Catching Up - Disney & Pneumonia Edition

2016 Chachi New Additions #1

2016 Chachi Departures #1

The Phillies Room has been on auto-pilot for a few weeks as I've run several posts that had been lingering in my draft folder.  The reasons for the hiatus are both good (we went to Disney World!) and bad (I've been dealing with pneumonia).  Honestly, the last few weeks have been a blur and one of my last cognizant memories was meeting both Pete Rose and Steve Carlton.  Perhaps Rose gave me pneumonia?  Is that even possible?

Here's a look at the early offseason Phillies moves that I've missed the last few weeks:

2014 Choice Lehigh Valley
IronPigs #28

New Coach
The Phillies filled their final 2016 coaching position with the hiring of Mickey Morandini to be their new first base coach.  Morandini has coached and managed at various levels throughout the Phillies minor league system for the past five seasons.

New Reliever
General Manager Matt Klentak made the first move of his Phillies tenure, claiming right-handed reliever Dan Otero off waivers from the Athletics.  Otero went 2-4 with a 6.75 for the A's in 2015. He's the first card in the 2016 Chachi New Additions set and his latest Topps card can be found in the 2015 Topps A's retail team set.  Prior to that, Otero had a card in the 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League set.

Free Agents
In a surprise to no one, the Phillies declined Cliff Lee's 2016 option, making him a free agent.  Lee pitched in just one spring training game before being shut down for good in early March.

Lee, who is expected to announce his retirement, joins a long list of former Phillies now on the free agent market.  The other big names below are Domonic Brown, a former top prospect and 2013 All-Star, and both Aaron Harang and Jerome Williams, who bolstered a shaky rotation last season.  Jeff Francoeur could potentially return to the Phillies in 2016 to fill a bench spot.

Adam Loewen, who appeared in 20 games in 2015, becomes the first card in the 2016 Chachi Departures insert set following his minor league deal with the Diamondbacks.  Given the lengthy list below, the Departures set could be a large one this year.

2015 Topps Allen & Ginter #61

2015 Topps Archives #295

2015 Topps Update #US146

2015 Topps Heritage High Numbers #588

Moving On - 2015-2016 Offseason

• Chase d'Arnaud - inf (10/9/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• 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.