Phillies Rumors: Club Interested in OF Angel Pagan?

The World Baseball Classic just wrapped up with a Team USA victory over Puerto Rico.  Playing in the tournament while not being signed by a Major League club, outfielder Angel Pagan was hopeful his play would lead to a big league job in 2017.  After batting .286 throughout the tournament, Pagan is reportedly getting some interest, including from a very curious team.

Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports reports that the Phillies are interested in Pagan:

have heard jays and phillies connected to angel pagan, who is still a free agent

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 24, 2017

The Phillies, however, appear like an unlikely match with Pagan.

As we have written extensively before, the Phillies have a completely full 40-man roster that will make the final two bench spots difficult to choose.  The Phillies have three non-roster players up for a bench spot: outfielder Daniel Nava, infielder Chris Coghlan, and first baseman/new outfielder Brock Stassi.  All three have performed pretty well for the Phillies, leaving one to believe that at least one of them would make the club.  

Tyler Goeddel, who may be best served by playing every day in the minors, may take a second bench spot simply because he is on the 40 man roster and might have to be cut in order to add a second player.  The roster spot of Luis Garcia appears to be in jeopardy, since adding just one bench bat would require a subtraction from the roster.  With five other right-handed bullpen arms, Garcia is the most expendable and might be the first cut.   Would that one roster spot be best spent on the 35 year-old Pagan?

Besides, Pagan would see very little playing time between starters Howie Kendrick, Michael Saunders and Odubel Herrera. The fourth spot seems to be going the way of Aaron Altherr.  A left-handed fifth outfielder might be helpful to the Phillies, but the aforementioned three non-roster players could satisfy that, all younger in age and with a lesser injury history.

The Phillies could offer a minor league deal to Pagan.  But Pagan would not get much playing time at Triple-A either.  Prospects Roman Quinn, Dylan Cozens and Nick Williams will start at Triple-A, while Cam Perkins remains on the roster.   Perkins is also left-handed.

The fit for Pagan on the Phillies does not seem to exist right now.  That could change if an injury or trade suddenly opens a roster spot.  So, the Phillies could simply be seeing what it would take to land Pagan should either occurl   But for now, it is hard to find a match.