Phillies release Logan Forsythe and Francisco Liriano; Neil Walker makes opening day roster
The Phillies’ opening day roster picture became a bit clearer Saturday evening when they made a series of roster decisions.
• Infielder Neil Walker was told he will make the team.
• Infielder Logan Forsythe and left-handed reliever Francisco Liriano were granted their release.
• Right-handed reliever Victor Arano was optioned to Lehigh Valley.
• Catcher Henri Lartigue was removed from the Phillies’ player pool.
Walker will be part of the Phillies’ five-man bench. Backup catcher Andrew Knapp will claim another spot, as will the portion of the Adam Haseley/Roman Quinn tandem that is not starting in center field that night. Utilityman Josh Harrison is likely to make the team.
The final spot could go to a defensive-oriented player like Ronald Torreyes, another utility player like Phil Gosselin, or more of an offensive-minded outfielder in Kyle Garlick, who has hit lefties well in the past. Unlike the other two, Garlick is already on the Phillies’ 40-man roster. (This assumes Jay Bruce will DH more often than the five members of the bench, by the way.)
The most unexpected move was the release of Liriano, who looked to be on track to join a shaky Phillies bullpen. The only real bullpen locks on this team are Hector Neris, Jose Alvarez and Adam Morgan, and Liriano is a lefty with a track record of limiting lefties, so this was surprising. There should be more clarity about that move in the coming days.
Arano wasn’t ready to contribute to the big-league team after missing almost all of 2019 with a right elbow injury. In 73 appearances with the Phils from 2017-19, Arano had a 2.65 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with more than a strikeout per inning. The Phillies are holding out hope that Arano can eventually return to that form, but it’s unclear if he will. He struggled badly in spring training a year ago and was left off the opening day roster, and now he will be left off for the second straight season.
Liriano, Walker, Forsythe and Harrison were all signed to minor-league deals by the Phillies, who needed to make decisions with these veterans with opening day six days away. The Phillies will open with a 30-man roster and the split is expected to be 14 position players, 16 pitchers.
Most of the Phillies’ starting position players made the bus trip Saturday to D.C. to face the Nationals in an exhibition game. The Phillies took an early 7-0 lead on Max Scherzer and the Nats, thanks mostly to three-run jacks from Bryce Harper and Didi Gregorius.
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2020.@bryceharper3 seems ready. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/GYmTYqe5j1
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies)
.@bryceharper3 seems ready. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/GYmTYqe5j1
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 18, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2020We have a video we think you might enjoy. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/rChawmTm9N
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies)
We have a video we think you might enjoy. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/rChawmTm9N
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 18, 2020
Subscribe and rate the Phillies Talk podcast:
Apple Podcasts / Google Play / Spotify / Stitcher / Art19 / YouTube
More on the Phillies
