2008 Chachi #20 Tim Lahey

With the addition of Nelson Figueroa to the bullpen today (the righty was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets yesterday), Drew Carpenter joins an ignominious club which counts reliever Tim Lahey and third baseman Wes Helms among its members. Carpenter, Lahey and Helms all made recent Phillies' opening day rosters only to be dropped from the roster within a few games into the season - and without having appeared in a game.

On March 31, 2008, Wes Helms was included in the pre-game opening day introductions, enjoyed the game from the bench, and was designated for assignment two days later. In need of bullpen arms, the Phils had signed reliever Rudy Seanez and Helms' roster spot was needed to clear space for Seanez. After a few days in limbo, Helms was traded to the Marlins for a player to be named later. (As far as I can tell, that player has yet to be actually named.)

On March 28, 2008, the Phils claimed reliever Tim Lahey off waivers from the Cubs. (Lahey had somehow come to the Cubs via the Twins, but my memory is foggy about the details.) He made the team's Opening Day roster with Helms, but on April 5th, Brad Lidge was activated and Lahey was designated for assignment. Lahey had been on the Phillies active roster for 4 games, but did not appear in a game. He returned to the Twins' organization, where he's been biding his time ever since, hoping to one day make his Major League debut.

Lahey appears as a Phillie within 2008 Topps Series 2 (card #532), which was released in May, even though Lahey was back pitching with the Twins organization by early April. The image for Lahey's 2008 Chachi card was borrowed from his 2008 Topps card. It's a Photoshop job, but it's got to be one of the few images in existence featuring Lahey as a Phillie.