The 2020 opening game for the Phillies is slated for just ten days from today. It’s therefore getting very close to roster decision time for the initial 30 slots.

The normal MLB rules have been adjusted for rosters ... an initial crew of 30 players will open, cut down to 28 after two weeks of play and then to 26 after another two weeks. There are no limits on how many pitchers or position players are on the active roster. Each team will also add a three man taxi squad that will travel for away games with one of those players being required to be a catcher. The taxi squad will be paid minor league salaries but will also get the MLB per diem of $109 per day for expenses.

Note that one rule seems to not have changed, at least from what I can tell ... to be placed on the active roster a player must also be on the 40 man roster as well ... that makes things a bit trickier to work thru.

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Here’s an early, very uneducated prediction on what the Phillies initial 2020 roster might be :

Pitchers :

There are 26 pitchers on the present 40 man roster ... five currently are not included in the 60 man player pool ( Seranthony Dominguez ( INJ - on 60 man DL ) , David Robertson ( working way back from TJ surgery ) , Austin Davis, Adonis Medina & Christopher Sanchez ).

There are 11 non roster pitchers in Summer Camp who are eligible to be added to the opening day roster ...

That makes a total of 32 pitchers eligible to be selected ... but ...

Tommy Hunter and Ranger Suarez are on the Camp injured list ... it would seem very unlikely at this point they could be ready to go by the 24th.

That leaves us with 30 pitchers to choose from for what’s likely going to be 16 or 17 slots ... so as of today I think this is how it shakes out ... going with 17 pitchers

Locks ( 12 ) :

RHP Aaron Nola

RHP Jake Arrieta

RHP Zach Wheeler

RHP Zach Eflin

RHP Vince Velasquez

RHP Nick Pivetta

LHP Cole Irvin

RHP Hector Neris

LHP Jose Alvarez

LHP Adam Morgan

LHP Francisco Liriano ( needs 40 man roster slot )

RHP Enyel De Los Santos

Probables : ( 5 )

RHP Reggie McClain - has experience as multi inning reliever

RHP Ramon Rosso - impressed in spring training ( needs 40 man roster spot )

RHP Mauricio Llovera - big arm that can give multiple innings

RHP Deolis Guerra - veteran presence

RHP Victor Arano - will be on squad if physically ready ...

On the Ready : ( 13 - Allentown Group )

RHP Edgar Garcia - high on the list of call ups

RHP Connor Brogdon - big arm that can help at back end - quick call up

LHP Garrett Cleavinger - other lefties ahead of him at this point

LHP JoJo Romero - other lefties ahead of him at this point

RHP Robert Stock - big arm - likely a quick call up

RHP Spencer Howard - at least a one week delay for call up to add team control

LHP Damon Jones - can start or relieve - will be stretched out

RHP Trevor Kelley - has impressed in Summer Camp

RHP Bud Norris - veteran presence

RHP Blake Parker - another veteran presence

RHP Addison Russ - has big league stuff - will see action I believe

RHP Connor Seabold - a starter in the wings

RHP Anthony Swarzak - veteran presence

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Catchers ( 2 ) :

JT Realmuto

Andrew Knapp

Deivy Grullon will likely be the Taxi Squad Catcher

On the Ready : ( 2 - Allentown Group )

Henri Lartigue

Logan O’Hoppe

Team will most likely add at least one more catcher when group moves to Allentown

Infielders ( 6 ) :

1B Rhys Hoskins

2B Scott Kingery

SS Didi Gregorius

3B Jean Segura

UTL Logan Forsythe ( needs 40 man roster slot )

UTL Neil Walker ( needs 40 man roster slot )

On the Ready : ( 4- Allentown Group )

UTL Phil Gosselin - likely to take assignment

UTL Ronald Torreyes - likely to take assignment

UTL Josh Harrison - May opt out if not on big league roster

3B Alec Bohm - - will likely be at least a one week delay to add contract control

Note that SS Arquimedes Gamboa is on the 40 man roster but not in Summer Camp ... he might go thru the waiver process to open a 40 man slot

Outfielders ( 5 ) :

LF - Andrew McCutchen

CF - Roman Quinn

RF - Bryce Harper

DH/LF - Jay Bruce

CF - Adam Haseley

On the Ready : ( 4- Allentown Group )

Nick Martini - likely to take the assignment

Mikie Mahtook - was not in camp due to COVID issues - may not be able to attend

Kyle Garlick - likely a 40 man roster waiver - if clears can participate in Allentown

Nick Williams - is in a bad spot - no room to advance

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The Phillies have presently used 56 of the available 60 spots in the player pool although additional spots may be open due to COVID replacement rules ( those aren’t announced due to privacy restrictions ) ... that being said it’s likely additional players are added to the alternative site player roster ... 🤔

That’s my best guess right now ... if they went with the above list then four spots would need to be opened on the 40 man roster in order to accommodate adding Rosso, Forsythe, Liriano and Walker ... that’s a big factor to consider ... it’s a reason I don’t believe they will add others at this point to the 30 man list ... just sayin 🥴

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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