LaFromboise Added to List of Bullpen Candidates

2016 Chachi New Additions #12

2015 Topps Pro Debut #47

2016 Chachi Departures #11

2016 Chachi Departures #12

The long list of Phillies offseason comings and goings got a little longer on Friday when the team claimed left-handed reliever Bobby LaFromboise off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. LaFromboise appeared in 11 games last season for the Pirates, pitching to a 1.13 ERA over eight innings.  This is the fourth time in two years that he's been plucked from the waiver wire, having bounced from the Mariners to the Padres to the Pirates to Angels to the Phillies.

To make room for the new reliever on the 40-man roster, former top prospect Jesse Biddle was designated for assignment.  Biddle, who is from Philadelphia, was the team's #1 pick in 2010, but injuries have hampered his professional career so far.  He's set to miss the entire 2016 season following Tommy John surgery.

Finally, a few other former Phillies found homes this past week when the Rangers signed Jordan Danks and the Cubs signed Jonathan Pettibone.

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, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Texas Rangers, 1/19/16.
• 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 and signed as a minor league free agent with the Chicago Cubs, 1/29/16.
• 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

• Jeremy Hellickson - rhp (11/14/15) - Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Sam McWilliams.
• 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.
• Bobby LaFromboise (1/29/16) - Claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.

Already Gone - 2015-2016 Offseason

• Dan Otero - rhp (11/3/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. (Designated for assignment, 12/12/15 and traded to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations, 12/18/15.)
• A.J. Achter - rhp (11/20/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. (Designated for assignment, 12/12/15 and claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels, 12/17/15.)

The First Moves of the 2015-2016 Offseason

2015 Phillies Team Issue 2 #30

While the rest of the baseball world was preparing for the Cubs-Pirates Wild Card game, the Phillies were busy making their first roster moves of the off-season.

Catcher Erik Kratz, infielder Chase d'Arnaud, outfielder Jordan Danks and relievers Justin De Fratus, Adam Loewen and Ken Roberts were all outrighted off the 40-man roster.  Jonathan Pettibone, who was on the 60-day disabled list all season, was activated and also outrighted.  The moves leave the Phillies with 34 players on their 40-man roster and six players still on the 60-day DL.

2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update #8

2015 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update #9

2012 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs Update #13

2007 Topps #78

Given their years of service, d'Arnaud, De Fratus, Loewen and Kratz can all immediately elect to become free agents or they can wait until after the World Series when they'll automatically become minor league free agents.  Danks and Pettibone can become free agents following the World Series and Roberts will be reassigned to a Phillies minor league team.

Of the seven players outrighted, De Fratus had been in the Phillies system the longest, having made his debut with the club in 2011.  He leaves behind a Phillies baseball card legacy that began with the 2011 Bowman set and ended with the 2015 team issued photo card sets.

d'Arnaud, Danks and Loewen could join the ranks of those unfortunate (or fortunate depending on your point of view) Phillies players who never appeared on a Phillies baseball card.  Roberts appears to still have a chance if he's in the mix next season.

* * *

2015 Phillies Team Issue 2 #12

2015 Phillies Team Issue 2 #54

2014 Phillies Team Issue #44

Also of note is the dismissal of two Phillies coaches following the final game of the season.  Third base coach John Mizerock and bullpen coach Rod Nichols were let go and the other four coaches - bench coach Larry Bowa, first base coach Juan Samuel, hitting coach Steve Henderson and pitching coach Bob McClure were all invited back for 2016.  There's been no official word yet if those four will actually decide to return for 2016 and Bowa recently interviewed for the manager's job in Miami.

Final Look at 2014-2015 Phillies Transactions

2015 Chachi Almost #7

2015 Chachi Almost #13

2015 Chachi Almost #14

It's been an active year in terms of Phillies player movement, and I have a sneaky suspicion that this coming year will bring another boatload of moves.  As we get ready to mercifully close the books on the 2015 season I wanted to feature the final Chachi Almost cards of the five pitchers who spent all or most of the season on the disabled list and never got a chance to join the official Chachi set.

Jonathan Pettibone and Cliff Lee missed the entire 2015 season due to injury, and it's unlikely that Lee will ever pitch again.

Ethan Martin and Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, both with the Phillies at points during the 2014 season, also both battled back from injuries.  Martin has been pitching with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils while Gonzalez was crushed in two starts for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.

2015 Chachi Almost #11

2015 Chachi Almost #12

Finally, the recently acquired Matt Harrison made three starts for the Rangers before moving to the Phillies in the Cole Hamels deal.  His bad back led to an early end to his 2015 season and hopefully we'll see him in Clearwater in 2016.

Here also is the final listing of offseason and in season player moves for your 2015 Philadelphia Phillies.

