Phils Complete First Deal of Dombrowski/Fuld Era

2020 Chachi #56

2021 Chachi New Additions #4

2021 Chachi Departures #14

2021 Chachi Departures #13

2021 Chachi Departures #12

On December 22nd, the Phillies named Sam Fuld their new general manager, and the 39-year-old will attempt to deliver what former GM Matt Klentak could not - a postseason appearance.  Fuld has been with the organization since November 2017, and his title heading into the 2020 season had been "Director, Integrative Baseball Performance."  With president of baseball operations' Dave Dombrowski's oversight, Fuld will be tasked with hopefully re-signing free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto and rebuilding a bullpen that was historically bad in 2020.

Fuld played between 2007 and 2015 with the Cubs, Rays, Athletics and Twins and had a lifetime .227 average over 598 games.  His rookie card can be found in the 2008 Topps set, and oddly enough his former role with the Phillies resulted in two photo cards in both team-issued sets in 2019.  As part of the remade front office, Jorge Velandia was promoted to assistant general manager and Terry Ryan was given the title assistant to the general manager.  Ryan has been with the organization since 2016 and had previously served for 19 years as the general manager of the Twins.

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Related to this news, the Dombrowski/Fuld tandem executed their first trade on Tuesday afternoon, acquiring reliever Jose Alvarado from the Rays.  It was a three-team deal with the Phillies sending pitcher Garrett Cleavinger to the Dodgers and the Rays receiving Dillon Paulson and a player to be named later from the Dodgers.  In four seasons with the Rays, Alvarado was 2-15 with a 3.46 ERA over 132 2/3 innings.  He has 161 career strikeouts to just 71 walks, and he's a hard-throwing lefty who could immediately fill a hole at the back end of the Phillies bullpen.  Shoulder problems limited him to only 9 appearances in 2020 for the A.L. Champions.

His first Topps flagship card can be found in the 2017 Topps Update set and most recently he was in the 2020 Topps Total set.

Cleavinger departs having appeared in just one game for the Phillies, back on September 17th.  He pitched 2/3 of an inning and surrendered a two-run home run to Robinson Cano in one of the many Phillies bullpen meltdown sessions from 2020.

And speaking of bullpen meltdown sessions, two other former Phillies relievers recently found new homes.  Trevor Kelley (4 games, 10.80 ERA) signed a minor league contract with the Cubs on December 14th and Reggie McClain (5 games, 5.06 ERA) was claimed by the Yankees on December 10th in the minor league portion of the annual rule 5 draft.

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.
• Reggie McClain - rhp (12/10/20) - Selected by the Yankees in the minor league portion of the annual rule 5 draft.
• Trevor Kelley - rhp (12/14/20) - Signed a minor league contract with the Chicao Cubs.
• Garrett Cleavinger - lhp (12/29/20) - Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers with the Phillies receiving Jose Alvarado in exchange from the Tampa Bay Rays.

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.
• Jose Alvarado - lhp (12/29/20) - Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays with the Dodgers receiving Garrett Cleavinger in exchange.

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And finally, barring a major trade over the next few days, that's going to do it for another year of blogging at The Phillies Room.  I thought it fitting that the last card posted for 2020 should be a checklist.  Thanks for following along and I'll see you next year!

2020 Chachi #57

2019 Phillies Team Issue

Number of Cards:  49
Card Size:  4" x 6"
Description:  The 2019 set of Phillies team-issued photo cards feature a player photo with a red and blue border lining the left and bottom of each card.  A Liberty Bell is featured at the bottom right with the players' number and position at the top left.  As has been the case with all recent first edition sets, photos are from spring training.  Also consistent with prior years' designs, the horizontal card backs feature biographical information and complete career statistics.

How Distributed:  The set went on sale at Citizens Bank Park at the March 28th home opener,  and sets could be found for sale for $5 at souvenir locations throughout the ballpark up until the Phillies game on Sunday, May 19th.

Complete Standard Checklist:  The cards are unnumbered, but I've presented them below ordered by uniform number.  The set comes in clear packaging with Bryce Harper and Aaron Nola facing up on either side, and with the cards originally packaged in alphabetical order.

