In terms of the Philadelphia Phillies, not much has changed. They consider that to be advantageous.
With the same roster that won two consecutive NLCS titles, the Phillies are gearing up for another season in their spring training clubhouse.
CLEARWATER, Florida: Handshakes and introductions are usually the order of the day at spring training. New faces in new places are what the winter transaction carousel signifies, having plucked up players like seeds in the wind and sent them to new pastures. names to get familiar with. Chemistry to determine. to establish trust.
The 2024 Philadelphia Phillies, on the other hand, don’t look anything like the 2023 Phillies.
This picture from a wet Sunday morning in the Phillies’ spring training clubhouse might have been lifted straight out of any regular-season game from the previous year. A group of seasoned position players, which included J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos, conversed in the distant corner. Bryce Harper was a few feet away, using a mason jar as his container to scoop his food. “It’s undoubtedly strange not having to acquaint yourself with so many new guys,” Aaron Nola, who re-signed in November, stated to Yahoo Sports.
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There is a striking degree of consistency and recognizable faces throughout the lineup.
This offseason offered a fresh taste to an organization whose recent winters have been characterized by flashy, high-profile arrivals. The front office’s top priority was to keep Nola in red pinstripes for another seven seasons. This mission was completed before Thanksgiving, securing Nola’s stay.
The most prominent position player to leave this winter was Rhys Hoskins, a fan favorite who suffered an ACL tear that prevented him from playing in 2023. The most noteworthy
It’s not like you can truly continue every year, is it? To get things done, you kind of have to rely on the men in your clubhouse, Harper remarked.
Other than Nola, journeyman pitcher Kolby Allard, veteran utility player Whit Merrifield, and depth starter Spencer Turnbull were the only players awarded MLB contracts this offseason by President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski. Merrifield made his debut on Monday, so his addition will probably feel like a drastic roster change.
“The level of competition is low in camp,” manager Rob Thomson said reporters the previous week. “And having that problem is a good thing.”
Pitchers for the Phillies pitched 1,438 innings in the previous season (this number excludes the 4⅓ innings pitched by Josh Harrison and fellow position player Kody Clemens). Not only do 147 of the 162 starts made, but a staggering 1,233⅔ of those innings, or 85.3%, are still with the organization. The only teams who return a higher proportion of games started are the Marlins, Blue Jays, Nationals, and Astros.
There is much more consistency in the lineup. The only three position players still in the organization are journeyman infielder Drew Ellis (29 PA), depth outfielder Dalton Guthrie (28 PA), and seasoned utility guy Harrison (114 plate appearances). The main narrative surrounding the roster at spring training is if the organization believes that rookie center-field glove-smith Johan Rojas requires
