The Phillies introduced a sequence of roster strikes right this moment. Outfielder Austin Hays has been positioned on the 10-day injured listing, retroactive to August 8, with a left hamstring pressure. Left-hander Kolby Allard was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. To take these two roster spots, the membership chosen outfielder Cal Stevenson and right-hander Max Lazar. To open 40-man spots for these two, first baseman Darick Corridor and righty Max Castillo have been designated for project.
Hays left Wednesday’s sport with left hamstring tightness, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com on X. It’s unclear how lengthy he’s anticipated to be out of motion, but it surely appears the Phils should progress for no less than every week with out their current outfield improve. Acquired from the Orioles previous to the deadline, Hays hit .263/.282/.395 and stole two bases in his first ten video games with Philadelphia however will now sit on the shelf for some time.
The membership nonetheless has Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas and Weston Wilson within the outfield combine however will bolster that group with Stevenson. Now 27, he was claimed off waivers from the Giants in Might of final 12 months however then was outrighted off the Phillies’ roster the next month.
He’s spent all of this 12 months placing up nice numbers on the Triple-A stage. In 91 video games for the IronPigs, he’s hit seven house runs and drawn walks at a large 16.4% clip whereas limiting his strikeouts to a 16.7% strikeout price. His .307/.420/.488 batting line interprets to a 138 wRC+ and he’s additionally stolen 27 bases whereas lining up in any respect three outfield spots.
Stevenson has put up sturdy numbers within the minors earlier than however struggled in restricted main league seems to be. He has 29 massive league video games below his belt at this level, with the Giants and Athletics, however he hit simply .145/.259/.188 in these contests. If issues click on this time round, he nonetheless has one possibility remaining and he received’t have the ability to get to at least one 12 months of service time this season, that means he might be retained properly into the long run at minimal price.
However getting Stevenson onto the roster appears to have price Corridor his spot. He has completed some thrilling stuff on the plate up to now however isn’t having his greatest 12 months. He’s spent the complete season in Triple-A and does have 12 house runs, however his .248/.324/.402 line interprets to an 86 wRC+ within the sturdy offensive atmosphere of the Worldwide League this 12 months.
Corridor is in his ultimate possibility 12 months and due to this fact will probably be out of choices in 2025. Even earlier than this 12 months’s struggles, he didn’t have a path to enjoying time in Philadelphia with Bryce Harper at first base and Kyle Schwarber within the designated hitter slot. With much less roster flexibility subsequent 12 months, he was going to have a tough time hanging onto his roster spot going ahead, so the Phils have nudged him off right this moment.
With the commerce deadline now handed, they may haven’t any alternative however to place him on waivers within the coming days. Golf equipment could also be primarily based on his previous efficiency. From 2021 to 2023, he hit 60 house runs in 297 minor league video games, walked at an 11.1% clip and had a 21.1% strikeout price. His mixed .261/.351/.486 batting line translated to a 117 wRC+. He may be saved on optionally available project for the remainder of this 12 months however will probably be out of choices subsequent 12 months and has no defensive versatility as a primary base/DH solely participant.
The membership additionally made a change on the pitching aspect, giving Lazar his first main league name. Drafted by the Brewers again in 2017, he climbed as excessive as Double-A however didn’t get the foremost league name by the tip of 2023 and certified for minor league free company.
The Phillies signed him to a minor league deal within the offseason and have been watching him put up nice outcomes. In 40 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, he has a 1.79 earned run common, 33.8% strikeout price and 5.8% stroll price. These spectacular numbers get him as much as the Philly bullpen and he’ll be making his main league debut as quickly as he will get right into a sport.
Castillo, 25, was claimed off waivers from the Crimson Sox in February. Like Corridor, he’s in his ultimate possibility 12 months and should been working out of time. Claimed off waivers from the Crimson Sox in February, he has been offering the Phils with some beginning depth however the outcomes haven’t been there this 12 months. In 52 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, he has a 7.62 ERA, 16.4% strikeout price and 10.4% stroll price.
The Phils should put him on waivers in a number of days. As not too long ago as final 12 months, he appeared like a succesful up-and-down arm, as he posted a 4.43 ERA within the majors with the Royals and a 4.58 ERA on the Triple-A stage, but it surely’s clearly been a distinct story this 12 months. Between Castillo and Corridor, neither has a earlier profession outright nor three years of massive league service time. If both of them clear waivers, they’d follow the Phils as non-roster depth.
