Phils Acquire Reliever Soto from Tigers for Vierling, Maton

2023 Chachi New Additions #6

2022 Topps Now #342

2022 Topps Now #934

2022 Topps Now #719

2022 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #33

The Phillies bullpen got stronger on Saturday, but it cost the team two young and popular players who both played a part in getting the club to the World Series in 2022.  Gregory Soto (lhp) and Kody Clemens (inf) were acquired from the Detroit Tigers for Matt Vierling (of), Nick Maton (inf) and Donny Sands (c).

Soto was an All-Star with the Tigers in 2021 and 2022, and he converted 30 of 33 save opportunities last season.  He appeared in a career-high 64 games, striking out 60 in 60 1/3 innings pitched.  His most recent mainstream baseball card can be found in the 2022 Topps set, and he began appearing in Bowman sets in 2018.  He wore #65 with the Tigers, and presumably he'll take that number with the Phillies too.  Clemens, son of former pitcher Roger Clemens, made his big league debut last season in May.  In 56 games with the Tigers, he batted .145 (17 for 117) while seeing time at third base, first base, second base, left field and seven games (!) as a reliever in blow-out losses.  He received a Topps Now card last season to mark his call-up.

It's tough to see Vierling and Maton go, as both were fan favorites and I'll forever associate both with the improbable march to the World Series in 2022.  Both came up with the team in 2021, filling in at various times as regulars.  Maton appeared in 86 games for the Phillies, batting .254.  He'll be remembered for the game-winning home run he hit off the Marlins' Sandy Alcantara in mid-September and the walk-off single against the Reds in early September to keep the Phillies' play-off hopes alive.

Vierling appeared in 151 games, batting .260 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs.  He struggled in the postseason, batting just .154 while getting starts in center field in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series.  Vierling had a few big hits in 2022, including his ninth inning home run off Brewers' closer Josh Hader in June and a 10th inning walk-off single against the Blue Jays in late September.  Doug fortunately got him to autograph a few cards at the Philly Show a month ago.

Donny Sands made it into three games with the Phillies in 2022, going 0 for 3.  He was used sparingly, but was on the active roster for 21 games.  Sands received a card in the IronPigs team set to mark his time with the club.

Departures - 2022-2023 Offseason

• Johan Camargo - inf (10/7/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Minnesota Twins, 11/27/22.
• Michael Kelly - rhp (10/14/22) - Elected free agency.
• Chris Devenski - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Los Angeles Angels, 11/28/22.
• Kyle Gibson - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Baltimore Orioles, 12/5/22.
• Brad Hand - lhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency.
• Corey Knebel - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency.
• David Robertson - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the New York Mets, 12/9/22.
• Noah Syndergaard - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, 12/16/22.
• Zach Eflin - rhp (11/7/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, 12/13/22.
• Jean Segura - 2b (11/7/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Miami Marlins, 1/4/23.
• Mark Appel - rhp (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
• Jorge Bonifacio - of (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
• Nick Duron - rhp (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
• Yairo Munoz - inf (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
• Bubby Rossman - rhp (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
• Nick Maton - inf , Matt Vierling - of and Donny Sands - c (1/7/23) - Traded to the Detroit Tigers for Gregory Soto and Kody Clemens.

New Additions - 2022-2023 Offseason

• Luis Ortiz - rhp (11/9/22) - Claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.
• Andrew Vasquez - rhp (11/9/22) - Claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.
• Jake Cave - of (12/2/22) - Claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.
• Noah Song - rhp (12/7/22) - Selected from the Boston Red Sox in the annual rule 5 draft.
• Trea Turner - ss (12/8/22) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Matt Strahm - lhp (12/9/22) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox.
• Taijuan Walker - rhp (12/16/22) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Mets.
• Erich Uelmen - rhp (1/4/23) - Acquired from the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations.
• Craig Kimbrel - rhp (1/4/23) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Gregory Soto - lhp and Kody Clemens - inf (1/7/23) - Acquired from the Detroit Tigers for Nick Maton, Matt Vierling and Donny Sands.

2022 Chachi #65 Donny Sands

#39
Donny Sands
Catcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  190
Opening Day Age:  25
Born:  May 16, 1996, Tucson, AZ
How Obtained:  Acquired from the New York Yankees with Nick Nelson for T.J. Rumfeld and Joel Valdez, November 19, 2021
Major League Teams:  Philadelphia Phillies 2022

First Phillies Minor League Card:  2022 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #33
First Phillies Card:  N/A
Newest Card Added:  2022 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #33
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (0):  N/A

1 - Sands baseball card in my collection per The Phillies Room Checklist as of 9/4/22.

