The Phillies arrived in Clearwater with certainty.
The Phillies are intrigued by Zach McCambley as a potential right-handed specialist. | Gregg Pachkowski / [email protected] / USA TODAY NETWORK
The lineup is locked.
The rotation nearly finalized.
But the bullpen? That’s where tension lives.
Six relief spots are already spoken for.
Jhoan Duran headlines the group.
Kerkering, Keller, Bowlan, Alvarado, and Banks follow.
Only two openings remain.
And twelve hungry arms are circling.
On the 40-man roster alone, competition is fierce.
Max Lazar and Zach Pop are fighting to stay relevant.
Zach McCambley carries Rule 5 pressure.
He cannot be sent down without consequence.
McCambley dominated right-handed hitters last season.
A .186 average against tells a loud story.
The Phillies believe his stuff can translate immediately.
Pop offers ground-ball reliability.
But his 6.68 ERA across three seasons raises alarms.
Consistency remains his biggest hurdle.
Then come the left-handed options.
Kyle Backhus quietly impressed against lefties last year.
They hit just .139 against him.
Tim Mayza brings veteran experience.
But recent inconsistency clouds his case.
Genesis Cabrera brings pure velocity.
Control, however, remains unpredictable.
Hard-throwing lefties always attract interest.
That alone keeps him alive in the race.
Veterans Lou Trivino and Trevor Richards add intrigue.
Trivino is chasing redemption after Tommy John surgery.
He hasn’t pitched meaningfully in two years.
Richards still owns that devastating changeup.
It once baffled hitters across the league.
Spring training will decide everything.
Reputation won’t secure these final spots.
Performance will.
Every bullpen session matters.
Every inning carries weight.
Two lockers remain unclaimed.
Only the sharpest arms will survive this battle.
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