CLEARWATER, Fla. – Less than two weeks before they break camp and head north, the Phillies still have a number of important decisions to make.
A big one is in the outfield.
Odubel Herrera and Peter Bourjos are locks to be in the starting outfield, but with Aaron Altherr out and Cody Asche iffy for opening day, who will man the third spot?
There’s a chance it could be Rule 5 pick Tyler Goeddel. He started in left field on Friday and had two hits and two RBIs. He also scored a pair of runs and ran the bases well.
If nothing else, Goeddel, who has never played above Double A, appears to be a lock to make the club. He’s 23. He has athleticism and upside. The Phillies are trying to add players like this.
“We've been encouraged with, not even the results so much of his at-bats, but sort of the way he's gone about it,” general manager Matt Klentak said. “He's got a very mature approach in the batter's box. I think that's something as we're projecting how he'll do in the big leagues this year, that's something that gives us some comfort. We think he can compete.
"He knows how to work a count. He's not afraid to hit the ball the other way. In fact, he often tends to hit the ball the other way. I think that lends itself to him having an easier adjustment. But we'll see. As is the case with any Rule 5 player, his performance will ultimately dictate that. He does not seem overwhelmed by sort of the mental side of things. He seems very comfortable up there. Time will tell.”
The Phillies have scouts all over Florida and Arizona gathering intelligence on possible upgrades in the outfield. Klentak said the team is not actively pursuing an outfielder, but …
“We’ve got our ears open for opportunities,” he said. “If there’s a way for us to add depth, I think it’s something we’ll have to explore.”
As for the final spot in the rotation, a tight race between Vince Velasquez, Adam Morgan and Brett Oberholtzer," Klentak said: “We're going to run the best five out there that give us the best chance to win. We're going to put together the best roster that we can based on the talent that's in our camp and we're going to win as many games as we can this year.”
Oberholtzer could end up in the bullpen. He has started and relieved in his career. That leaves Morgan and Velasquez. One will be in the rotation with the other on call in Triple A.