Phillies Mailbag: Final Bench Spot, Bright Spot, Catcher

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  Each week we take your questions and answer them on the air on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.   Ask your questions at any time on X @FrankKlose or on Blue Sky at @frankklose.bsky.social.

Who do you think will make the Phillies bench?  Is there room for Buddy Kennedy?
~Phil

We are getting down to the point where the final roster decisions are close.  The Phillies have luckily only had one injury on the offensive side, Weston Wilson. Wilson might have been the favorite for a bench spot, but with him out there is at least one spot, possibly two unsettled.

The main candidates: Kody Clemens, Oscar Mercado, Johan Rojas, and Buddy Kennedy.

Rojas has yet to play defense, thanks to an offseason injury that made it difficult for him to throw.   That could put his roster spot in doubt.  One sign that Rojas is not ready is that the Phillies have been looking at utility infielder Rodalfo Castro in center field as of late.

I think one spot has to go to a natural center fielder, ideally who hits from the right side.  That could favor Oscar Mercado if Rojas is not ready.

So really it comes down to Clemens and Kennedy.

Clemens is out of minor league options, which could make him a favorite.  Clemens has had a really nice Spring, playing a variety of positions while hitting over the .300 mark.

But they would be very left-handed, with only Mercado/Rojas and Edmundo Sosa on the bench.

Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer recently suggested that Clemens would be a late-Spring trade candidate.  If he is not the right fit for the Phillies, he is probably the right candidate for somebody; he is proving he belongs in the major leagues.

If Clemens was traded, either he brings back the right-handed bench bat, or it goes to Kennedy.

Kennedy has only hit .148 this Spring, though his OPS looks a lot better at the .887 mark, thanks to three home runs, a double, and four walks.  Kennedy has shown he is versatile in the field, important when a designated hitter spot mostly goes to a bat (though yes, Kyle Schwarber may play the field some.

I would say right now that the bench will feature Rojas or Mercado - with Rojas taking the spot if healthy - and Clemens, unless there indeed is a trade.

Of all the players this Spring, which one is getting your attention the most?
~Nick

For me the one that is impressing the most is Jose Alvarado.  After an inconsistent 2024, the Phillies could really benefit from a dominant Alvarado, particulalrly with Matt Strahm potentially starting the season late and having lost Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez to free agency.

Spring Training numbers can look inflated at times, but it's really hard to argue with the numbers Alvarado is putting up.

So far this Spring, in eight games he has a clean 0.00 earned run average.  He has thrown a full inning each time, and has 17 strikeouts.  That's more than one per inning.

He has hit 102 on the radar gun and he just appears untouchable at this point.

Much was made of his struggles with his family in Venezuela getting to see him play.  I had the opportunity to meet and chat with a large contingent of them in Clearwater.  They were really excited to see him and how can the support of the family not put him at ease?

An honorable mention goes to Jordan Romano.  The Phillies were signing him despite an injury-ridden 2024 with poor performance when he did play.  So far, so good.

Romano has faced 27 batters, walking just one and four hits.   His ERA is also 0.00.

The Toronto Star featured Romano today in a piece that seems to suggest the Blue Jays made a mistake not tendering him a contract for 2025.

Should both be doing really well: the Phillies bullpen is in a good place.

Who do you think will be the Phillies backup catcher?
~Morgan

The last three seasons, Garrett Stubbs has filled that role.  Known to be the life of the party, Stubbs has also taken a central role with the club, planning how Phillies pitchers will attack batters.  As a backstop, Stubbs has been everything the Phillies could ask for.

But it might be that he does not make this Phillies club.

Rafael Marchan has been a prospect for the Phillies for years.  Making his major league debut on the younger side way back in 2020, Marchan seems set to make his first Phillies roster without an injury necessitating it.

Marchan is out of minor league options.  That means the Phillies have to give him a slot on the major league roster, or risk getting him claimed by the other 29 clubs.  It's pretty much a lock that he would be claimed.

So to keep both players,  Marchan would have to make the roster and Stubbs start the year at Triple-A.  Despite exclusively being in the major leagues the last three seasons, Stubbs has a minor league option remaining.

It's bad luck for Stubbs, who probably would land on another team.   But with little catching depth in the organization, the Phillies cannot afford to be without one or the other.

I think it is Marchan's turn to show he belongs.  A .279 hitter in 111 major league at bats, he has looked good at the plate.  He has also looked good behind the plate.

Marchan's lone knock is whether he could stay healthy.

So the Phillies likely give him his shot.  If the injury bug bites, Stubbs will be available to replace him.  It is bad luck for Stubbs, but the ins and outs of the game are what they are.