Phillies 2026 News and Discussion

[Carver]

Trevor Williams DFA'd by the Nats. Just got back from injury and has been in the pen, but as y'all know he is a longtime starter (5th starter type) that has managed to be sneaky effective for sections of his career without premium stuff.

Not a guy that moves the needle, but I am a big fan of having a depth starter even now (belt and suspenders guy when it comes to pitching arms). And he could be useful in the pen as a middle relief guy that should not crumble.

I doubt that he makes it through but if he clears you grab him if possible - if he gets to you in the waiver process you think hard but I would make the claim as it is very close to roster expansion.

[zambonir]

I think they already spent that chip (which is to say roster spot and possible swingman role) on Nestor Cortes. He has to be added to the major league roster soon.

[andyb]

Let's not go too fast on Cortes. He will get every opportunity to make the roster towards the end of the year. But he has not even pitched yet. It is not as if he will look up in mid September and try to hook onto another organization if he does not pitch well. He got some cash and a shot at the Phillies roster with no guarantees.

I'd welcome Williams in AAA. His stuff was not wonderful coming back with the Nats, but he does know how to pitch and is better than Rangel and Keller. I doubt he'll get to us though.

We are probably adding Backhus or Lazar next week and they are not exactly world beaters.

[Carver]

You are probably correct on that score, Mr. Hockeyball.

As they updated on Trevor, they think that he will clear due to the pro-rated portion left on his salary, hence he should hit FA. If they can sign him on a minor league deal, even better. I will take any possible depth, even with only about 5 weeks left.

[zambonir]

Cortes is on a split deal that will pay him handsomely, albeit prorated ($250K. 1.5M in the majors). But the assignment still required his consent, so there's probably a deadline to call him up. It's true he has every incentive to be patient as the Phillies are the only team he can go to the playoffs with (unless they released him before 9/1).

If Williams goes unclaimed, for sure. It's only money and you don't have to immediately add him to the major league roster.

[andyb]

He was always going to the minors with somebody. Consent is meaningless other than he and the Phillies laying out a program (and a chance at the majors) that included cash and probably a luxury hotel and things like that.

If he does not pitch well he'll be gone. There is likely no deadline as even Cortes knows it will take multiple outings. Hopefully he gets that first inning in tonight.

The chances of him appearing in the majors are probably about 25%. We just don't know whether his stuff can get decent hitters out after not pitching all year and the injury.

[Carver]

And that is the key point. Cortes is still a complete unknown coming off of surgery; Williams has 8 appearances in on his way back from surgery. That is why you continue to look for depth; Nestor might not be ready at all to make a positive contribution and we won't now until they see him on the field.

[Callison]

We are probably adding Backhus or Lazar next week and they are not exactly world beaters.

Lazar looked new/improved last time up, a level better than Alvarado. Got some hope for Lazar.

[andyb]

Its been mixed for Lazar in AAA. A couple of bad outings a few weeks ago but better of late. He has more 2-inning ability than Backhus though our LHP is pretty bad also.

Neither is ideal unfortunately. A Cortes that is 80% of himself that could go 2 or 3 innings would actually be great. Just don't know what we have.there.

[zambonir]

I don't think any of these guys are supposed to make the bullpen much better. Just soak up some innings and be SP insurance. Ideally the last 10 games are not that consequential and Cortes gets a few looks just like Buehler did. But if making the playoffs or locking down a 3/4 seed goes to the wire, different story.

Listen, if Williams is better, go get him. He's probably not the last salary-dump guy to hit the wire over the next week either.

[bkox]

[zambonir]

Does this mean they are hiring a new director of player development? Or is that part of Robles' promotion (he was previously international only)?

[julio]

Were there vacancies that were filled by these moves? Are people being hired to the positions these people were promoted from?

Or is this just rearranging the deck chairs, changing peoples' titles and giving them raises?

I've seen enough re-orgs to realize that often, they don't mean much...

[Carver]

Nestor Cortes placed on the 7 day IL

[andyb]

As discussed in the transaction page the Cortes move is just a paper move as they reset the timing on his rehab. No new injury.

[zambonir]

It seems like a mix of title-only promotions, filling vacancies, and expanding. For instance Aucoin theoretically replaces Ani Kilambi who left before the season. Robles is adding domestic to his portfolio but I think that is still more of an administrative job (operations). Putting Murton in charge of hitting only suggests a new position and philosophical shift that would seem to also required the appointment or promotion of a new director of dev. Or that they are splitting that job into a hitting side and a pitching side.

[Carver]

@andyb - Thanks. I only check in here a bit for now, so I did not read the transactions page. It will take a while to get the hang of things around here, and probably won't happen until we work to migrate everyone over at the end of the season.

[julio]

Much more detail on the duties of the promoted personnel - and other personnel - in the Phillies press release, which Steve Potter has posted in full, here.

[andyb]

Some brief explanations here:

Phillies make baseball operations changes, including promoting farm director

[zambonir]

Strictly speaking it was a minor league transaction that was nevertheless of interest as potential major league news, so understandable to miss, and not bad to duplicate.