GaryMrMets
11-21-2003, 09:49 PM
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/phi/news/phi_news.jsp?ymd=20031119&content_id=605978&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi
11/19/2003 4:59 PM ET
Phils add four to 40-man roster
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Slugging first baseman Ryan Howard, regarded as the Phillies' best hitting prospect, was one of four players added to the team's 40-man roster Wednesday, protecting him from next month's Rule 5 Draft.
Right-handed starters Keith Bucktrot, Elizardo Ramirez and Alfredo Simon rounded out the additions.
The roster stands at 37, three shy of the limit. By leaving spots open, the Phillies allow for the possibility of a free-agent signing or perhaps making a selection in the Rule 5 Draft.
"We don't expect to be at 40 [players], at least not by tomorrow," said assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. "We'll see what happens next. But from our system, these are the guys we're protecting."
Any player with enough minor league service time -- either three or four years, depending on which side of age 19 they were signed -- not on the roster by Thursday's midnight ET deadline can be chosen by another team.
Gavin Floyd and Cole Hamels, the two jewels of the Phillies' wave of young pitchers, aren't eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and don't need to be protected.
A player selected in the Rule 5 draft -- at a cost of $50,000 -- must remain on a Major League roster for the entire season or be offered back to his original team for $25,000. This happened to Travis Chapman last year. In previous seasons, the Phillies have lost pitchers Miguel Ascenio and Derrek Turnbow.
Howard, who turned 24 on Wednesday, has forged his way up the depth chart. He has 40-homer potential to go along with his .300 average and has improved markedly at first base. But that may be the only position for the 24-year-old, and that path is blocked by Jim Thome. His name could be dangled in a trade for a pitcher.
Bucktrot is the most advanced of the three pitchers, having finished the 2003 season with Double-A Reading. He went 10-8 at the two levels. Simon and Ramirez are both 20 years old.
Though tough decisions had to be made, the situation became easier with the trade for Billy Wagner. Not only did the Phillies get a flame-throwing closer, but they subtracted Taylor Buchholz and Ezequiel Astacio from the pool of players who would have had to be considered.
"Things would have been much tougher had we not made the move for Wagner," Amaro said. "That gave us a little breathing room, but it was still tight for us because we need to fill spots -- a reliever, catcher and a starting pitcher."
If the Phillies re-sign Todd Pratt, Kevin Millwood and Dan Plesac -- for example -- they would be at 40. Any other addition would require them to expose a player to waivers.
"If we had our druthers, we'd have a 50-man roster, but we can't do that, so we tried to stay as prudent as possible with our decisions," Amaro said. "We have some younger players who we are worried [we might lose], but I don't think we have a guy like Ascenio who we're going to regret not putting on the roster, especially when we have moves to make in regard to the Major League team. It's important for us to have some flexibility."
The Phillies could create more flexibility on Dec. 20, the deadline for offering contracts to arbitration-eligible players. Any player not offered arbitration by that date becomes a free agent.
Second baseman Placido Polanco and shortstop Jimmy Rollins fall into that category, though they are assured of returning. Left-hander Valerio De Los Santos could be a victim, especially if veteran Dan Plesac returns.
Phillies roster:
PITCHERS (19):
Keith Bucktrot (R) David Coggin (R) Rheal Cormier (L) Valerio De Los Santos (L) Geoff Geary (R) Josh Hancock (R) Eric Junge (R) Ryan Madson (R) Brett Myers (R) Vicente Padilla (R) Franklin Perez (R) Elizardo Ramirez (R) Carlos Silva (R) Alfredo Simon (R) Bud Smith (L) Amaury Telemaco (R) Billy Wagner (L) Jeremy Wedel (R) Randy Wolf (L)
CATCHER (1):
Mike Lieberthal
INFIELDERS (11):
David Bell Travis Chapman Ryan Howard Anderson Machado Tomas Perez Placido Polanco Nick Punto Juan Richardson Jimmy Rollins Jim ThomeChase Utley
OUTFIELDERS (6):
Bobby Abreu Pat Burrell Marlon Byrd Ricky Ledee Jason Michaels Jorge Padilla
Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
11/19/2003 4:59 PM ET
Phils add four to 40-man roster
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Slugging first baseman Ryan Howard, regarded as the Phillies' best hitting prospect, was one of four players added to the team's 40-man roster Wednesday, protecting him from next month's Rule 5 Draft.