2 - Jean Segura 3 - Bryce Harper 4 - Scott Kingery 5 - Nick Williams 7 - Maikel Franco 8 - John Mallee CO 10 - J.T. Realmuto 12 - Juan Nicasio 13 - Sean Rodriguez 15 - Andrew Knapp 16 - Cesar Hernandez 17 - Rhys Hoskins 19 - Gabe Kapler MG 21 - Vince Velasquez 22 - Andrew McCutchen 23 - Aaron Altherr 24 - Roman Quinn 25 - Dylan Cozens 27 - Aaron Nola 30 - David Robertson 35 - Jim Gott CO 37 - Odubel Herrera 38 - Paco Figueroa CO 39 - Bobby Dickerson CO 41 - Drew Butera

43 - Nick Pivetta 45 - Chris Young CO 46 - Adam Morgan 47 - James Pazos 48 - Jerad Eickhoff 49 - Jake Arrieta 50 - Hector Neris 52 - Jose Alvarez 53 - Yacksel Rios 56 - Zach Eflin 57 - Dave Lundquist CO 58 - Seranthony Dominguez 59 - Rob Thomson CO 60 - Pedro Guerrero CO 61 - Edubray Ramos 62 - Dusty Wathan CO 64 - Victor Arano 81 - Craig Driver CO 82 - Bob Stumpo CO 87 - Sam Fuld 93 - Pat Neshek 95 - Mike Calitri 96 - Tommy Hunter Phillie Phanatic

One and Done (2):  Butera, Pazos
First Appearances (8):  Alvarez, Harper, McCutchen, Nicasio,  Realmuto, Robertson, Rodriguez, Segura
Returning Players (24):  Altherr, Arano, Arrieta, Cozens, Dominguez, Eflin, Eickhoff, Franco, Hernandez, Herrera, Hoskins, Hunter, Kingery, Knapp, Morgan, Neris, Neshek, Nola, Pivetta, Ramos, Rios, Quinn, Velasquez, Williams

This is a wonderfully comprehensive checklist.

Of the 34 players on the checklist, 25 were on the team's opening day roster, 2 started the season on the disabled list (Hunter and Quinn), 6 started the season in the minors (Arano, Cozens, Eickhoff, Pazos, Rios and Rodriguez) and 1 has already left the organization (Butera).  If nothing else, the Phillies have covered the bases in terms of potential early season call-ups.  Butera was released by the Phillies on March 22nd and signed by the Rockies on March 25th, meaning the latest the set went to print was March 21st.

There has not been a broadcasters card since the 2017 first edition team photo card set.

The First Appearance designation is for players who have never before appeared within a Phillies team issued set. These players may have already appeared on other Phillies baseball cards.

Manager (1):  Kapler

Coaches (11):  Dickerson, Driver, Figueroa, Guerrero, Lundquist, Gott, Mallee, Stumpo, Thomson, Wathan, Young
Phillie Phanatic (1)
Broadcasters (0)
Other Cards (2):  Calitri, Fuld

Coaches Dickerson, Figueroa and Lundquist are marking their first appearances in a Phillies team issued set.  Bullpen catchers Driver and Stumpo make appearances for the second year in a row.  New to the main set this year are Sam Fuld and Mike Calitri.  No coach indication is made on their cards, but they hold the titles of "Player Information Coordinator" and "Manager, Advance Scouting", respectively.

No offense to either guy, but I'm not sure why cards are merited for either of them.  If the Phillies had asked me (they didn't), I would have replaced the Calitri and Fuld cards with cards for Drew Anderson and Enyel De Los Santos who will both likely appear at Citizens Bank Park at some point this season.

Rarities:  None yet, but watch this space!

2018 Phillies Team Issue - 2nd Edition

Number of Cards:  46 + 8 cards added to an update set
Card Size:  4" x 6"
Description:  The second series of 2018 team-issued photo cards feature a design very reminiscent of the update set issued at the end of the 2017 season.  The cards have a gray border with the player's name and uniform number at the bottom and the Phillies script logo at the top.  The photos featured are from the first month and a half of the 2018 season.  Consistent with prior years' designs, the horizontal card backs feature biographical information and complete career statistics.

How Distributed:  Sets most likely went on sale at the beginning of the late May homestand with the Braves beginning on May 21st.  I purchased my set for $5 at a Scorecards stand on May 23rd.

On September 11th, an "update" set went on sale comprised of 8 new cards inserted into the packaging of the previously available 46 cards.

Complete Standard Checklist:  The cards are unnumbered, but I've presented them below ordered by uniform number.  The set comes in clear packaging with Rhys Hoskins and Aaron Nola facing up on either side, and with the cards largely in alphabetical order.

