Look Away if You've Already Moved on from the 2020 Phillies

2020 Chachi Almost #13

2020 Chachi Almost #15

2020 Chachi Almost #20

2020 Chachi Almost #16

In an effort to put the 2020 Phillies season behind me as quickly as possible, I wanted to get this post out of the way.  Every year, I create my custom Chachi cards during the offseason and the early stages of spring training, which means I end up with several "Almost" cards of players who didn't get the call to the big club during the season.  Those cards are presented here.

Victor Arano, Seranthony Dominguez and David Robertson spent the season either injured, recovering from an injury or getting surgery to repair an injury.  Arano and Dominguez should return, while Robertson will not.  Despite the bullpen's woes, JD Hammer never got the call to join the team and Odubel Herrera remains exiled following his arrest for domestic violence last year.  Christian Bethancourt was a non-roster invitee to spring training and then disappeared, with no sign of any transaction (that I can find) to tell us where he ended up.  Finally, veterans Mikie Mahtook and Nick Martini were also non-roster invitees who later joined the taxi squad in Allentown as part of the team's 60-player pool.  Neither got the call to leave Lehigh Valley and travel to Philadelphia.

2020 Chachi Almost #18

2020 Chachi Almost #19

2020 Chachi Almost #14

2020 Chachi Almost #17

Also presented below is a final look at the team's 2019-2020 offseason moves and other player additions and deletions during the pandemic-shortened season.  For some reason, I failed to post my Departures cards of Fernando Salas and Mitch Walding when they originally left the team and solely for the sake of completeness, they're presented here.

Moving On - 2019-2020 Offseason

• Rob Brantly - c (9/30/19) - Elected free agency, signed the San Francisco Giants (1/18/20).
• Fernando Salas - rhp (9/30/19) - Elected free agency.
• Corey Dickerson - of (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Miami Marlins (1/7/20).
• Brad Miller - inf (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the St. Louis Cardinals (2/12/20).
• Logan Morrison - 1b (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Milwaukee Brewers (1/9/20).
• Juan Nicasio - rhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Texas Rangers (1/22/20).
• Sean Rodriguez - inf-of (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Miami Marlins (2/15/20).
• Drew Smyly - lhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the San Francisco Giants (1/16/20).
• Nick Vincent - rhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the San Francisco Giants (2/9/20).
• Jose Pirela - of (11/1/19) - Released, signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Japan) (11/2/19).
• Jared Hughes - rhp (11/4/19) - Club option declined, elected free agency, signed with the Houston Astros (2/17/20).
• Pat Neshek - rhp (11/4/19) - Club option declined, elected free agency.
• Jason Vargas - lhp (11/4/19) - Club option declined, elected free agency.
• Jerad Eickhoff - rhp (11/4/19) - Outrighted, elected free agency, signed with the San Diego Padres (12/27/19).
• Mike Morin - rhp (11/4/19) - Outrighted, elected free agency, signed with the Milwaukee Brewers (1/31/20).
• Edubray Ramos - rhp - (11/4/19) - Outrighted, elected free agency, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1/8/20).
• Mitch Walding - 3b (11/4/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays (2/2/20).
• Maikel Franco - 3b (12/2/19) - Non-tendered, elected free agency, signed with the Kansas City Royals (12/27/19).
• Cesar Hernandez - 2b (12/2/19) - Non-tendered, elected free agency, signed with the Cleveland Indians (12/29/19).

2020 Chachi Departures #2

2020 Chachi Departures #3

Coming Back - 2019-2020 Offseason

• Phil Gosselin - inf (11/4/19) - Outrighted, elected free agency, signed with the Phillies (12/20/19).
• Blake Parker - rhp (11/4/19) - Outrighted, elected free agency, signed with the Phillies (2/5/20).
• Tommy Hunter - rhp (10/31/19) - Elected free agency, signed with the Phillies (2/12/20).

New Arrivals - 2019-2020 Offseason

• Trevor Kelley - rhp (12/2/19) - Claimed off waivers from the Boston Red Sox.
• Zack Wheeler - rhp (12/9/19) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Mets.
• Didi Gregorius - ss (12/13/19) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Yankees.
• Ronald Torreyes - inf (1/2/20) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Minnesota Twins.
• Neil Walker - inf (1/22/20) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Miami Marlins.
• Reggie McClain - rhp (1/31/20) - Claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.
• Deolis Guerra - rhp (2/5/20) - Claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers.
• Kyle Garlick - of (2/15/20) - Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tyler Gilbert.

