Opening day is just three weeks from Thursday and as Phillies officials begin to ponder final roster decisions they must consider that several veteran non-roster candidates have the right to become free agents during the final week of camp.
Infielders Logan Forsythe and Neil Walker and relievers Francisco Liriano and Anthony Swarzak all have outs in their contracts on March 19, two days before they must learn whether or not they will make the opening day roster. If these players do not make the roster for the March 26 opener, the Phillies can seek to retain them as minor-league depth by paying them a $100,000 retention bonus.
Forsythe, Walker, Liriano and Swarzak are eligible for these retention bonuses because they ended last season on a major-league contract and have more than six years of service time.
Rosters have increased from 25 to 26 men this season, giving the Phillies room for an extra man on the bench. Forsythe and Walker are both competing for a spot there. Forsythe has come out of the gate quickly with a double, two homers and four walks in his first six Grapefruit League games.
Liriano, a lefty, had a strong season out of Pittsburgh’s bullpen in 2019 and stands a good chance to break with the club. Swarzak, a 10-year veteran, pitched in 59 games for Seattle and Atlanta last season.
Josh Harrison and Phil Gosselin, both infielder/outfielders with a chance to win a spot on the bench, each have outs in their contracts on March 23, three days before the opener. Neither are eligible for a retention bonus if they go to the minors. Harrison has another out on June 1 and Gosselin on July 1.
The Phillies' 40-man roster is full so the team would have to make room for any player from this group that it adds.
MLB
Here are the outs for other veteran players in Phillies camp on minor-league deals:
Reliever Blake Parker — Can request release on March 19.
Catcher Christian Bethancourt — Can request release June 1 if in the minors and another team offers a big-league job; July 15 for requested release.
Outfielder Mikie Mahtook — Can request release June 15 if in minors and another team offers a big-league job.
Reliever Bud Norris — Can request release June 30 if in minors and another team offers a big-league job.
Reliever Drew Storen — Can request release June 15 if in minors and another team offers a big-league job.
Outfielder Matt Szczur — Can request release June 15 if in minors and another team offers a big-league job.
Infielder Ronald Torreyes — Can request release June 1 if in minors and another team offers a big-league job; August 15 for requested release.
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