It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like the Offseason

2020 Chachi #55

2021 Chachi New Additions #2

2021 Chachi New Additions #3

After a flurry of activity updating some outdated posts on Phillies team-issued photo card sets, this blog went into semi-hibernation mode as we approached Christmas.  It very well may go back into semi-hibernation until there are more transactions to announce, but I first wanted to update my running list of offseason acquisitions and departures.  Unfortunately, there's not much to report . . . yet.

On December 7th, the Phillies claimed Ian Hamilton (RHP) off waivers from the Mariners.  Hamilton had been claimed by the Mariners from the White Sox on September 25th, and with the White Sox in 2020 he appeared in four games.  He has 14 major league appearances to his name (in 2018 and 2020) and he could provide bullpen depth in 2021.  Other than some minor league team set appearances, Hamilton's first and only mainstream card can be found in 2020 Topps Total set.

On December 10th, the day of the annual rule 5 draft, the Phillies selected Kyle Holder (INF) from the Yankees.  Holder has to stay on the big league roster throughout 2021 or be offered back to the Yankees.  With a lack of infield depth in the high levels of the farm system, he's got a good chance to stick around.  Holder's first mainstream card can be found in the 2015 Bowman Draft set and most recently he's appeared in the 2017 Topps Holiday Bowman set, which is a set I've honestly never heard of.

In a offseason so far filled with bad news (apparent lack of interest in re-signing J.T. Realmuto, widespread staff lay-offs, news of a dire financial situation for the club) the Phillies gave us some good news with the hiring of Dave Dombrowski on December 11th as their President of Baseball Operations.  The move signifies the official end of the failed Matt Klentak/Andy MacPhail era and ushers in the Dombrowski era and hopefully a return to the postseason.  Dombrowski was the general manager for two World Champions (Marlins in 1997 and Red Sox in 2018) and his Tigers won A.L. pennants in 2006 and 2012.  The hope here is that owner John Middleton opens up his wallet enough to let Dombrowski make some key signings, but also that Dombrowski executes enough savvy trades to get the Phillies out of the second division of the National League.

Departures - 2020-2021 Offseason

• Deolis Guerra - rhp (10/14/20) - Elected free agency.
• Ronald Torreyes - inf (10/15/20) - Elected free agency.
• Jose Alvarez - lhp (10/28/20) - Elected free agency.
• Jake Arrieta - rhp (10/28/20) - Elected free agency.
• Jay Bruce - of (10/28/20) - Elected free agency.
• Didi Gregorius - ss (10/28/20) - Elected free agency.
• Tommy Hunter - rhp (10/28/20) - Elected free agency.
• J.T. Realmuto - c (10/28/20) - Elected free agency.
• Brandon Workman - rhp (10/28/20) - Elected free agency.
• Phil Gosselin - inf (10/30/20) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency.
• Heath Hembree - rhp (10/30/20) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency.
• Adam Morgan - lhp (10/30/20) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency.
• Blake Parker - rhp (10/30/20) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency.
• David Phelps - rhp (10/30/20) - Club option declined, elected free agency.
• David Robertson - rhp (10/30/20) - Club option declined, elected free agency.

New Additions - 2020-2021 Offseason

• Johan Quezada - rhp (10/30/20) - Claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins.
• Ian Hamilton - rhp (12/7/20) Claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.
• Kyle Holder - inf (12/10/20) - Selected from the Yankees in the annual rule 5 draft.