Complete Chachi Checklist
2022 Chachi New Additions #4
2022 Chachi #65

2022 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2022 Season Summary Index / 2022 Chachi Set Checklist

2022 Chachi #64 Vinny Nittoli / 2022 Chachi #66 Dalton Guthrie

Game 132 - September Starts Poorly

2022 Choice Lehigh Valley
IronPigs #33

Giants 13, Phillies 1
Game 132 - Late Friday Night, September 2nd in San Francisco
Record - 73-59, 3rd Place, 11 1/2 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The Giants jumped all over Phillies starting pitcher Kyle Gibson, easily winning this series opening game, 13-1.

What It Means:  What is going on?  For the fourth time in five games, the Phillies appeared lifeless and confused.

What Happened:  Gibson looked awful, allowing seven runs on five hits and four walks while not escaping the second inning.  Sam Coonrod didn't fare much better, as he was charged with four more runs in his 2/3 of an inning.  The Phillies offense managed five hits with Giants' starting pitcher Alex Cobb throwing seven scoreless innings.  Back-up catcher Garrett Stubbs pitched the ninth for the Phillies, his third relief appearance of the season.

Featured Card:  Donny Sands, added to the roster before the game, made his big league debut in the seventh, pinch-hitting for J.T. Realmuto.  Sands went 0 for 2 with a strikeout and ground out.  He's spent seven seasons in the minor leagues, missing all of 2020 due to the pandemic, and the one bright spot from this game was that Sands can finally call himself a major leaguer.  This is his card from the 2022 IronPigs team set.

Transaction:  With rosters expanding to 28 players in September, the Phillies added Sands (c) and Vinny Nittoli (rhp) to the roster.

2022 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2022 Season Summary Index / 2022 Chachi Set Checklist

Phils Acquire Reliever Nelson, Catcher Sands from Yankees for Prospects

2022 Chachi New Additions #3

2022 Chachi New Additions #4

After adding four players to their 40-man roster earlier in the day, the Phillies completed their first trade of the 2021-2022 offseason, adding catching and bullpen depth.

The Phillies acquired Nick Nelson (rhp) and Donny Sands (c) from the New York Yankees for minor leaguers Joel Valdez (lhp) and T.J. Rumfield (1b).  Nelson and Sands are now on the Phillies' 40-man roster, bringing the current tally up to 38.  Valdez pitched for the DSL Phillies this past summer and had a 1.63 ERA over 15 starts and 55 1/3 innings pitched.  Rumfield was the team's 12th round pick in 2021 and he hit .250 in 27 games for Low-A Clearwater.  I don't have baseball cards for either Valdez or Rumfield.

Nelson has appeared in 22 games for the Yankees over the past two seasons, going 1-2 with a 6.43 ERA over 35 innings pitched.  He's struck out 40 and has 27 walks.  He's on a Rookie Stars card in the 2021 Topps Heritage set, and he earned his first mainstream solo card in the recently released 2021 Topps Update set.  Sands is intriguing as he gives the Phillies some much-needed catching depth.  In 94 minor league games last season, he batted .261 with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs.  Behind J.T. Realmuto, the Phillies will now have Rafael Marchan, Sands and Logan O'Hoppe as potential back-ups for 2022.  Sands first appeared in a mainstream baseball card set back in 2016 with the Bowman Chrome release.

	2021-2022 Offseason Departures	Date	Transaction
	Jorge Bonifacio (of)	10/8/21	Released.
	Cam Bedrosian (rhp)	11/3/21	Elected free agency.
	Archie Bradley (rhp)	11/3/21	Elected free agency.
	Freddy Galvis (inf)	11/3/21	Elected free agency.
	Ian Kennedy (rhp)	11/3/21	Elected free agency.
	Brad Miller (inf)	11/3/21	Elected free agency.
	Matt Moore (lhp)	11/3/21	Elected free agency.
	Hector Neris (rhp)	11/3/21	Elected free agency.
	Andrew McCutchen (of)	11/3/21	Club option declined, elected free agency.
	JD Hammer (rhp)	11/5/21	Outrighted, elected free agency.
	Odubel Herrera (of)	11/5/21	Outrighted, elected free agency.
	Travis Jankowski (of)	11/5/21	Outrighted, elected free agency.
	Andrew Knapp (c)	11/5/21	Outrighted, elected free agency.
	Ramon Rosso (rhp)	11/5/21	Outrighted, elected free agency.
	Ronald Torreyes (inf)	11/5/21	Outrighted, elected free agency.
	Mauricio Llovera (rhp)	11/7/21	Elected free agency.
	David Paulino (rhp)	11/7/21	Elected free agency.
	2021-2022 Offseason Additions
	Ryan Sherriff (lhp)	11/5/21	Claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays.
	Kent Emanuel (lhp)	11/19/21	Claimed off waivers from the Houston Astros.
	Nick Nelson (rhp)	11/19/21	Acquired from the New York Yankees for Joel Valdez (lhp) and T.J. Rumfield (1b)
	Donny Sands (c)	11/19/21	--