Key Additions/Subtractions
Key Addition(s) & How Acquired:
Aaron Harang (acquired in free agency; 2014 team: Atlanta Braves)
SS Chase d’Arnaud (Non-roster invitee; 2014 team: Pittsburgh Pirates)
Man, signing Aaron Harang and Chase d’Arnaud are big time free agent moves. Harang will benefit, in a sense, from the injury of Cliff Lee. It will force him to the front of the Phillies’ sad starting pitching rotation. Truth be told, Harang was pretty solid for Atlanta in 2014—giving them 204.1 innings and 3.57 ERA.
But at 36, he’s far from a savior for this pitching staff.
Meanwhile, d’Arnaud is one of two shortstops in the Philies’ camp with legitimate major league experience. The other is Ronny Cedeno, but both were non-roster invitees to Spring Training. Cedeno did play in a handful of games for the Phillies a season ago, though.
Similar to when the Angels in gave away Howie Kendrick to the Dodgers, the Phillies did not replace their gift of Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers with a legitimate starting caliber player. What the Phillies do at the position is one of the big questions for the team in Spring Training.
Key Subtraction(s):
SS Jimmy Rollins (Traded to Los Angeles Dodgers)
OF Marlon Byrd (Traded to Cincinnati Reds)
As we can see, the Phillies gave away more talent than they brought in this offseason. Though advanced in age, Rollins and Byrd are still players who can provide value for major league teams. For their sake it’s better that they are now out of Philadelphia.
The Phillies are likely to replace Rollins with a career backup or someone who is not currently listed on their depth chart as a shortstop. They currently have four under-25 players on their 40-man roster listed as third basemen. Cody Asche, Maikel Franco, Freddy Galvis and Cesar Hernandez could all be options at short. So could Odubel Herrera, currently listed on the roster as a second baseman.
Secone base is one spot not in question, Chase Utley is the undisputed starter and still has something left to offer the Phillies, even at 36. At the same time, the Phillies have a replacement for Marlon Byrd, but they are unlikely to receive the same kind of production they got from Byrd a season ago. Then again, that’s okay in a sense.
Next: Who to watch in 2015