Moving On - 2014-2015 Offseason

• Reid Brignac (10/2/14) - Elected free agency and signed with the Miami Marlins organization, 11/19/14.
• Jeremy Horst (10/2/14) - Elected free agency and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, 1/27/15.
• Jeff Manship (10/2/14) - Elected free agency and signed with the Cleveland Indians organization, 12/24/14.
• Tony Gwynn, Jr. (10/10/14) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster.  Elected free agency and signed with the Washington Nationals organization, 3/2/15.
• B.J. Rosenberg (10/27/14) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster.  Elected free agency and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, 2/7/15.
• Mike Adams (10/30/14) - Team option declined, making him a free agent and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, 3/1/15.
• Kyle Kendrick (10/30/14) - Elected free agency and signed with the Colorado Rockies, 2/4/15.
• Wil Nieves (10/30/14) - Elected free agency and signed with the San Diego Padres organization, 2/3/15.
• A.J. Burnett (11/3/14) - Declined option for 2015.  Elected free agency and signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, 11/14/14.
• Brad Lincoln (11/4/14) - Elected free agency and signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, 11/18/14.
• Antonio Bastardo (12/10/14) - Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Joely Rodriguez.
• Jimmy Rollins (12/19/14) - Traded with cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tom Windle and Zach Eflin.
• Marlon Byrd (12/31/14) - Traded with cash to the Cincinnati Reds for Ben Lively.

Coming Back - 2014-2015 Offseason

• Andres Blanco (11/13/14) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.
• Sean O'Sullivan (12/16/14) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.

New Additions - 2014-2015 Offseason

• Brian Bogusevic (10/22/14) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Miami Marlins organization.
• Jeff Francoeur (11/11/14) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the San Diego Padres.
• Elvis Araujo (11/13/14) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians organization.
• Chase d'Arnaud (11/13/14) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Odubel Herrera (12/11/14) - Selected in the annual Rule 5 draft from the Texas Rangers.
• Aaron Harang (1/5/15) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Atlanta Braves.
• Jeanmar Gomez (1/8/15) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Jordan Danks (1/16/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.
• Chad Billingsley (1/29/15) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Dustin McGowan (4/5/15) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Departed During the 2015 Season

• Grady Sizemore (6/1/15) - Released and signed with the Tampa Bay Rays organization on 6/15/15.
• Phillippe Aumont (6/24/15) - Designated for assignment and elected free agency.  Signed with the Toronto Blue Jays organization on 7/24/15.
• Jonathan Papelbon (7/28/15) - Traded with cash considerations to the Washington Nationals for Nick Pivetta.
• Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman (7/31/15) - Traded with cash considerations to the Texas Rangers for Matt Harrison, Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro, Jake Thompson, Jerad Eickhoff and Alec Asher.
• Ben Revere (7/31/15) - Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Jimmy Cordero and Alberto Tirado.
• Chase Utley (8/19/15) - Traded with cash considerations to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Darnell Sweeney and John Richy.
• Cesar Jimenez (8/21/15) - Claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Arrived During the 2015 Season

• Kevin Correia (6/8/15) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the San Francisco Giants organization.
• Dalier Hinojosa (7/15/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Boston Red Sox.
• Erik Kratz (7/17/15) - Signed as a minor league free agent formerly with the Seattle Mariners organization.
• Jerad Eickhoff  and Alec Asher (7/31/15) - Acquired with Matt Harrison, Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro and Jake Thompson from the Texas Rangers for Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman and cash considerations.
• Darnell Sweeney (8/19/15) - Acquired with John Richy from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Chase Utley and cash considerations.
• Ken Roberts (8/30/15) - Claimed off waivers from the Colorado Rockies.

Memory Lane

2011-2012 Offseason Moves
2012 In-Season Transactions
2012-2013 Offseason Moves
2013 In-Season Transactions
2013-2014 Phillies Transactions

2014 Chachi #36 Jonathan Pettibone

#44

Jonathan H. Pettibone

Starting Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'6"  Weight:  225

Born:  July 19, 1990, Placentia, CA

Home:  Yorba Linda, CA

Drafted:  Selected by the Phillies between the 3rd and 4th rounds of the June 2008 draft

Teams: Phillies 2013-

Acquired: Via draft

Phillies Cards in My Collection:

#1 - 2011 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP142

#9 - 2014 Topps Gypsy Queen Autographs #GQA-JP

I have eight minor league baseball cards featuring Pettibone, issued between 2009 and 2014.

First Chachi Card:  2013 Chachi #33

2014 Topps Phillies #PHI-9 Jonathan Pettibone

Rockies 12, Phillies 1

Game 16 - Friday Night, April 18th in Denver

Record - 7-9, 4th Place, 4 games behind the Braves

Part 1 of 8 - Another Post-Vacation, Rapid Fire Game Summary Round-Up!

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies were completely blown away by the Rockies in a 12-1 romp.

What It Means:  This was not a good way to start a tough 10-game west coast road trip.  Jonathan Pettibone's second start of the season will be his last start for a while, as he was demoted back to Triple-A following the game.

What Happened:  Pettibone allowed eight runs in his four innings of work.  The offense managed two singles against Rockies pitching.

