Philadelphia Phillies All-Time Team

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you're having an enjoyable holiday.

Our trip through the National League East leads us down the northeast corridor to historic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Let's have a look the the Phillies All-Time roster.

 

The defending National League Champions won their eighth pennant in 2022. Veterans Stadium was home to the 1980 World Champions, and hosted three Fall Classics.

Charlie Manuel managed the Phils' most recent title winners in 2008, one of five consecutive seasons in which Manuel's men won the division title. They have not finished first in the NL East since his departure.

Several All-Time Phillies played for the franchise way back in the 19th century, including the entire starting outfield.

Phillies starters have a total of six league MVPs to their credit, and there's another MVP on the bench. Manuel may have to do some maneuvering.

Newly-minted Hall of Famer Scott Rolen has no chance at a starting spot. However, 1972 American League MVP Dick Allen could break through as a first baseman or designated hitter.

	Phillies stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Ryan Howard	14.7	0.258	0.343	0.515	0.859	125
	*Chuck Klein	37.2	0.326	0.382	0.553	0.935	139
	*Dick Allen	35.4	0.290	0.371	0.530	0.902	153

Ryan Howard profiles as a DH, but Chuck Klein has to start somewhere. The franchise's second-leading home run hitter will join Rolen and Virgil "Spud" Davis on the bench. Dick Allen wins the first base job.

 

Manuel has outfield options aplenty, including near-Hall of Famers Bobby Abreu and Sherry Magee. 

Is there room on this roster for another pre-war player, or is Bobby Abreu's spot safe?

	Phillies stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Bobby Abreu	47.2	0.303	0.416	0.513	0.928	139
	Sherry Magee	48.2	0.299	0.371	0.447	0.818	143
	Johnny Callison	39.4	0.271	0.338	0.457	0.795	122
	Cy Williams	30.5	0.306	0.380	0.500	0.880	131

Magee and Williams gave it their all, but Abreu prevailed.


Manuel makes no changes to the pitching staff.

Aaron Nola is about 2-3 years away from challenging Cole Hamels for the fifth starter role.
 

Philadelphia's bullpen is one of the weakest groups in the All-Time series, as several of their top relievers were affiliated elsewhere. Can Charlie Manuel find a way to upgrade?

 
Steve Bedrosian is third in Phils' history with 103 saves; he was cut from the Braves' All-Time team and has eligibility here. So does Seranthony Dominguez - barely. He missed all of 2020 and pitched one inning in 2021, after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Lefty Rheal Cormier was the only other potential upgrade in camp.

	Phillies stats	SV	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP
	*Ricky Bottalico	78	3.70	115	2.11	1.308
	*Turk Farrell	65	3.25	114	1.89	1.310
	Steve Bedrosian	103	3.29	118	2.27	1.253
	Rheal Cormier	2	3.62	118	1.91	1.245

Bottalico loses his spot to "Bedrock"; Bedrosian officially becomes the first player to change All-Time teams.

The Phillies' All-Time roster could look a lot different at the end of the decade, especially if Nola and Dominguez stay healthy. Rhys Hoskins is a longshot considering the depth at 1st base/DH. Right Field is also stacked, but if anyone can break through it's Bryce Harper - who you'll see again very soon.

Keep your eye on J.T. Realmuto, who could jump from the All-Time Marlins squad to this one. 

TL; DR: One change from the original roster. Bottalico out, Bedrosian in.

 

Come back tomorrow for our next All-Time roster, the Washington Nationals. 

 

Thanks for reading!

 

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