Johan Rojas Optioned Back To AAA After Phillies Activate Trea Turner
With Trea Turner close to a return, the question the past week has been who will the Phillies send down to make space for him. Names like Cristian Pache, David Dahl, and Whit Merrifield were brought up. Instead, it will be the guy who started the season as their Center Fielder who gets sent down. Johan Rojas.
Why Johan Rojas Was Sent Down
The problem for Rojas is he was the only guy who had any options left. Merrifield was never a realistic option with what he is paid, and Pache/ Dahl would have to go through waivers. The Phillies can safely send Rojas down, without risking someone else taking him. This way they maximize their depth in the OF
Rojas also has failed to live up to the hype he generated last season. We knew not to expect a lot from his bat. But the glove took a bit of a step back.
He was by no means a liability out there, but he was not the Gold Glove caliber fielder he was in 2023. The defensive metrics actually show Pache being a better fielder so far this season. If Rojas is not giving you elite defense, is his bat worth keeping in the lineup? The Phillies evidently didn’t think so.
Where The Phillies Go From Here
Since Johan Rojas still has options, we could see Rojas again down the road. But for now, the Phillies will keep Pache, Dahl, and Merrifield as their backup Outfielders. The idea of putting Edmundo Sosa out there has also been floated, but he has yet to get any work out there, so I am not sure how realistic that is.
Nick Castellanos will continue playing right every day, Brandon Marsh will likely see more time in centerfield, and could also play Left on days Pache is in Center, with Dahl sticking around to play sometimes in Left.
Johan Rojas currently has a slash line of .235/.271/.295/.566, with 2 HRs and 14 steals. Hopefully the trip down to AAA will help him find his swing, and help him fix the issues he has had in the field.
Related: Phillies MLB Trade Deadline Candidates: Luis Robert Jr.
It should be said though that the numbers from Pache and Dahl are not much better. The best long term answer might be someone who is not currently on the team. The Phillies have been connected to several outfielders at the trade deadline. Expect them to be aggressive as they try to address one of the few weaknesses on this team.
Listen To Or Watch ‘The Best Show Ever?’ Live On The 97.5 The Fanatic And On NBC Sports Philly From 2 To 6 p.m. every Weekday
8 Philadelphia Phillies Who Could Play in the MLB All-Star Game
Bryce Harper
.278/.390/.529
15 home runs, 45 RBIThe game’s biggest superstar has transitioned to first base after playing almost his career in right field.
He didn’t storm out of the gates offensively despite Philadelphia’s excellent start. His power numbers remained steady, however, and then the hot streak arrived.
Harper earned the nod as the National League Player of the Month for May. He launched seven homers and drove in 24 runs in 26 games. He ranks first in the majors in OPS with runners in scoring position.
His profile also attracts the type of attention needed to promote the MLB All-Star Game. He’s as much of a lock for an All-Star appearance as you’ll find, and he’ll most likely participate in the Home Run Derby. He won the competition in 2018.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Alec Bohm
.290/ .347/ .464
6 HR, 51 RBIThe development of MLB players isn’t linear. Alec Bohm survived his fair share of lumps at the beginning of his career, and he’s emerged as a key weapon in the cleanup spot for the Phillies.
The 27-year-old has improved his versatility at the plate by adding legitimate power on his pull swing. He’s maintained the ability to hit to all fields with a smooth stroke that covers the entire plate.
His .353 average with runners in scoring position is second on the Phillies behind only Bryce Harper. Bohm leads the team in RBI with 51.
Although the defensive metrics don’t grade Bohm as a great third baseman, his notable improvement has granted Rob Thomson a comfort level and lineup flexibility.
Zack Wheeler
8-3, 2.16 ERA, 0.93 WHIP (14 starts)
Wheeler ranks seventh in the majors with a 2.16 ERA in 14 starts. His continued dominance has earned him a reputation in the top tier of MLB starting pitchers. He’s pitched at least seven innings six times in 2024, and he’s one of only 12 qualified MLB pitchers with a WHIP under 1.00 (MLB Average: 1.26). He ranks sixth in the majors with 96 strikeouts. Wheeler’s fierce competitive attitude has helped him record double-digit strikeouts in three of his starts in some of the most dominant performances of the season. The tested veteran made his only career All-Star appearance in 2021. Expect to see him make a second in Arlington. While Ranger Suarez has better numbers in the first half of 2024, Wheeler might be likelier to start because of a longer track record of MLB success.
