5 Phillies who don’t deserve to be on the 40-man roster
By Tim Boyle
3) Why Erich Uelmen doesn’t deserve a spot on the Phillies 40-man roster
There’s definitely some Viking blood in a guy named Erich Uelmen. Purchased from the Chicago Cubs this offseason, Uelmen is a brand new member of the Phillies 40-man roster. A switch from starter to reliever in Triple-A last year worked out well in the minors. When he got to the big leagues, his performance was underwhelming.
Uelmen’s first taste of the big leagues included a 4.67 ERA in 27 innings for the Cubs. The Phillies added him as a low-risk option, buying into the thought that all great relievers are failed starters. Now that Uelmen has become a reliever, it’s time to start excelling in a new role.
It’s hard to say he actually deserves a spot on the 40-man roster when his MLB performance after 25 games looks mediocre at best. It’s a similar situation as Clemens. The team the Phillies acquired him from chose to promote him. Chicago’s willingness to sell him to Philadelphia could be a warning that they don’t have much faith either, or at least didn’t want to continue to carry him on the 40-man roster.
When it comes to the bullpen, the Phillies have tried throwing a lot at the wall to see what sticks. Uelmen is one of those latest additions. Thanks to his remaining minor league options, the ball club doesn’t have to force him onto the 26-man roster at any point.