Phillies Option Arano, Rios to Triple-A Lehigh Valley

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Last season, right-handers Victor Arano and Yacksel Rios were mainstays in the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen.

Arano, 24, appeared in 60 games, notching as many strikeouts with just six home runs and 17 walks allowed spanning 59 1/3 innings. He recorded three saves in five opportunities, and finished 14 games. Rios, 25, appeared in 24 less games, 36, but still recorded 36 strikeouts; he allowed no runs in 22 appearances and finished 10 games.

With the Phillies continuing to finalize their 25-man roster ahead of Opening Day on Thursday, neither right-hander reliever will reportedly make the cut, as on Saturday, both were optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

“We weigh track record heavily and lean on it pretty strongly,” Phillies Manager Gabe Kapler told NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury. “However, without an indication that [Arano is] feeling confident, it’s something to examine closely. You can discount one, two, three outings. It’s hard to discount five or six outings of struggle, consecutively.”

Entering Saturday, Arano was tied with San Francisco Giants southpaw Madison Bumgarner with allowing the most earned runs this spring (19); he had a 51.30 ERA — in just six appearances and 3 1/3 innings — with 16 hits, six walks and four home runs allowed, striking out only one. That afternoon, he allowed another hit, walk and run in two-thirds of an inning, albeit lowering his ERA to 45.00.

Kapler told Salisbury that although Arano has been "outstanding" the last two seasons as one of the Phillies' "higher-leverage relievers," he still must pay attention to what is happening now:

"We’ve seen several outings in a row that are worth really digging into to find out how we can help him. I think it’s cause to really dig on what’s happening for him both mentally and mechanically. I think he’s absolutely fine from a physical perspective. His legs are underneath him. He’s strong. I think his arm speed is fine.

“But you know, today the ball didn’t come out great. It’s worth having a conversation with him and really discussing what he needs to get back on track because at this point it hasn’t been very effective and I think he knows that. If he was standing next to me right now, he would tell you there’s a better performance in there.”

Arano agreed that his 45.00 ERA this spring is a product of pitching mechanic woes, struggling to find the release point on his slider, which helped him in 2018.

Rios has had a much better spring, pitching to a 0.82 ERA, where in nine appearances and 11 innings, he allowed just eight hits, one run and two walks while striking out seven.

RELATED | Phillies Should Consider Keuchel Amid Struggling Arano, Velasquez

Both Arano and Rios will look to improve their game in the minors, while right-handers Hector Neris, David Robertson, Seranthony Dominguez, Pat Neshek, Juan Nicasio and southpaws Adam Morgan and Jose Alvarez make up the major league bullpen, Salisbury noted.

Right-hander Edubray Ramos is now the favorite for the open eighth spot to replace RHP Tommy Hunter, who will open the season in the injured list; fifth starting pitcher RHP Vince Velasquez could be used in relief as well early on. Southpaw James Pazos, acquired from Seattle this offseason, could also get a look, although he, too, was recently optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Of course, a late free agency acquisition (e.g., Dallas Keuchel or Craig Kimbrel) could considerably change the picture.