Countdown to Opening Day Begins

2025 Chachi Almost #2

2025 Chachi Almost #3

2025 Chachi Almost #4

2025 Chachi Almost #5

With the Dodgers sealing an 11th inning, Game 7 victory over the Blue Jays early this morning, the baseball offseason is officially underway.  Nine former Phillies are now free agents, and if I had my way, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suarez, in that order, would all return to the fold for the 2026 season.  Before we shutter The Phillies Room for some offseason maintenance of our own, breaking only occasionally for some offseason news, here's a look at a few 2025 Chachi cards that didn't make it out of the draft folder, and a summary of the first 2025-26 offseason transactions.

2025 Chachi Almost #6

2025 Chachi Almost #7

2025 Chachi Almost #8

Chachi Almost:  I felt the seven players shown here had a chance to suit up with the Phillies in 2025, so Chachi cards were created for them in March.  None of the seven, along with the previously seen Tyler Phillips card, got the call to Citizens Bank Park during the year.  

Oscar Mercado (of) and Rodolfo Castro (inf) had brief stints with the Phillies in prior years.  Kyle Tyler (rhp) was released in July, signing with the White Sox organization less than a week later.  Koyo Aoyagi (rhp) went back to Japan following his release in June, pitching briefly with the Yakult Swallows.  Nabil Crismatt (rhp) was released in August and appeared in eight games for the Diamondbacks, going 3-0 with a 3.71 ERA in 34 innings pitched.  Christian Arroyo (inf) spent the entire season with the IronPigs, as did Devin Sweet (rhp).

October 10 - Sweet, Walton Depart:  In the first moves of the offseason, Sweet and Donovan Walton (inf) became minor league free agents.  Walton appeared in a pair of games with the Phillies in September, making two starts at second base and going 1 for 9.

November 2 - Free Agency Opens:  Nine players officially became free agents at the conclusion of the World Series - Walker Buehler (rhp), Max Kepler (of), Tim Mayza (lhp), Realmuto (c), David Robertson (rhp), Jordan Romano (rhp), Schwarber (dh), Suarez (lhp), and Lou Trivino (rhp).

Spring Training Game 7 - Nola Sharp, Bats Missing in Lakeland

Philadelphia Phillies	0
Detroit Tigers	1

2023 Choice Arkansas
Travelers #4

Spring Training Game 7

Saturday Afternoon, March 1

Joker Marchant Stadium - Lakeland, FL

Record - 3-3-1

One Sentence Summary:  With all the regulars staying behind in Clearwater, a team of Phillies reserves and job seekers managed one single against Tigers' pitching in this 1-0 defeat.

What It Means:  At least the game was on the radio with Scott Franzke and Kevin Stocker broadcasting.

What Happened:  Aaron Nola continued a string of strong spring debuts from the Phillies' starting pitching staff, allowing a hit and striking out a pair in his two innings of work.  Tyler Phillips allowed the lone run of the game to score in the third inning.  Kyle Tyler pitched two scoreless innings in relief, striking out two.  Johan Rojas, the team's DH for this game, broke up the Tigers' no-hitter with a single with one out in the top of the sixth.

Featured Card:  Tyler has pitched in 15 big league games over three different seasons with the Angels, Padres and Marlins.  The righty was selected off waivers by the Phillies from the Marlins last August 11th, and was shaky in seven starts with the IronPigs the rest of the season - 1-2 with a 6.09 ERA.  Per the TCDB, he's got five minor league baseball cards to his name with nary an appearance yet in a mainstream release.

Camp Head Count:  66