP Nick Pivetta
• RHP Alberto Tirado
• 2B Jesmuel Valentin
• OF Nick Williams

Earlier, the Marlins claimed left-handed pitcher Elvis Araujo.   Besides the subtraction of Araujo, the Phillies designated two players for assignment:

• RHP David Buchanan
• RHP Jimmy Cordero

Buchanan failed to make the big club in 2016, despite occupying a roster spot the entire season.   The flame throwing Cordero suffered an injury in Spring Training and may be a good candidate to slip through waivers.

The moves mean that the 40-man roster is completely full.   Should the Phillies take a player in the Rule 5 draft, they will have to designate another player for assignment.