The Phillies are only two weeks and change from Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park.  With the start of the regular season approaching, the Phillies made their latest round of cuts.  Three players were optioned to the minor leagues, while three were assigned to minor league camp.

Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reported that the Phillies optioned pitchers Enyel De Los Santos, Edgar Garcia and Austin Davis to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.  For De Los Santos and Davis, this represents their second option year, as both players were optioned to Triple-A last season.  This is Garcia's first such move since joining the 40-man roster.

De Los Santos and Davis could both prove to be options for the Phillies in 2019.  De Los Santos made two spot starts and one relief appearance for the Phillies in 2018 after a strong performance as a starter in Triple-A.  The Phillies might consider developing De Los Santos as a reliever long-term.

As for Davis, the left-handed reliever had his strong moments in 2018.  Somewhat rushed to the big leagues, Davis helped fill the role of second left-handed reliever behind Adam Morgan.  But in 2019, he will be behind Morgan in the left-handed reliever depth chart, but also newly-acquired Jose Alvarez and James Pazos.

The Phillies reassigned left-handed starter Cole Irvin and left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert.  Irvin got the first start (and win) in Grapefruit League action and could be soon knocking on the door of the major leagues.  The Phillies have not had a regular left-handed starter in the rotation and might look to Irvin soon.

Gilbert split 2018 as a reliever between the Double-A Reading Fightin' Phils and the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.  He went 7-2 with a 3.25 earned run average and earned an invite to camp.  Gilbert was a sixth-round draft pick of the Phillies in 2015.

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