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Philadelphia Phillies

2012 – Finished third in NL East

Record: 81-81

The Phillies went into the season with a stacked roster and coming off a 102 win season. In fact, they were my tips to go all the way in 2012.

But it all turned sour; injuries and unexpectedly poor displays from crucial members of the roster combine to scrape the Phillies to a .500 record, having been struggling below that figure for the majority of the season.

This winter, they have made two big trades that they hope will boost their lacklustre and thin line-up. Ben Revere, a lead-off speedster, arrives from the Twins, while dependable old Michael Young moves from Texas, for whom he was the all-time leader in games played.

However, all eyes are set to be on Roy Halladay, coming off the worst year of his career and struggling through Spring Training. The Phillies need him to be firing on all cylinders.

INCOMINGS

1B Art Charles – Trade (TOR)
3B Michael Young – Trade (TEX)
OF Ender Inciarte – Rule 5 (ARI)
OF Ben Revere – Trade (MIN)
OF Delmon Young – Free Agent (DET)
RHP Mike Adams – Free Agent (TEX)
RHP Chad Durbin – Free Agent (ATL)
LHP John Lannan – Free Agent (WAS)
LHP Mauricio Robles – Waivers (SEA)

OUTGOINGS

3B Placido Polanco – Free Agent (MIA)
IF/OF Ty Wigginton – Free Agent (STL)
OF Juan Pierre – Free Agent (MIA)
OF Nate Schierholtz – Free Agent (CHC)
RHP Lisalverto Bonilla – Trade (TEX), Tyson Brummett – Waivers (TOR), Jose Contreras – Free Agent (PIT), David Herndon – Waivers (TOR), Josh Lindblom – Trade (TEX), Trevor May – Trade (MIN), Michael Schwimer – Trade (TOR), Vance Worley – Trade (MIN)

Outfielders

The Phillies outfield has been substantially upgraded with the additions of Ben Revere and Delmon Young. Revere stole 40 bases last year. batting .294 but has yet to hit a home run. Young has failed to live up to expectations having been a no.1 overall draft pick, but impressed in half a season in Detroit. Split between the Tigers and Twins last season, he hit 18 homers and batted .267.

Dominic Brown is likely to be the other starting outfielder. He hit five homers in 56 games last season, but he has struggled for an average during his limited time in the Bigs. With Young questionable for Opening Day, Laynce Nix could get the nod out of Spring Training. The 32-year-old veteran has been a serviceable back-up for over a decade.

Elsewhere in the system is John Mayberry and Darin Ruf, who hit 38 long balls in 119 games at Double-A.

Infielders

The Philles infield has been fairly consistent for the last decade or so. Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard have a combined 4082 games for the Phillies. Then there’s the 692 home runs, 2452 RBIs and 4399 hits. A formidable trio if ever there was one.

All is not rosy, however. Utley and Howard are coming off injury ravaged seasons and we will have to wait and see if they return to their best form. After rattling off a series of impressive numbers the three players have put up in Philadelphia, the key figure could well be 101, their combined age, showing that they are all, potentially, in the twilight of their careers.

The will be joined by another veteran in Michael Young, who arrives from Texas. He will man third base, but has vast experience at short and second. The 36-year-old is a career .301 hitter.

Other infield options include Freddy Galvis and Kevin Frandsen, who hit .338 in a bit-part role last campaign. Yuniesky Betancourt and Josh Fields are experienced players who have been invited to Spring Training and could see game time should injuries take their toll.

Catchers

Carlos Ruiz will start the season on the proverbial naughty step, having been found guilty of taking a banned substance. The veteran hit .325 last year. Erik Katz and Humberto Quintero are set to battle it out for the starters job, if only for a brief spell while Ruiz sits out.

Starters

Like the infield, the Phillies have a trio of big name starters. Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay have a combined 415 wins, with a 3.40 ERA in close to 6000 innings pitched. The focus, however, will all be on the Doc. He had the worst full season of his career, with a 4.49 ERA and has struggled mightily in Spring Training, with his latest start lasting just one inning.

Kyle Kendrick, who went 11-12 with a 3.90 ERA in 25 starts last season, and newbie John Lannan will round out the starting rotation. Aaron Cook, who has 224 careers starts under his belt, provides depth and experience. Youngsters Ethan Martin and Jonathon Pettibone are top 10 prospects who could see time if the injuries begin to mount.

Relievers

Jonathan Papelbon remains closer, having notched 38 saves with a 1.06 WHIP in his debut Phillies season. Mike Adams arrives as a vastly experienced set-up man, and will share duties with Antonio Bastardo.

Elsewhere in the bullpen will be Mike Stutes, Jeremy Horst, and a pair of 35-year-olds in Chad Durbin and Raul Valdes.