Three days after the season ended, the Phillies on Wednesday began tidying their offseason roster.
Seven players, including reliever Justin De Fratus, cleared waivers and were outrighted off the team’s 40-man roster.
Also outrighted were pitchers Adam Loewen, Ken Roberts and Jonathan Pettibone, infielder Chase d’Arnaud, catcher Erik Kratz and outfielder Jordan Danks.
De Fratus, d’Arnaud, Loewen and Kratz can all choose to become free agents immediately. Otherwise they will become minor-league free agents after the World Series. Pettibone and Danks can become minor-league free agents after the World Series. Roberts will not be eligible for free-agency until after next season so he will remain Phillies' property.
Wednesday’s moves left the Phillies with 34 men on their 40-man roster, though several players must be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list within five days of the end of the World Series. One of those players is Cliff Lee. The Phillies will not pick up his $27.5 million option for 2016, which has a $12.5 million buyout, and he will become a free agent after the World Series. Lee is expected to retire.
The Phillies have several minor-league players, led by outfielder Roman Quinn, who must be protected on the 40-man roster or possibly be lost in the Rule 5 draft in December.
De Fratus, the most notable player subtracted from the 40-man roster on Wednesday, spent parts of the last five seasons in the majors, including all of 2015. He pitched in a career-high 61 games but had a 5.51 ERA. De Fratus, who turns 28 later this month, was an 11th-round draft pick by the Phillies in 2007.