Four More Ex-Phillies Move Along

2016 Chachi Departures #6

2016 Chachi Departures #7

2016 Chachi Departures #8

2016 Chachi Departures #9

While we were waiting for the Ken Giles trade to be officially announced, four other ex-Phillies moved on to new teams.  Each of these players recently signed minor league deals with their new teams.

Dustin McGowan (rhp) - McGowan joined the Phillies on opening day last season, and he'd appear in 14 games with the club, going 1-2 with a 6.94 ERA.  His sole Phillies card can be found within the second team issued photo card set, released in June.  McGowan will try to earn a spot in the Marlins bullpen in 2016.

Erik Kratz (c) - In his second stint with the Phils, Kratz made it into 12 games in September, hitting .227 with two RBIs.  He didn't appear on any new Phillies baseball cards this time around and he'll be heading to spring training with the Padres.

Ethan Martin (rhp) - Martin came to the Phillies from the Dodgers in the July 2012 Shane Victorino deal.  He pitched in 17 games for the club in 2013 and 2014, and missed the bulk of the past two seasons with shoulder ailments.  He appeared on a bunch of Major and minor league cards with the Phillies in 2013 and 2014, but he didn't receive any cards last year.  Martin signed a minor league deal with the Braves.

Sean O'Sullivan (rhp) - Finally, O'Sullivan, who had a horrible season with the Phillies (1-6, 6.08 ERA) signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox.  O'Sullivan had a card in the team's second series photo card set and actually made it into the Topps Update set with the Phillies.

Moving On - 2015-2016 Offseason

• Chase d'Arnaud - inf (10/9/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent the Atlanta Braves, 11/24/15.
• Justin De Fratus - rhp (10/9/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed with the Seattle Mariners, 12/2/15.
• Erik Kratz - c (10/9/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the San Diego Padres, 11/8/15.
• Sean O'Sullivan - rhp (10/9/15) - Elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Boston Red Sox, 12/11/15.
• Kevin Correia - rhp (10/10/15) - Elected free agency.
• Adam Loewen - lhp (10/10/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks, 11/7/15.
• Dustin McGowan - rhp (10/10/15) - Elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Miami Marlins, 12/10/15.
• Seth Rosin - rhp (10/10/15) - Elected free agency.
• Brian Bogusevic (10/26/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed with the Orix Buffaloes of the Japanese Pacific League, 12/9/15.
• Domonic Brown (10/26/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Chad Billingsley - rhp (11/2/15) - Elected free agency.
• Jeff Francoeur - of (11/2/15) - Elected free agency.
• Aaron Harang - rhp (11/2/15) - Elected free agency.
• Jerome Williams - rhp (11/2/15) - Elected free agency.
• Cliff Lee - lhp (11/2/15) - Team option declined and elected free agency.
• Jordan Danks - of (11/6/15) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Ethan Martin - rhp (11/6/15) - Elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Atlanta Braves, 12/11/15.
• Jonathan Pettibone - rhp (11/6/15) - Elected free agency.
• Nefi Ogando - rhp (12/2/15) - Claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins.
• Ken Giles - rhp (12/12/15) - Traded with Jonathan Arauz to the Houston Astros for Mark Appel, Harold Arauz, Thomas Eshelman, Brett Oberholtzer and Vincent Velasquez.

New Additions - 2015-2016 Offseason

• Dan Otero - rhp (11/3/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. (Designated for assignment 12/12/15)
• Jeremy Hellickson - rhp (11/14/15) - Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Sam McWilliams.
• A.J. Achter - rhp (11/20/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. (Designated for assignment 12/12/15)
• Michael Mariot - rhp (11/30/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Royals.
• Peter Bourjos - of (12/2/15) - Claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals.
• David Hernandez - rhp (12/9/15) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• Tyler Goeddel - of (12/10/15) - Selected from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Rule 5 draft.
• Daniel Stumpf - lhp (12/10/15) - Selected from the Kansas City Royals in the Rule 5 draft.
• Charlie Morton - rhp (12/12/15) - Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for David Whitehead.
• Brett Oberholtzer - lhp and Vincent Velasquez - rhp (12/12/15) - Acquired with Mark Appel, Harold Arauz and Thomas Eshelman from the Houston Astros for Ken Giles and Jonathan Arauz.

2015 Chachi #18 Dustin McGowan

#40

Dustin Michael McGowan

Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'3"  Weight:  240

Born:  March 24, 1982, Savannah, GA

Drafted:  Selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1st round of the June 2000 draft

Teams:  Toronto Blue Jays 2005-2008, 2011, 2013-2014; Phillies 2015

Acquired:  Signed as a free agent formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers, April 4, 2015

2003 Topps Traded #T255

0 McGowan Baseball Cards in My Collection per Zistle
First Card:  N/A
First Phillies Card:  N/A
First Phillies Topps Base Card:  N/A
First Phillies Team Issued Card:  N/A
Latest Card:  N/A

First Topps Base Card:  2003 Topps Traded #T255
First Chachi Base Card:  2015 Chachi #18

McGowan Games I've Attended per Hardball Passport

N/A

Cards and game statistics through 5/2/15.

The Opening Day Roster is (Almost) Set

2015 Chachi Almost #3

2015 Chachi New Additions #8

Phillies 6, Pirates 4
Spring Training Game 33 - Saturday Afternoon, April 4th in Philadelphia
Record - 14-17-2

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies rode six early runs and a strong pitching performance from David Buchanan to a 6-4 win over the Pirates.

What It Means:  The exhibition season is over and the 2015 regular season begins on Monday afternoon for the Phillies when they open the season against the Red Sox.

What Happened:  Buchanan pitched five shutout innings and was rewarded after the game by getting promoted to the third starter's spot, flip flopping with the struggling Jerome Williams.  Chase Utley went 1 for 3 with two RBIs and finished the spring with a .412 average.

Featured Cards/Camp Head Count:  As of this writing, late Saturday night, the camp head count stands officially at 32 - 4 = 28.  Non-roster invitees Russ Canzler, Rene Garcia and Cord Phelps were all reassigned to minor league camp while Rule 5 selection Andy Oliver was outrighted and elected free agency.  I had thought Oliver actually had a decent spring, compiling a 3.55 ERA over 12 2/3 innings while leading the entire pitching staff with 22 strikeouts.  In the end, the Phillies decided they wouldn't have a place for the southpaw on the roster all season and he was let go.

2013 Topps Update #US92

Relievers Jeanmar Gomez and Cesar Jimenez both had their contracts selected ending weeks of speculation as to who would wind up making the team's bullpen.  Jeff Francoeur and Andres Blanco are the last two non-roster invitees standing and a decision as to their fate will be made before Monday afternoon.

It also appears as if the team found another bullpen arm.  Dustin McGowan, who was released by the Dodgers on Tuesday has reportedly signed with the Phillies.  I usually don't make Chachi New Additions cards until the deal is officially announced, but I felt like whipping this one up while waiting for the Easter Bunny to stop by.  McGowan spent the first 15 years of his professional career with the Blue Jays and he signed with the Dodgers in February.  In seven spring relief appearances with the Dodgers, McGowan allowed six runs in eight innings pitched while striking out five.

His last mainstream baseball cards came within the 2010 Topps and Upper Deck sets.

Happy Easter to you and your family!