2 - J.P. Crawford 3 - Jose David Flores CO 4 - Scott Kingery 5 - Nick Williams 7 - Maikel Franco 8 - John Mallee CO 9 - Jesmuel Valentin 13 - Pedro Guerrero CO 15 - Andrew Knapp 16 - Cesar Hernandez 17 - Rhys Hoskins 18 - Pedro Florimon 19 - Ben Lively 22 - Gabe Kapler MG 23 - Aaron Altherr 24 - Roman Quinn 27 - Aaron Nola 28 - Vince Velasquez 31 - Mark Leiter, Jr. 33 - Drew Hutchison 35 - Jim Gott CO 37 - Odubel Herrera 38 - Jorge Alfaro

39 - Rick Kranitz CO 40 - Tommy Hunter 41 - Carlos Santana 43 - Nick Pivetta 44 - Jake Thompson 45 - Chris Young CO 46 - Adam Morgan 48 - Jerad Eickhoff 49 - Jake Arrieta 50 - Hector Neris 53 - Yacksel Rios 55 - Hoby Milner 56 - Zach Eflin 57 - Luis Garcia 58 - Seranthony Dominguez 59 - Rob Thomson CO 61 - Edubray Ramos 62 - Dusty Wathan CO 64 - Victor Arano 81 - Craig Driver CO 82 - Bob Stumpo CO 93 - Pat Neshek Phillie Phanatic

Update Set

13 - Asdrubal Cabrera 19 - Jose Bautista 25 - Dylan Cozens 33 - Justin Bour

40 - Wilson Ramos 47 - Aaron Loup 54 - Austin Davis 70 - Luis Avilan

One and Done (6):  Avilan, Cabrera, Bautista, Bour, Loup, Ramos
First Appearances (4):  Cozens, Davis, Dominguez, Rios
Returning Players (32):  Alfaro, Altherr, Arano, Arrieta, Crawford, Eflin, Eickhoff, Florimon, Franco, Garcia, Hernandez, Herrera, Hoskins, Hunter, Hutchison, Kingery, Knapp, Leiter Jr., Lively, Milner, Morgan, Neris, Neshek, Nola, Pivetta, Ramos, Quinn, Santana, Thompson, Valentin, Velasquez, Williams

Every player/coach/mascot available in the first series release is repeated in this second series release with four additional cards added for relievers Rios and Dominguez along with bullpen catchers Stumpo and Driver.  This is the first time the Phillies have included their bullpen catcher(s) in their main photo card set since Clemente Alvarez received a card within the 2001 release.

Jesmuel Valentin's card switches his uniform number from the #76 he wore in spring training to the #9 he's wearing now.  Roman Quinn remains in the set even though he's spent the first part of the season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.  The only odd man odd here is reliever Zac Curtis who was on the active roster for 10 days in early May.

For the 8 players inserted into the set late in the season, this marks each of their first appearances in a team-issued photo card set and 5 of the players received their first ever Phillies baseball cards - Avilan, Bautista, Bour, Davis and Loup.  Cozens has a few Phillies baseball cards already to his name while Cabrera and Ramos have recently appeared on Topps Now cards.

The First Appearance designation is for players who have never before appeared within a Phillies team issued set.  These players may have already appeared on other Phillies baseball cards.

Manager (1):  Kapler
Coaches (10):  Driver, Flores, Gott, Guerrero, Kranitz, Mallee, Stumpo, Thomson, Wathan, Young
Phillie Phanatic (1)
Broadcasters (0)
Other Cards (0)

For the second set in a row, the broadcast team has been omitted.  The Phanatic is pictured in front of the wall climb now featured in The Yard, a kid's area that opened at the start of the 2018 season at the former location of Bull's BBQ.

Rarities:  On June 10th, fellow collector Steve's son participated in a baseball clinic at Citizens Bank Park sponsored by Chevrolet.  Following the session, during which Rhys Hoskins made an appearance, the kids all received a pack of autographed coaches cards.  8 of the 12 coaches cards were identical to those found for sale within the first and second issuance of the photo card sets, but 4 of the cards were unique.  In the style of the second photo card set were cards of Mike Calitri, Manager of Advance Scouting, and former big leaguer Sam Fuld, the team's Major League Player Information Coordinator.

• 87 Sam Fuld
• 95 Mike Calitri