UPDATE (5:05 p.m.): Matt Gelb reports Tyler Goeddel will be designated for assignment to clear up the 40-man roster, and they may trade him in the coming days.
Opinion: I don’t quite understand why it’s Goeddel instead of Luis Garcia. The team should be more open to keeping a potential everyday outfielder over a reliever, especially one who has shuttled back and forth from Lehigh Valley to Philadelphia. Goeddel may need work, but he’s much more valuable than Garcia (and especially Nava).
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The Phillies announced Thursday that first baseman Brock Stassi and outfielder Daniel Nava have earned the final two bench spots.
Infielder Jesmuel Valentin told reporters he was being sent to triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Stassi certainly earned the right – he’s hitting .339/.403/.714 with six home runs and 17 RBI in 56 spring at bats. Watch this video, courtesy Ryan Lawrence, in which an emotional Stassi speaks about the enormity of the news.
Nava also earned his spot, hitting .386/.481/.523 in 44 spring at bats.
Valentin also played well – .366/.422/.512 – and would’ve been a good utility man in case of any problems in the infield, but Andres Blanco is on board already. Also, Valentin, 22, will be able to get further seasoning in Lehigh Valley. He’ll join a pretty stacked lineup there.
Since both Stassi and Nava are now on the 25-man roster, they’re on the 40-man roster, which means the Phils will need to take another player off the 40-man. We’ll let you know when that player’s name is revealed.
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