Phillies Hot Stove: Feel the Excitement!

2016 Chachi New Additions #4

2016 Chachi Departures #2

While teams closer to contention are adding staff aces in David Price (Red Sox) and Jordan Zimmermann (Tigers), the Phillies are taking advantage of being the first team in line for the waiver wire.  They added their third waiver wire pick-up this offseason when they claimed right-handed pitcher Michael Mariot on Monday.  Mariot had appeared in 19 games with the Royals over the past two seasons, owning a 6.11 ERA in 28 innings of work.

Mariot's only baseball card appearances to date come within prior year Royals minor league team sets.

The only other recent Phillies-related transaction of note is the signing of infielder Chase d'Arnaud to a minor league contract with the Braves.

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 and elected free agency.
• Erik Kratz - c (10/9/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Sean O'Sullivan - rhp (10/9/15) - Elected free agency.
• 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.
• Seth Rosin - rhp (10/10/15) - Elected free agency.
• Brian Bogusevic (10/26/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• 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.
• Jonathan Pettibone - rhp (11/6/15) - Elected free agency.

New Additions - 2015-2016 Offseason

• Dan Otero - rhp (11/3/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Oakland Athletics.
• 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.
• Michael Mariot - rhp (11/30/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Royals.

The First Moves of the 2015-2016 Offseason

2015 Phillies Team Issue 2 #30

While the rest of the baseball world was preparing for the Cubs-Pirates Wild Card game, the Phillies were busy making their first roster moves of the off-season.

Catcher Erik Kratz, infielder Chase d'Arnaud, outfielder Jordan Danks and relievers Justin De Fratus, Adam Loewen and Ken Roberts were all outrighted off the 40-man roster.  Jonathan Pettibone, who was on the 60-day disabled list all season, was activated and also outrighted.  The moves leave the Phillies with 34 players on their 40-man roster and six players still on the 60-day DL.

2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update #8

2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update #9

2012 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update #13

2007 Topps #78

Given their years of service, d'Arnaud, De Fratus, Loewen and Kratz can all immediately elect to become free agents or they can wait until after the World Series when they'll automatically become minor league free agents.  Danks and Pettibone can become free agents following the World Series and Roberts will be reassigned to a Phillies minor league team.

Of the seven players outrighted, De Fratus had been in the Phillies system the longest, having made his debut with the club in 2011.  He leaves behind a Phillies baseball card legacy that began with the 2011 Bowman set and ended with the 2015 team issued photo card sets.

d'Arnaud, Danks and Loewen could join the ranks of those unfortunate (or fortunate depending on your point of view) Phillies players who never appeared on a Phillies baseball card.  Roberts appears to still have a chance if he's in the mix next season.

* * *

2015 Phillies Team Issue 2 #12

2015 Phillies Team Issue 2 #54

2014 Phillies Team Issue #44

Also of note is the dismissal of two Phillies coaches following the final game of the season.  Third base coach John Mizerock and bullpen coach Rod Nichols were let go and the other four coaches - bench coach Larry Bowa, first base coach Juan Samuel, hitting coach Steve Henderson and pitching coach Bob McClure were all invited back for 2016.  There's been no official word yet if those four will actually decide to return for 2016 and Bowa recently interviewed for the manager's job in Miami.

2015 Chachi #67 Chase d'Arnaud

#2

Chase Jonathan d'Arnaud

Infield

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  205

Born:  January 21, 1987, Torrance, CA

Home:  Long Beach, CA

Drafted:  Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 4th round of the June 2008 draft

Teams:  Pittsburgh Pirates 2011-2012, 2014; Phillies 2015

Acquired:  Signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent, November 13, 2014

2011 Topps Update #US297

2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #6

2 d'Arnaud Baseball Cards in My Collection per Zistle
First Card:  2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #6
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Topps Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update #8

First Topps Base Card:  2011 Topps Update #US297
First Chachi Base Card:  2015 Chachi #67

d'Arnaud Games I've Attended per Hardball Passport

N/A

Cards and game statistics through 9/14/15.