Phillies 2026 News and Discussion

[phillychuck]

Great baseball theory question...to what extent are skillsets coachable? You’d think selectivity would be at least somewhat coachable, players seem to get more selective as they age, which speaks to them learning something.

[andyb]

Marsh day to day with a right middle finger sprain he got diving back into first on a pickoff. Sosa playing today. Kemp still nowhere to be found.

[andyb]

Traffic problems solved!

Gov Shapiro Announces Comprehensive Plan to Improve Safety Around Sports Complex

[phillychuck]

Helicopters for everyone!

[julio]

5/28/26: Philadelphia Phillies optioned LF Otto Kemp to Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Don't know why, but this just appeared in the transactions lists. No mention I can find of any move to fill the active roster spot.

Although... it's been 10 days since Reyes was optioned (on the 18th), so he's just become eligible to be recalled...

If I were the GM, I would recall Reyes, and leave him on the roster long enough to get some idea if he can adjust to the majors. I mean, 38 plate appearances isn't enough to really tell much of anything.

[David_Criss]

Pretty obvious Mattingly has no plans to play Kemp. WHo replaces him on the roster?

[zambonir]

Probably still working on the plane ticket for whomever it is.

[julio]

Probably still working on the plane ticket for whomever it is.

I'm thinking, either Reyes, or somebody who wasn't/isn't in the organization.

[LoneStarPhan]

The Rangers did DFA McCutchen this week. I don't think he is the way to go but he is a RH bat that would not cost much.

[allentown]

The Rangers did DFA McCutchen this week. I don't think he is the way to go but he is a RH bat that would not cost much.

He's 39 and his stats say nothing left in the tank.

[zambonir]

He had a 1400+ OPS after the three games against the Phillies and it only took about seven games for that to be cut in half. Got even worse from there. Kemp and Reyes might also be better OFs at this point!

[andyb]

The internal options are Reyes and Steward Berroa. Berroa is a switch hitter who can actually play defense but is not a prospect that needs to play to develop. It could easily be him because of the flexibility. You don't bring Reyes up again unless you are going to play him and probably play him in something slightly more than his previous platoon role.

[flyers19rw]

Bryan de La Cruz?

[andyb]

Bryan de La Cruz?

Not on the 40 and hits less well than Reyes or Kemp.

[EastFallowfield]

It's probably Berroa, says Gelb

The Phillies optioned Otto Kemp to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, team sources told The Athletic. They are expected to add Steward Berroa, a switch-hitting outfielder, to the active roster.

...Berroa probably will not play much for the Phillies, but he can provide speed and defense. That is not something the Phillies have had on their bench.

Phillies thoughts: Letting Marsh and Stott play, reimagining the bench,...

[andyb]

Love the bench strategy. Bring up guys who specifically are there to NOT play. Because our starting 9 is so good and deep?

[phillychuck]

The starting 9 will wilt in August if they don’t get at least a bit of rest. That’s not in Donnie Baseball’s playbook, though.

[allentown]

Certainly J.T. will be. Possibly Harper and Turner. As primarily a DH, I think Schwarber will be fine. For younger guys, especially Marsh and Stott, they should be fine playing more and the most important thing is to continue their transition to everyday starters. There is no. need to platoon them. They are better than the platoon partners. The biggest need for rest and rotating guys in is on the pitching staff. Both Painter and Nola pitch better with extra rest and we don't want a dead bullpen at the end of the season if we make the playoffs. The biggest problem with the. bench is that we just don't have anybody who is good enough

[zambonir]

But at least we have three catchers!

Sosa will still get two starts a week I'm sure. Probably also not long before Rojas replaces Berroa. But you'd still want one pure bat on the bench. If it's not a prospect because they either can't hit or need regular playing time, and it's not Carter Kieboom, they'll have to find someone eventually.

[phillychuck]

allentown brings up an interesting question in my mind...who are the “good” bench players in MLB right now? I’d say Sosa is one of the better ones on the Phils. Don’t most teams have enough holes that a good bench player works their way into a starting role?