Featured Card:  I hope I get to feature more of Pettibone's cards this year, but for now here's his card from the Topps retail set now available at the ballpark and fine retail outlets everywhere.  This is perhaps a preview of what his Topps Series 2 card will look like, sans foil.

Transaction:  Taking Pettibone's place on the roster is reliever Shawn Camp, who will wear #50 and be card #39 in this year's Chachi set.

2013 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #20 Jonathan Pettibone

Rockies 10, Phillies 5
Game 69 - Saturday Afternoon, June 15th in Denver
Record - 33-36, 3rd Place, 7 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Jonathan Pettibone, Jeremy Horst and the Phillies were completely pummeled by the Rockies, 10-5.

What It Means:  It means Pettibone will most likely lose his spot in the rotation to (can't believe I'm about to type this) Carlos Zambrano and that Horst probably bought a ticket to Lehigh Valley when John Lannan is activated on Monday.

What Went Wrong:  Well that wasn't pleasant.  Pettibone and Horst combined to surrender ten runs (nine earned) on 14 hits in their four innings of work.  The offense never even had a chance.

Looking on the bright side, Ben Revere had a three-hit game.

Featured Card:  Pettibone may be part of the Phillies future, but I'm guessing that after his last two rough starts he's not part of their immediate future.  Other than an insert card in the 2011 Bowman Chrome Prospects set and an autographed card in the 2011 Topps Heritage Minors set, Pettibone's only other cards are from minor league team sets.  To date, the card featured here is his lone 2013 baseball card appearance.

2013 Chachi #33 Jonathan Pettibone

#44

Jonathan H. Pettibone

Starting Pitcher

Bats: Left  Throws: Right  Height: 6'6"  Weight: 225

Born: July 19, 1990, Placentia, CA

Home: Yorba Linda, CA

Drafted: Selected by the Phillies between the 3rd and 4th rounds of the June 2008 draft

Teams: Phillies 2013

Acquired: Via draft

Contract Status: Pre-arbitration eligible

2012 Multi-Ad Reading Phillies #19 Jonathan Pettibone

Phillies 3, Pirates 2
Game 20 – Monday Night, April 22nd in Philadelphia
Record – 9-11, 4th Place, 5 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Jonathan Pettibone was impressive in his Major League debut and an RBI single from Jimmy Rollins delivered a 3-2 Phillies victory.

What It Means:  The Phillies won a close ballgame and they'll go for their third win in a row tonight. 

What Went Right:  Pettibone's start was necessitated by John Lannan's knee injury.  He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two home runs and six hits overall.  The bullpen did a nice job with 3 2/3 shutout innings and Jonathan Papelbon secured his fourth save of the season.

The Phillies scored their third and eventual winning run in the sixth.  With two outs, Erik Kratz walked and pinch-hitter Ezequiel Carrera barely beat out an infield single.  Rollins then singled to right, scoring Kratz.

Featured Card:  To date, Pettibone's only widely available baseball cards are his 2011 Bowman Chrome Prospects card (featured in this post when he was added to the team's 40-man roster) and a 2011 Topps Heritage Minors Real One Autographs card.  This is one of his minor league cards from last year, when he was a member of the team formerly known as the Reading Phillies.

Pettibone has the distinction of being the first player born in the 1990s to play with the Phillies and his six strikeouts were the most for a Phillies pitcher making his debut since Cole Hamels struck out seven in his debut on May 12, 2006.

Four Additions to the 40-Man Roster

2012 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #7, 2012 Topps Pro Debut #129 and
2011 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP142

In advance of the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, to be held on December 6th, the Phillies have added four top prospects to their 40-man roster.  As of this writing, their are 38 players on the roster, leaving just two spots up for grabs.

Zach Collier (of) - Collier spent 2012 with High-A Clearwater, where he batted .269 with 6 home runs and 32 RBIs.  He's had cards in the 2008 Bowman Draft and 2008 Bowman Sterling sets, along with a number of Phillies minor league issues.

Ethan Martin (rhp) - Martin came to the Phillies as part of the Shane Victorino deal with the Dodgers.  Upon joining Double-A Reading, Martin went 5-0 with a 3.18 ERA.  He was most recently featured in the 2011 Bowman Chrome and Topps Debut sets, and he's still waiting for his first official Phillies minor league card.

Trevor May (rhp) - By all accounts one of the top prospects in the organization, May struggled at Double-A Reading last season.  He finished with a 10-13 mark and a high 4.87 ERA.  May was all over the Topps minor league releases last season, appearing in the Bowman Platinum, Topps Heritage Minor League and Topps Pro Debut sets.

Jonathan Pettibone (rhp) - Pettibone earned a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after posting a 9-7 record and a 3.30 in 19 starts with the Reading Phillies.  Once with the IronPigs, Pettibone continued his success, going 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA in 7 starts.  His first mainstream card was included in the 2011 Bowman Chrome Prospects set.