The Phillies' bench has been bad. It has been so bad that our columnist Rich Wilkins suggests that the General Manager be fired over it. With a clear need for change, the Phillies have begun making moves, and the team has begun to make some.
Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports that infielder Jayson Nix is an early cut:
INF Jayson Nix has been outrighted to Lehigh Valley (AAA). He has the option to become a free agent. Corresponding move to come tomorrow.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) May 12, 2014
For the Phillies Nix batted just .154 in 18 games. Nix was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays right before the season opened to replace infielder Freddy Galvis, who was suffering from NRSA. Galvis was optioned to AAA Lehigh Valley recently, but will be out 6-8 weeks after breaking his clavicle. Out of Major League options, Nix could choose to accept assignment at AAA Lehigh Valley or declare free agency.
Who will replace Nix? That remains to be seen, but the Phillies only two infield options appear to be Cesar Hernandez, tearing the cover off of the ball for AA Reading, or infielder Ronny Cedeño from AAA Lehigh Valley. A lesser-likely option is that Darin Ruf joins the Phillies, but the Phillies would then leave themselves with only one backup infielder, which would be pretty risky.
The Phillies now have a 40-man spot to work with and perhaps the team could acquire a player from another organization. As Zolecki notes, they will decide by tomorrow who will take Nix's roster spot.
