The Phillies have been without incumbent outfielder Domonic Brown so far in the month of April. The Phillies outfielder began the season on the disabled list with Achilles tendinitis. Brown began a minor league rehab stint that is scheduled to end on Wednesday. Or is it?
Domonic Brown told reporter Greg Joyce of the Easton Express-Times on Sunday that he would be returning to the Phillies
The outfielder will join the Phillies Wednesday against the Cardinals, he said Sunday after playing his eighth rehab game with the IronPigs.
"I got two more days and then I go back up," Brown said. "(Monday) and Tuesday and then I'll be going up. I'm excited."
However, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg had other things to say today:
"From what I've seen, I don't know that he's ready for big league pitching," Sandberg said of Dom Brown, whose rehab stint ends tomorrow.
— Ryan Lawrence (@ryanlawrence21) April 27, 2015
The statement by Sandberg is puzzling, unless he is trying to buy the front office time to make a final decision instead of speaking on their behalf.
Brown returning to the big club means that one of Jeff Francoeur, Grady Sizemore, or Darin Ruf have to go. Ruf has a minor league option remaining, though a demotion would leave the Phillies without a backup first baseman, unless they would consider Chase Utley as that. Sizemore or Francoeur would have to be designated for assignment, with no guarantee either player would stay in the organization.
The Phillies still have another option. Literally. Brown was optioned to the minor leagues in 2011 and again in 2012, but has spent 2013 and 2014 with the big club (or disabled). So, Brown could be sent to the minor leagues. If the Phillies really feel like his swing is not ready, they could send him to the minor leagues until he gets it back.
The Phillies left-handed heavy and also week lineup is probably not in a hurry to add another left-handed bat that will not be productive. So, it will be interesting to see what the Phillies do here with Brown. Either way, the Phillies have two days to decide.
