Now that camp is open, it's time to take a look at the potential roster of the 2014 Philadelphia Phillies. There are some obvious competitions for the both the 25 man and 40 man rosters, and some of the events of the last day or so change the outlook. So what do I see really early?
THE LINE-UP: Locked-
The starting eight aren't really in danger, it's just a matter of finishing camp, and the season, healthy. They go in with near locks in Howard (1B), Utley (2B), Rollins (SS), Ruiz (C), Brown (LF), Revere (CF), and Byrd (RF). That only leaves Cody Asche, who's a near lock too, but I suppose could lose the job to Maikel Franco in some outlandish scenario.
THE ROTATION: Now Crowded-
Cliff Lee will make this team and start on Opening Day. Cole Hamels is a lock to make the team too, though it's at least possible that he'll be on the 15 day DL if he's two weeks from ready by Opening Day. A.J. Burnett, now in the fold, is pretty much a lock to make this team too. That leaves four more pitchers for two spots- Kyle Kendrick, Roberto Hernandez, Miguel Gonzalez, and Jon Pettibone. I don't see how Kendrick opens the season anywhere other than the rotation at nearly $8 million. Hernandez and Gonzalez make in the same neighborhood, and I'd guess that they get the upper hand on Pettibone, to start out at least. I see Hernandez at least early getting the nod, and Gonzalez either ending up in the bullpen or the AAA rotation. Pettibone opens in Lehigh Valley.
THE BENCH: Hope for Youth-
So, the Phillies gave deals out to John Mayberry Jr. and Kevin Frandsen, and I hated both moves. I still hold out hope that both get cut, but I doubt that happens. I'd assume both, sadly, stay. Wil Nieves will be the back-up catcher as well, no matter what you're hoping for (the competition in camp will be about ending up in Allentown). My guess is that Bobby Abreu, as essentially the only serious left-handed bat in camp that could make the bench, is going to make this team. That leaves one more spot for Darin Ruf, Cesar Hernandez, and Freddy Galvis. I think this sucks, but it's reality. I'd love to see Hernandez take Mayberry's spot, Galvis take Frandsen's, and Ruf just make it. My guess is that Ruf wins the fifth spot though.
THE BULLPEN: Your Guess is as Good as Mine-
Papelbon, Adams, Bastardo…. locks. I know, that's not the "Nasty Boys" of the 1990 Reds, but it's where we're at. Then there's competition. Jake Diekman and B.J. Rosenberg had good runs last year, Justin De Fratus was good enough to get another look, Ethan Martin is really promising, Miguel Gonzalez gets dumped into this fight now, and Brad Lincoln is the new guy on the block. Mike Stutes, Phillippe Aumont, Jeremy Horst, and Joe Savery all didn't help themselves. If Gonzalez wins a rotation spot, you could see Hernandez in a long-man role, but I don't expect that right now. I'd guess right now that Papelbon, Adams, Bastardo, Diekman, Lincoln, Rosenberg, and De Fratus will be the seven…. but it's a crapshoot.
