Phillies’ bullpen battle narrows after 6 pitches reassigned to minor league camp

Spring training is winding down, and the Phillies’ Opening Day bullpen picture is finally starting to take shape after a round of roster cuts on Saturday.

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The Phillies reassigned six pitchers—Nick Vespi, Koyo Aoyagi, Jose Cuas, Joel Kuhnel, John McMillon, and Guillo Zuñiga—to minor-league camp, along with infielder Rodolfo Castro.

Phillies Reassign 6 Pitchers to Minor League Camp

Prior to today’s game, the Phillies reassigned the following players to minor league camp: RHP’s Koyo Aoyagi, Jose Cuas, Joel Kuhnel, John McMillon & Guillo Zuniga, LHP Nick Vespi and INF Rodolfo Castro.

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 15, 2025

That trims the list of bullpen hopefuls, leaving just two spots up for grabs heading into the final stretch of camp.

Who’s A Lock for the Phillies Bullpen?

There’s no drama when it comes to the six bullpen locks:

✅ Jordan Romano
✅ Orion Kerkering
✅ Jose Alvarado
✅ Tanner Banks
✅ Jose Ruiz
✅ Joe Ross

Matt Strahm would have been a lock, but a left shoulder impingement has him questionable for Opening Day. His status could open the door for one more arm to make the roster.

The Final Two Spots: Who’s Left?

With the latest round of cuts, five pitchers remain in the mix for two spots:

• Taijuan Walker (most likely to get one of the jobs)
• Nabil Crismatt
• Devin Sweet
• Kyle Tyler
• Michael Mercado

Breaking Down the Contenders

Taijuan Walker: The Favorite

If the Phillies decide to carry six starters, Walker likely slides into a long-relief role rather than the rotation. This move would buy the team some time to sort out their pitching staff while keeping Walker stretched out for potential starts.

Nabil Crismatt: The Veteran

Crismatt, 30, has the most major-league experience (114 appearances, 3.71 ERA), and he’s pitched well this spring (6⅔ IP, 2 ER, 6 K, 1 BB). The problem? He’s not on the 40-man roster, meaning the Phillies would need to clear a spot if he makes the team.

Devin Sweet: The Strikeout Artist

Sweet, a November waiver pickup from the Tigers, racked up 111 strikeouts in 76 innings at Triple-A last year. That’s a huge K-rate, but he’s been inconsistent this spring (5 IP, 3 ER).

Kyle Tyler: The Cutter Specialist

Tyler, who appeared in eight games for the Marlins last season, has quietly had one of the best springs among the bullpen hopefuls (6⅔ IP, 0 ER, 2 unearned runs). His waiver claim last August went under the radar, but he’s making a case for a spot.

Michael Mercado: The Power Arm

Mercado has big velocity but inconsistent results. He’s allowed five runs (four earned) in 3⅔ innings, which doesn’t help his cause. But the Phillies like his upside as a potential multi-inning weapon.

What’s Next for the Phillies?

While Walker is expected to claim one of the spots, the final decision likely comes down to Crismatt vs. Sweet vs. Tyler.

And let’s not rule out a last-minute roster move—Dave Dombrowski has a habit of finding late bullpen help on the waiver wire before Opening Day.

For now, though, the battle is down to five. With just a handful of Grapefruit League games left, the Phillies’ bullpen is nearly set.

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