Phillies Winter Meetings Recap

2017 Topps Chrome #196

The Phillies had a fairly eventful week in Orlando at the annual Winter Meetings, and I wanted to recap their transactions here.

- Although it's not yet official (as of this writing), the Phillies are bringing back All-Star reliever Pat Neshek.  The Phillies traded Neshek to the Rockies on July 26th for a trio of prospects, and he appeared in 28 games for the eventual second Wild Card winners.  Neshek's deal is reportedly for two years and $16.25 million.

- Also added to the bullpen (also not yet officially) was Tommy Hunter, who appeared in 61 games last season for the Rays.  Hunter made his mainstream baseball card debut within the 2010 Topps set and it looks as if his last major cardboard appearance came within the 2015 Topps Update set.

- In the annual Rule 5 draft, the Phillies selected pitcher Nick Burdi from the Rangers with the third overall pick but then immediately traded him to the Pirates for $500,000 in international signing bonus pool money.  Prospect Carlos Tocci was lost in the draft to the White Sox and then traded to the Rangers.

- Finally, Gabe Kapler's coaching staff was completed with the addition of Jose Flores as the first base, infield and baserunning coach.  Flores had been the Cubs' minor league infield coordinator for the past five seasons.  I'm now fairly sure this is not the same Jose Flores who played in the Phillies system between 1994 and 1999.  That Jose Flores was Jose Carlos Flores and he was traded to the Mariners in 1999 for Domingo Cedeno.  The new Phillies coach is Jose David Flores.