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Ranger Suarez
10-1, 1.81 ERA, 0.85 WHIP (13 starts)
Most MLB experts wouldn’t have picked Ranger Suarez as the MLB leader in ERA and WHIP over 60 games into the season. He’s also just behind Zack Wheeler in the top tier qualified starting pitchers with the lowest opponent batting average.
The Venezuelan lefty has emerged as one of best pitchers in the major leagues in 2024 with a cool demeanor that’s helped him become a fan favorite in Philadelphia. He even made his mark in the franchise record books with an early-season shutout streak that reached 32 innings.
The Phillies have ridden the best starting rotation in the league to a record-breaking start. Suarez has surprisingly outperformed Wheeler and Nola.
He deserves to take the hill as the National League starter.
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Aaron Nola
8-2, 2.77 ERA, 0.97 WHIP (13 starts)
Did you forget about the longest-tenured Phillie? Zack Wheeler and Ranger Suarez have drawn the attention. The former seventh-overall pick who used to take persistent criticism about not pitching at an ace level is somehow flying under the radar now.
Nola has been worth every cent of the $24.5 million annual salary he commanded over the offseason. He’s posted a sub-3.00 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHIP through 13 starts. His knuckle curve has improved into an effective strikeout pitch that keeps opposing hitters off balance.
He matched Suarez with Philadelphia’s second complete-game shutout of the season on May 14. It was his third start of the season pitching eight or more innings.
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Jose Alvarado
3.41 ERA, 9.9 SO/9 (31 games)
The Hefty Lefty suddenly took intense criticism after a bad outing in the MLB London Series. However, the majority of his outings in 2024 point to a dominant reliever more than an erratic liability.
Alvarado has developed a power sinker throughout his tenure with the Phillies. He’s mixed it with a cutter that’s been effective deep in counts.
Two bad outings have hurt his statistical profile, and a reliever who’s not near the top of the league in saves or ERA is ultimately a longshot to earn an All-Star bid.
However, the Phillies will trust Jose Alvarado as their top left-handed option in high-leverage situations in a season with World Series hopes.
Matt Strahm
0.67 ERA, 13.0 SO/9 (28 games)
The Phillies locked up Matt Strahm to a two-year extension just before the 2024 season began. The 32-year-old journeyman has made Dave Dombrowski look like a genius for his foresight.
Strahm allowed two earned runs in ⅓ of an inning on Opening Day against the Atlanta Braves. He hasn’t surrendered an earned run in any of his 27 outings since.
Rob Thomson has utilized his veteran lefty in high-leverage spots throughout the season.
“I trust him as much as anybody really. He’s throwing the baseball really well right now, as good as I’ve seen him to tell you the truth. He’s got a scoreless streak going… His fastball is really getting on people. His secondary pitches are good. He has no heartbeat. He really lives for those moments.” -Rob Thomson
Strahm told Andrew Salciunas during spring training that he allowed a big hit to Carson Wentz in his last high school game when the two future professionals faced each other in North Dakota.
Perhaps he’s trying to make it up to the city of Philadelphia.
Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Jeff Hoffman
0.93 ERA, 11.2 SO/9 (29 games)
The Phillies didn’t expect Jeff Hoffman to play a key bullpen role in 2023. They certainly didn’t expect him to overtake Seranthony Dominguez as the top right-hander during the postseason.
They probably didn’t expect him to match his career-best season in 2024. He’s somehow exceeded that statistical output.
Hoffman has developed into a power pitcher whose 6-foot-5 reach and high 90s fastball intimidates opposing hitters. He has earned his role as Thomson’s preferred righty at the back end of one of the best major league bullpens.
While he doesn’t boast the profile of a shutdown closer, Hoffman has been as good as any MLB reliever in 2024. If he doesn’t get the nod for the NL All-Stars, it won’t be because he didn’t earn it.
“We have a lot of talent, whether it’s the young kid Orion (Kerkering) or Alvy (Jose Alvarado), or Ser (Seranthony Dominguez) or (Gregory) Soto, we have so many guys with closing experience, so many guys with experience pitching at the back end. I think that’s going to be a really, really big strength for us not having to necessarily dictate ‘This guy is our 9th inning guy. This guy is our 8th inning guy.’ I think we have so many different weapons that we can use in those situations.” –Jeff Hoffman on 97.5 The Fanatic
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
