CLEARWATER, Fla. — Phillippe Aumont quietly packed the contents of his locker into a red Phillies equipment bag Wednesday morning. Ken Giles walked over, spoke a few words to his friend and fellow reliever and the two hugged.
These scenes are not unusual in the final days of spring training. Some dreams are made. Some are dashed.
Aumont’s remains on hold. He is still a member of the Phillies organization, but no longer a member of the team’s 40-man roster. He was sent outright to the minor leagues on Wednesday morning. The 26-year-old right-hander was out of minor-league options, so to make the move the Phillies first had to place him on waivers. He cleared waivers, meaning no other team was willing to give him a shot in the majors.
Aumont joined the Phillies in December 2009 as part of the package in the much-publicized trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle. The Phillies also got outfielder Tyson Gillies and pitcher J.C. Ramirez in that deal. Ramirez was let go after the 2013 season. Gillies never made it to the majors and was released last year after a stormy tenure in the minor-league system.
Aumont knew he was out of options coming into camp. He knew his chances of making the club were slim and quietly hoped that he’d pitch well enough in camp to earn a shot and a fresh start with another club. It never happened.
“Obviously I think anyone would think that,” he said when asked about the benefits of a change of scenery. “The bottom line is I’m still here and I’m still getting an opportunity somewhere.”
That opportunity will come in the Triple A bullpen.
MLB
Aumont pitched 8 1/3 innings with the Phillies this spring and allowed four earned runs. He struck out 10 and walked two, but gave up 13 hits, including three home runs.
“I thought I threw all right,” he said. “The walks were down. I thought it was good enough. Some other people thought differently.”
Aumont was a first-round pick of the Mariners in 2007. At 6-7, he is an imposing figure on the mound with power stuff.
But strikes and consistency have always been a problem, and he knows that.
“I have good games then I hit a wall,” he said. “We’re trying to get to the point where we can extend that.”
Aumont could have asked for his release. He did not. He is still chasing his dream, still trying to maximize his tantalizing potential.
“If they didn’t release me it’s for a reason,” he said. “That’s the way I see it. I've got some work to do. I’ve got to get it done.”
With Aumont out, the Phillies have eight relievers in camp. Giles could end up on the disabled list with back stiffness (see story). Jonathan Papelbon, Jake Diekman, Luis Garcia, Justin De Fratus and Jeanmar Gomez are locks to make the bullpen. Lefties Andy Oliver and Cesar Jimenez remain in camp and are candidates, though the Phillies could add someone from another club or the waiver wire.