Four More Ex-Phillies Move Along

2016 Chachi Departures #6

2016 Chachi Departures #7

2016 Chachi Departures #8

2016 Chachi Departures #9

While we were waiting for the Ken Giles trade to be officially announced, four other ex-Phillies moved on to new teams.  Each of these players recently signed minor league deals with their new teams.

Dustin McGowan (rhp) - McGowan joined the Phillies on opening day last season, and he'd appear in 14 games with the club, going 1-2 with a 6.94 ERA.  His sole Phillies card can be found within the second team issued photo card set, released in June.  McGowan will try to earn a spot in the Marlins bullpen in 2016.

Erik Kratz (c) - In his second stint with the Phils, Kratz made it into 12 games in September, hitting .227 with two RBIs.  He didn't appear on any new Phillies baseball cards this time around and he'll be heading to spring training with the Padres.

Ethan Martin (rhp) - Martin came to the Phillies from the Dodgers in the July 2012 Shane Victorino deal.  He pitched in 17 games for the club in 2013 and 2014, and missed the bulk of the past two seasons with shoulder ailments.  He appeared on a bunch of Major and minor league cards with the Phillies in 2013 and 2014, but he didn't receive any cards last year.  Martin signed a minor league deal with the Braves.

Sean O'Sullivan (rhp) - Finally, O'Sullivan, who had a horrible season with the Phillies (1-6, 6.08 ERA) signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox.  O'Sullivan had a card in the team's second series photo card set and actually made it into the Topps Update set with the Phillies.

Moving On - 2015-2016 Offseason

• Chase d'Arnaud - inf (10/9/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent the Atlanta Braves, 11/24/15.
• Justin De Fratus - rhp (10/9/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed with the Seattle Mariners, 12/2/15.
• Erik Kratz - c (10/9/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the San Diego Padres, 11/8/15.
• Sean O'Sullivan - rhp (10/9/15) - Elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Boston Red Sox, 12/11/15.
• Kevin Correia - rhp (10/10/15) - Elected free agency.
• Adam Loewen - lhp (10/10/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks, 11/7/15.
• Dustin McGowan - rhp (10/10/15) - Elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Miami Marlins, 12/10/15.
• Seth Rosin - rhp (10/10/15) - Elected free agency.
• Brian Bogusevic (10/26/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed with the Orix Buffaloes of the Japanese Pacific League, 12/9/15.
• Domonic Brown (10/26/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Chad Billingsley - rhp (11/2/15) - Elected free agency.
• Jeff Francoeur - of (11/2/15) - Elected free agency.
• Aaron Harang - rhp (11/2/15) - Elected free agency.
• Jerome Williams - rhp (11/2/15) - Elected free agency.
• Cliff Lee - lhp (11/2/15) - Team option declined and elected free agency.
• Jordan Danks - of (11/6/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Ethan Martin - rhp (11/6/15) - Elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Atlanta Braves, 12/11/15.
• Jonathan Pettibone - rhp (11/6/15) - Elected free agency.
• Nefi Ogando - rhp (12/2/15) - Claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins.
• Ken Giles - rhp (12/12/15) - Traded with Jonathan Arauz to the Houston Astros for Mark Appel, Harold Arauz, Thomas Eshelman, Brett Oberholtzer and Vincent Velasquez.

New Additions - 2015-2016 Offseason

• Dan Otero - rhp (11/3/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. (Designated for assignment 12/12/15)
• Jeremy Hellickson - rhp (11/14/15) - Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Sam McWilliams.
• A.J. Achter - rhp (11/20/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. (Designated for assignment 12/12/15)
• Michael Mariot - rhp (11/30/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Royals.
• Peter Bourjos - of (12/2/15) - Claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals.
• David Hernandez - rhp (12/9/15) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• Tyler Goeddel - of (12/10/15) - Selected from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Rule 5 draft.
• Daniel Stumpf - lhp (12/10/15) - Selected from the Kansas City Royals in the Rule 5 draft.
• Charlie Morton - rhp (12/12/15) - Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for David Whitehead.
• Brett Oberholtzer - lhp and Vincent Velasquez - rhp (12/12/15) - Acquired with Mark Appel, Harold Arauz and Thomas Eshelman from the Houston Astros for Ken Giles and Jonathan Arauz.

