Baseball is almost back. The Philadelphia Phillies will look to bounce back after a late-season collapse and early exit in the postseason in 2024.
The Phillies were linked to multiple high-profile free agents and trade targets this offseason. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and company decided to improve the roster in other ways.
Dombrowski brought in relievers Jordan Romano and Joe Ross on one-year deals to help fill the void left by Jeff Hoffman, Carlos Estévez and Spencer Turnbull. The organization also traded for 27-year-old left-handed starter Jesús Luzardo to complete the starting rotation heading into 2025. Former Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler signed a one-year deal to take over the left field duties.
Dombrowski and the Phillies feel confident and comfortable with the ball club as they prepare for the new season. The 26-man roster is mostly set except for the final spot. What are the Phillies’ plans for the final position player roster spot?
Phillies will look to internal options to fill the final roster spot this season
Barring a deal that the Phillies can’t resist, the 2025 Opening Day roster is all but finalized. Dombrowski plans on giving internal options the opportunity to compete for the final roster spot (subscription required), per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
“We’ve gone out and signed Whit Merrifield and Josh Harrison the last couple of years,” Dombrowski said, per Gelb. “Really, for us, we’ve talked internally about it. We’re going to give these guys an opportunity to do that.”
Weston Wilson, Kody Clemens and Buddy Kennedy are the internal options that he alluded to. Wilson and Clemens are likely the top two candidates for the spot.
“We think all three of them have the capabilities,” Dombrowski said, “to play at the big-league level this year.”
Wilson appeared in 41 games in 2024 slashing .284/.347/.489 with a .836 OPS, 11 extra-base hits and 10 RBI. The 30-year-old offers incredible versatility by playing all over the field. The right-handed hitter came up with some clutch hits throughout the season, and he logged the 10th cycle in franchise history in a 13-3 win over the Washington Nationals in August.
The Phillies acquired Clemens from the Detroit Tigers ahead of the 2023 season. Like Wilson, he provides the team with versatility on defense. He also has some pop in his bat. The 28-year-old appeared in 44 games in 2024 slashing .219/.258/.447 with a .705 OPS, nine doubles, one triple, five home runs and 18 RBI.
Kennedy has the least major league experience with the Phillies out of the three. The 26-year-old right-hander appeared in only eight games, recording two hits and two RBI in 11 at-bats. He offered some defensive versatility in the minor leagues, but he’s been limited to just second and third base throughout his short major league career.
Wilson will likely be the favorite to earn the final roster spot because of his offensive production and ability to play almost every position on the field. Dombrowski will have a tough decision to make with Clemens and Kennedy who are both out of options, meaning they would need to clear waivers to be sent to the minors.
