Phillies outright trio of pitchers, Gosselin
PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies have cleared more space on their 40-man roster.
The Phillies announced Friday afternoon that they outrighted left-hander Adam Morgan, right-handers Heath Hembree and Blake Parker and infielder Phil Gosselin. All four cleared waivers and elected to become free agents. Each of them were eligible for salary arbitration.
The moves are not a surprise. Morgan, 30, had flexor tendon surgery on his left elbow on Oct. 8. He is expected to miss six to nine months. Hembree, 31, had a 12.94 ERA in 11 appearances following an Aug. 20 trade with the Red Sox. He did not pitch the final week of the season because of an injured right elbow, an issue he had in 2019.
Gosselin, 32, had a .726 OPS in 102 plate appearances. Parker, 35, had a 2.81 ERA in 14 appearances.
The Phillies could try to re-sign any of them this offseason.
Philadelphia has seven players still eligible for salary arbitration: first baseman Rhys Hoskins; right-handers Seranthony Dom¨ªnguez, Zach Eflin, David Hale and Vince Velasquez; and catcher Andrew Knapp. The Phillies on Friday also declined right-hander Héctor Neris¡¯ $7 million club option, but he remains on the roster because he also is eligible for arbitration. They have until Dec. 2 to tender them contracts.
The Phillies declined club options for right-handers David Robertson ($12 million option with a $2 million buyout) and David Phelps ($4.5 million option with a $250,000 buyout).
The Phillies also have until Sunday to extend qualifying offers to their free agents. J.T. Realmuto is certain to receive a one-year, $18.9 million qualifying offer. Didi Gregorius is a possibility, but unlikely. Fellow free agents Jos¨¦ ?lvarez, Jake Arrieta, Jay Bruce, Tommy Hunter and Brandon Workman are not expected to receive qualifying offers.