Pedro Florimon is a free agent (Frank Klose/Sports Talk Philly)
The Phillies offseason roster construction continued on Monday afternoon. The Phillies already announced that Andres Blanco, Hyun Soo Kim, Clay Buchholz and Daniel Nava file for free agency the day after the World Series and that Jesen Therrien and Pedro Florimon were activated from the 60-day disabled list. On Monday, Therrien and Florimon made the transaction wire again.
The Phillies announced that Therrien and Florimon were outrighted off of the 40-man roster and assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. It appears that both players rejected the assignment and have become free agents. Therrien and Florimon are at very different points at their careers.
Florimon is set to turn 31 years old next month. The utility infielder has been in professional baseball since 2006 and has played for the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Phillies. Florimon gave the Phillies impressive play in 2017, appearing in 15 games and batting .348. But an injury ended Florimon's season and the journeyman lost the chance to show over an extended period of time that he belongs in the major leagues.
Therrien is in a tough spot in his career. Making his major league debut in 2017, Therrien struggled with the Phillies, going 0-0 with an 8.35 earned run average in 15 games. Therrien hit the disabled list at the beginning of September and underwent "Tommy John" surgery, which will mean that Therrien misses the entire 2018 season.
The Phillies could sign either player to a minor league agent this offseason. But for now, this drops the 40-man roster to 35 players after three more were added on Monday . The Phillies formally activated starters Jerad Eickhoff, Vince Velasquez and Zach Eflin from the 60-day disabled list.
The Phillies have until November 20 to set their 40-man rosters before the Rule 5 draft. There are many players on the Phillies 40-man roster that could be removed to make room for some prospects. Expect more transactions.