Right-handed starters Keith Bucktrot, Elizardo Ramirez and Alfredo Simon rounded out the additions.
The roster stands at 37, three shy of the limit. By leaving spots open, the Phillies allow for the possibility of a free-agent signing or perhaps making a selection in the Rule 5 Draft.
"We don't expect to be at 40 [players], at least not by tomorrow," said assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. "We'll see what happens next. But from our system, these are the guys we're protecting."
Any player with enough minor league service time -- either three or four years, depending on which side of age 19 they were signed -- not on the roster by Thursday's midnight ET deadline can be chosen by another team.
Gavin Floyd and Cole Hamels, the two jewels of the Phillies' wave of young pitchers, aren't eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and don't need to be protected.
A player selected in the Rule 5 draft -- at a cost of $50,000 -- must remain on a Major League roster for the entire season or be offered back to his original team for $25,000. This happened to Travis Chapman last year. In previous seasons, the Phillies have lost pitchers Miguel Ascenio and Derrek Turnbow.
Howard, who turned 24 on Wednesday, has forged his way up the depth chart. He has 40-homer potential to go along with his .300 average and has improved markedly at first base. But that may be the only position for the 24-year-old, and that path is blocked by Jim Thome. His name could be dangled in a trade for a pitcher.
Bucktrot is the most advanced of the three pitchers, having finished the 2003 season with Double-A Reading. He went 10-8 at the two levels. Simon and Ramirez are both 20 years old.
Though tough decisions had to be made, the situation became easier with the trade for Billy Wagner. Not only did the Phillies get a flame-throwing closer, but they subtracted Taylor Buchholz and Ezequiel Astacio from the pool of players who would have had to be considered.
"Things would have been much tougher had we not made the move for Wagner," Amaro said. "That gave us a little breathing room, but it was still tight for us because we need to fill spots -- a reliever, catcher and a starting pitcher."
If the Phillies re-sign Todd Pratt, Kevin Millwood and Dan Plesac -- for example -- they would be at 40. Any other addition would require them to expose a player to waivers.
"If we had our druthers, we'd have a 50-man roster, but we can't do that, so we tried to stay as prudent as possible with our decisions," Amaro said. "We have some younger players who we are worried [we might lose], but I don't think we have a guy like Ascenio who we're going to regret not putting on the roster, especially when we have moves to make in regard to the Major League team. It's important for us to have some flexibility."
The Phillies could create more flexibility on Dec. 20, the deadline for offering contracts to arbitration-eligible players. Any player not offered arbitration by that date becomes a free agent.
Second baseman Placido Polanco and shortstop Jimmy Rollins fall into that category, though they are assured of returning. Left-hander Valerio De Los Santos could be a victim, especially if veteran Dan Plesac returns.
Phillies roster:
PITCHERS (19):
Keith Bucktrot (R) David Coggin (R) Rheal Cormier (L) Valerio De Los Santos (L) Geoff Geary (R) Josh Hancock (R) Eric Junge (R) Ryan Madson (R) Brett Myers (R) Vicente Padilla (R) Franklin Perez (R) Elizardo Ramirez (R) Carlos Silva (R) Alfredo Simon (R) Bud Smith (L) Amaury Telemaco (R) Billy Wagner (L) Jeremy Wedel (R) Randy Wolf (L)
CATCHER (1):
Mike Lieberthal
INFIELDERS (11):
David Bell Travis Chapman Ryan Howard Anderson Machado Tomas Perez Placido Polanco Nick Punto Juan Richardson Jimmy Rollins Jim ThomeChase Utley
OUTFIELDERS (6):
Bobby Abreu Pat Burrell Marlon Byrd Ricky Ledee Jason Michaels Jorge Padilla
Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.