Price Hired as Pitching Coach; First Offseason Moves

2015 Topps Heritage #269

2020 Chachi New Additions #1

2020 Chachi Departures #1

2019 Topps Total #530

The Phillies wasted no time in naming their new pitching coach, officially hiring Bryan Price the morning following the conclusion of the World Series.  Price replaces Chris Young, who lasted just one season in that position.  Price pitched in the Angels and Mariners systems between 1984 and 1989, and then served as the pitching coach for the Mariners (2000-2006), Diamondbacks (2007-2009) and Reds (2010-2013).  He managed the Reds for three full seasons beginning in 2014, and was fired in 2018 after his team got off to a 3-15 start.  In his three-plus seasons managing the Reds, his teams finished with a record of 279-387.

In player news, reliever Robert Stock became the first new addition to the 40-man roster when he was claimed off waivers from the Padres on Wednesday.  Stock appeared in only 10 games for the Padres in 2019 and finished the season on the 60-day injured list with a biceps ailment.  A former catcher, Stock's most recent baseball card can be found in the 2019 Topps Series Two offering.

Finally, the first two names were added to what is sure to be a long list of departing players this offseason.  Reliever Fernando Salas and catcher Rob Brantly, two of the shortest tenured members of the 2019 Phillies, became minor league free agents the day after the regular season ended on September 30th.  Remarkably, Salas earned a Phillies baseball card in the Topps Total set, despite appearing in only 3 games and pitching 2 2/3 innings.  Brantly's time in red pinstripes was limited to one pinch-hit at-bat (he struck out) in July.  My son Doug captured Brantly's short time in the Phillies dugout with a pre-game selfie.

Moving On - 2019-2020 Offseason

• Rob Brantly - c (9/30/19) - Elected free agency.
• Fernando Salas - rhp (9/30/19) - Elected free agency.

New Arrivals - 2019-2020 Offseason

• Robert Stock - rhp (10/30/19) - Claimed off waivers from the San Diego Padres.