On what was supposed to be opening day, the Phillies optioned six players to Triple A:
OF Nick Williams
OF Kyle Garlick
LHP Cole Irvin
LHP Austin Davis
RHP Reggie McClain
RHP Edgar Garcia
MLB
Why today? There will be a roster freeze once the league's owners ratify their agreement with the players' association regarding 2020 salaries, service time, the draft and other key issues. That announcement is expected Friday morning.
Garlick and Williams were less likely to make the new opening day roster since the delay should give Andrew McCutchen enough time to be ready for Game 1.
Garlick, acquired from the Dodgers in mid-February, at one point in spring training looked capable of carving out a role as a platoon left fielder against lefties as early as the opening series in Miami. He still could help out at some point. These moves do not preclude any of the six players from being recalled and contributing early in the season.
Irvin and Davis were behind lefties Adam Morgan, Jose Alvarez and Francisco Liriano in the battle for bullpen jobs.
McClain flashed some nastiness in spring training and has potential as a hard-throwing right-handed reliever.
The Phillies will go through plenty of arms this season. The three-batter rule will cut down on reliever appearances but the compressed schedule will likely force teams to go to their bullpens earlier in games, at least initially.
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