Arrived During the 2020 Season

• David Hale (rhp) - 8/21/20, Acquired from the New York Yankees for Addison Russ (rhp).
• Brandon Workman (rhp) and Heath Hembree (rhp) - 8/21/20, Acquired from the Boston Red Sox with cash and a player to be named later for Nick Pivetta (rhp) and Connor Seabold (rhp).
• David Phelps (rhp) - 8/31/20, Acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers for three players to be named later.

Departed During the 2020 Season 

• Nick Williams (of) - 8/15/20, Selected off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. 
• Edgar Garcia (rhp) - 8/18/20, Traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later.
• Nick Pivetta (rhp) - 8/21/20, Traded to the Boston Red Sox with Connor Seabold (rhp) for Brandon Workman (rhp), Heath Hembree (rhp), a player to be named later and cash.
• Austin Davis (lhp) - 8/26/20, Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later and  cash.
• Deivy Grullon (c) - 9/3/20, Selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox.
• Neil Walker (inf) - 9/15/20, Cleared waivers and elected free agency.

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.

2019 Chachi #49 Fernando Salas

#31
Noel Fernando Salas
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  200
Opening Day Age:  33
Born:  May 30, 1985, Huatabampo, Mexico
Purchased:  Purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals from Saltillo (Mexican Baseball League), April 5, 2007
Teams:  St. Louis Cardinals 2010-2013; Los Angeles Angels 2014-2016; New York Mets 2016-2017; Los Angeles Angels 2017; Arizona Diamondbacks 2018; Phillies 2019
Acquired:  Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican Baseball League

2011 Topps Update #US133

First Topps Flagship Base Card:  2011 Topps Update #US133
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
First Phillies Minor League Card:  N/A
First Topps Phillies Flagship Base Card:  N/A
Newest Card Added:  N/A

0 - Salas baseball cards in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 7/7/19.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2019 Chachi #49

2019 Chachi Set Checklist
Virtual Phillies Wall - Featuring Current Active Roster

Game 78 - 2019 Bowman #47 Maikel Franco

Phillies 13, Mets 7
Game 78 - Monday Night, June 24th in Philadelphia
Record - 40-38, 2nd place, 5 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies and Mets combined for 34 hits in this slugfest ultimately won by the Phillies, 13-7.

What It Means:  A curve ball machine was utilized in a pregame drill and Brad Miller brought a lucky bamboo plant into the clubhouse.  The seven game losing streak is over. 

What Happened:  Four Phillies homered - Jean Segura (8), Rhys Hoskins (17), Maikel Franco (10) and Jay Bruce (21).  Segura had a four hit night, while Scott Kingery, Cesar Hernandez and Franco each had three hits.

Featured Card:  Franco was re-inserted back into the line-up and immediately paid dividends, going 3 for 4 with three RBIs and raising his average to .214 in the process.

2012 Topps Heritage #336

Transactions:  Reliever Fernando Salas had his contract purchased from Lehigh Valley and Enyel De Los Santos was sent back down.  Andrew McCutchen was moved to the 60-day IL to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Salas.  A nine-year Major League veteran, Salas had been pitching for Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League when the Phillies signed him to a minor league deal on June 13th.

His best year came in 2011 when he saved 24 games for the Cardinals and pitched to a 2.28 ERA over 68 games.  He won a World Series ring that season when the Cardinals defeated the Phillies in the N.L.D.S. and went on to beat the Rangers.  As a relief pitcher, Salas' baseball card appearances are rare, with his most recent appearance coming in the 2017 Topps Update set.

Salas is a prime candidate for a future Phillies Missing Links card, going to those Phillies players who never appeared on a Phillies baseball card.

Arrived During the 2019 Season

• Jay Bruce - of (6/2/19) - Acquired from the Seattle Mariners with cash considerations for Jake Scheiner.
• Brad Miller - inf (6/13/19) - Purchased from the New York Yankees.
• Fernando Salas - rhp (6/13/19) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.

Departed During the 2019 Season

• Aaron Altherr - of (5/12/19) - Selected off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.