Phillies 2026 Spring Training Discussion

[allentown]

It would hurt us less if there was a bashing righty behind Harper. And if Schwarber hits lefties well, he should be batting behind Harper instead of in front of him

Since he really has hit qell against LHP the past two seasons, not an insignificant number of ABs. rearrange Jazzhead's lineup to put Harper 3rd and Schwarber 4th and move Marsh farther down the lineup.

[fish]

97mph fastballs. His change was up in the zone. Slider was at 90.

All the talk about Painter on tthe broadcast and in the press has been about command. That is the last concern I had about him- I wanted to see swing and miss stuff. It wasn’t the same fastball he had 3 years ago- but that may have been because it was a mph or 2 lighter. Fastball life seemed good / not great. Initial breaking balls weren’t inspiring but then he cranked off a couple slider/sweeper /cutters that were nasty. As long as he can get his curve and change back playing, the fastball he showed today will be much more whiff- worthy .

[phillychuck]

The one curve he threw for a strike was nasty. The hitter missed it by 4 or 5 inches. Slider was a bit too fast, it didn’t have the finish most good sliders have in the ML. I wonder if they will coach him to slow it down just a hair. Change-ups were 88-90, again I think that’s a bit too fast, not enough separation from the FB, and he didn’t throw it in good locations. We'll see how he develops.

[BaseballCat]

Johan Rojas reportedly tested positive for a banned substance, will no longer...

[xogfog]

I wonder if MLB rules has different standards than the WBC or if he’ll face a MLB suspension as well? If so, this will be the second Latino player suspended, and I have to wonder if the training staff is not handling the the Latin players correctly as far as having them report what they are taking to see if it’s a banned substance.

[LegoDoom]

Some reports say banned substance and some say performance-enhancing. If it's marijuana, then there will be no MLB suspension. Also, was this a WBC test? Does that mean he'll need to get a MLB test if a suspension is involved?

[zambonir]

Yeah it appears the standards are not the same but of course we don't yet know. But we also don't know if he's been subject to an MLB test at all yet.

Almost all the players who have been suspended in MLB over the years since the big name steroid guys are Latin American. I think Max Kepler was the first non-Latin player in five years. I don't think the team is doing anything wrong, I think lots of players still make poor decisions and/or try to get away with it. And most do, because I really don't believe that only five guys a year are using something. And if you're in Venezuela or the DR in December taking something that you didn't get from an MLB team trainer or a real doctor you're not calling to ask if it's okay.

[zambonir]

Whelp, it's not just WBC

Phillies’ Johan Rojas facing an 80-game suspension for PED violation

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas is facing an 80-game suspension by Major League Baseball for a failed performance-enhancing drug test, two league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday.

Rojas, who is appealing the testing results, was set to compete for the Dominican Republic during the World Baseball Classic. He dropped out of the tournament last week.

[David_Criss]

So it is Crawford or bust in centerfield......Rojas is a wizard with the glove. Definitely opens up another spot, but for whom?

[andyb]

Crawford or Marsh. Really no great RH option at the moment though it was looking like Rojas was going to start the season in the minors and Kemp plus one of Moore or De La Cruz would win the 5th spot. Since Crawford does not have big splits platooning is really not necessary though it could have helped get Rojas on the team as a credible backup CF or late inning pinch running//defensive replacement.

[zambonir]

Well, Marsh can still play CF. Garcia was also a regular CF as recently as 2022. I think Dylan Moore was probably more likely to make it over Rojas anyway. But otherwise it gives Pedro Leon the edge over De La Cruz (plus he's on the 40 already).

But yeah, Crawford should not be sitting for a RH bat, it's more about whether you want your 5th OF to be defense-first.

[fish]

But otherwise it gives Pedro Leon the edge over De La Cruz

Why is that?

[zambonir]

I mean, to me it gives Leon the theoretical edge if you're trying to replace Rojas one-for-one and believe Rojas was going to make the team as a back-up CF/defensive replacement who can't hit and will barely play in the first place. That's the "otherwise" to what my post said: that Dylan Moore was already ahead of Rojas. And De La Cruz probably was too (and is therefore competing with Moore for the spot). But if they really want a pure back-up CF on the roster Leon is that.

[andyb]

Leon is the better fit for the roster without Rojas, but I wonder if Moore or De La Cruz were going to win the position anyway. The best thing for Rojas might still have been consistent AAA at bats over a pure bench role in the majors.

I think Leon starts in AAA and is there in case there is an injury or if Crawford struggles (overall or even just against LHP we assume the lack of platoon splits carry over but we really don't know that yet).

I really don't want to think of the Crawford struggling scenarios at the moment.

[zambonir]

I really don't want to think of the Crawford struggling scenarios at the moment.

Were the worst-case to happen at the moment - hopefully just short-term - it's probably Marsh and Leon in CF and a whole lot of Kemp plus another RHB in LF. Or Rincones.

Hard to see Rojas doing enough to remain with the Phillies next year, whether he's traded or has to go on waivers (unless he clears them).

[zambonir]

Murphy believes the Phillies will have to go get someone. He's not wrong if you ponder the worst-case, I suppose. De La Cruz hasn't played CF since 2023 (7 MLB games total). Moore has 105 innings in CF over seven years. Leon not that good. But there's also no one to get (he mentions Chas McCormick might become available if he doesn't make the Cubs). And if you do move Marsh to CF you still need a RH CF to spell him.

Rojas did start 46 games last year, and appeared in 65. Then they got Bader.

Johan Rojas’ potential PED suspension leaves Phillies no choice but to act...

[Austinfan]

They'll also monitor Nori's progress, if they need a glove first CF later in the year.

[zambonir]

I'm probably more likely to make the 40-man than Nori this season.

[andyb]

They'll also monitor Nori's progress, if they need a glove first CF later in the year.

He's barely played High A ball. Back off the irrational love for a bit. He is more in the 2027--2028 timetable. It is actually pretty easy to get a defense-first RH CF option. Remember Rojas was depth and was unlikely to make the team. We just need a AAA option to back up Crawford.

[zambonir]

And Leon is already that option. If someone comes across the wire or is they can add a Jankowski type I'm sure they will.

I was gonna joke that they could get Pache back but he's actually on a minor league deal with the Mets, 1.932 OPS in spring training so far.