Doug's 2015 Topps Update Want List

2015 Topps Update #US84

COMPLETED!

Doug finished this set on October 31, 2015 at the Fanatics Authentic Sports Spectacular in Oaks, Pennsylvania.

2011 Topps Update #US89 Sean O'Sullivan

Nationals 2, Phillies 1
Game 44 - Friday Night, May 22nd in Washington
Record - 18-26, 4th Place, 8 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  An unexpected pitcher's duel broke out between Max Scherzer and Sean O'Sullivan, but the Nationals were able to narrowly defeat the Phillies, 2-1.

What It Means:  At least the Phillies are playing competitive baseball at this point.  Admittedly, I didn't think they had a chance last night against Scherzer and the first place Nationals, but they hung in there.

What Happened:  O'Sullivan allowed both Nationals runs in his six innings of work and he's now pitched at least six innings while allowing two runs or less in three of his five starts.  Odubel Herrera doubled home Maikel Franco in the second for the Phillies only run.

Featured Card:  By my tally, there are three members of the 2015 Phillies team with no Phillies baseball cards to date - O'Sullivan, Dustin McGowan and Elvis Araujo.  I'd like to show some cardboard appreciation for O'Sullivan's surprisingly good outing, so here's his 2011 Topps Update card.

Maybe he'll earn a card in the giant-sized 2015 Topps Update set which will weigh in at 400 cards and be released this fall.

2015 Chachi #34 Sean O'Sullivan

#47

Sean Daniel O'Sullivan

Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  253

Born:  September 1, 1987, San Diego, CA

Home:  Spring Valley, CA

Drafted:  Selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 3rd round of the June 2005 draft

Teams:  Los Angeles Angels 2009-2010, Kansas City Royals 2010-2011, San Diego Padres 2013, Phillies 2014-

Acquired:  Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the San Diego Padres, December 17, 2013

2009 Topps Update #UH23

2014 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #18

2014 Chachi #55

1 O'Sullivan Baseball Cards in My Collection per Zistle
First Card:  2014 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #18
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Topps Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2014 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #18

First Topps Base Card:  2009 Topps Update #UH23
First Chachi Base Card:  2014 Chachi #55

O'Sullivan Games I've Attended per Hardball Passport

Cards and game statistics through 5/19/15.

2014 Chachi #55 Sean O'Sullivan

#61

Sean Daniel O'Sullivan

Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  220

Born:  September 1, 1987, San Diego, CA

Home:  Spring Valley, CA

Drafted:  Selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 3rd round of the June 2005 draft

Teams:  Los Angeles Angels 2009-2010, Kansas City Royals 2010-2011, San Diego Padres 2013, Phillies 2014

Acquired:  Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the San Diego Padres, December 17, 2013

Phillies Cards in My Collection:

O'Sullivan is in the 2014 Lehigh Valley IronPigs team set, but he has yet to appear on a Phillies baseball card.

First Chachi Card:  2014 Chachi #55

2014 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #18 Sean O'Sullivan

Braves 5, Phillies 1 (Game 2)
Game 81 - Saturday Night, June 28th in Philadelphia
Record - 36-45, 5th Place, 7 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies couldn't get anything going as the Braves won easily, 5-1.

What It Means:  It means the Phillies were swept in yesterday's double header.  Kevin Cooney gets the Tweet of the night award, pointing out that the Phillies have only been worse than 36-45 four other times in the last 25 years at the half-way point - 1989, 1991, 1996 and 1997.  In three of those four seasons, they finished in last place. The Phils are on pace to go 72-90 this season.

What Happened:  The offense managed six hits and went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position.  I feel like I've typed that same sentence at least a dozen times this season.

Featured Card:  Sean O'Sullivan got the call to start the second game of yesterday's double header and he did a decent job until he hit the sixth inning.  Through the first five innings, O'Sullivan allowed a run on five hits.  He ran into trouble in the sixth, allowing three straight two-out singles, before getting pulled for Mario Hollands.

O'Sullivan's last major cardboard appearance came in the 2011 Topps Update set when he was a member of the Royals.  This is his sole 2014 baseball card to date, featuring him with the IronPigs.  And yes, that's a strip of bacon on his hat.

Transaction:  To make room for O'Sullivan on the roster, infielder Ronny Cedeno was outrighted off the 40-man roster.  Following the game, Luis Garcia was optioned back to Lehigh Valley.