The club was one of the premiere franchises from 2007 – 2011, with 5 straight NL East Titles, 2 World Series Appearances, and taking home the big prize in 2008. The ‘Phightins’ have been battling old age, the injury bug, plus the management not knowing whether to pull the plug on the core talent of this squad – or to give it one more go at it. Charlie Manuel was finally the fall guy last month when he was let go from his managerial duties. Ryne Sandberg has the team playing better. Will it be enough for the organization to back him beyond this season?  Or maybe  the franchise restocks for another kick at the can in 2014? Here is the players they currently possess in the system.

By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @mlbreports and welcome Jeff Kleiner (Salary, Roster and Depth Chart Expert for the MLB) – visit his website  here  Follow @prosportsroster

The Phillies have posted winning records since 2001.  While the year may be getting away from them in 2013, there are some extremely encouraging signs for the future.’

Ben Revere was excelling at his position at CF and at the plate before he went down with a season ending injury.

The emergence of Domonic Brown in the 1st half, and 1B/OF Darin Ruf, have given the team a cost conscious alternative to combat huge salaries like Cliff Lee and Ryan Howard, that combine to be over $50 in the next 3 years, the latter, has been injured the most of the last 2 seasons.

You add high priced Veterans like Jimmy Rollins, and $22.5 MIL a year Cole Hamels, and you are talking about a lofty payroll for the next several years.

However, the team also extended franchise face Chase Utley, for 2 YRs/$25 – 30 MIL – that should see him possibly retire a Phillie.

The club has played much better since Ryne Sandberg assumed the helm as manager.

The team also has traded several veterans away in the last few years, to accrue Minor League Talent back in return.  Among the departed have been Hunter Pence, Shane Victorino and Michael Young.

The question going forward is to what this team will do with Roy Halladay and Carlos Ruiz.  Somehow, I think that Ruben Amaro JR, will find a way to re-sign these two guys for a limited years, and possibly incentive laden contracts this coming winter.

Whatever the case, it should be an interesting ride in Philly the next few years.

For a Full 3 year Salary Outlook plus last years Stats for every player in the Phillies Organization click here.

For the 3 Part Historical Series I did on the  Phillies organization, click here.

Chase Utley Highlights

Cliff Lee is having a typical year of his in 2013, with a 14 – 6 record, a 2.95 ERA and leads the NL in SO ratio with a 6.28/1 mark. The recently turned 35 Year Old, will make a minimum of $62.5 MIL over 2014 and 2015, and could equal $77.5 from 2014 – 2016, should he reach his Vesting Option. Lee has thrown like a #1 Ace, and the Phillies will need him to lead the charge in the next few campaigns – if they have any thoughts about making it back to the playoffs.

Payroll In Signed $

Ryan Howard’s $25 MIL contract per year from 2014 – 2016, with a Team Buyout in 2017 worth $10 MIL is the kind of contract that may cripple the competitive balance of the organization. Ripple effects will be felt as long as #6 continues to be injury plagued – or unproductive. The ‘Big Piece’ was the most prolific power hitter in the NL from 2006 – until he broke his ankle in the 2011 NLDS. Have we seen the last of the ALL – Star Caliber play from the big guy, or can he play a role on the squad going forward?

Management

Roy Halladay was supposed to be the final cog to have the Philadelphia team back in the World Series, when they signed him to a 3 YR/$60 MIL extension, running from 2011 – 2013. The Phils only received a 40 -16 through ‘Doc’s’ 1st 2 years with the team, only to fall back to 15 – 12 record, with an above 5 ERA over the last 2 seasons. Can he rebound – and will he even be retained in Philadelphia in going forward? While he has looked better since returning to the lineup in late AUG, featuring a 2 – 0 record, with a 4.28 ERA, his WHIP is still north of 1.40 – and he doesn’t look the same as he did when he was perhaps the top Pitcher in the game of baseball.

All of the players in the Organization Minors and Majors:’

Cole Hamels (30 in offseason)(Signed thru 2018 at $22.5 MIL per year), Jimmy Rollins (34) (has 2 YRs/$22 MIL left on his deal with a Vesting Option for 2015 that is really achievable with PA’s), Chase Utley (35 in the offseason) (has 2 YRs/$25 MIL left on at the minimum, with incentive clauses for staying injury free, and based on 500 AB – that could run the club $15 MIL per year from 2014 – 2018), will all be counted on to revive their careers in the next few years. If they, and Howard can’t perform, the lights will be out on Philadelphia in a vaunted NL East that features both Washington and Atlanta’s talented clubs.

Note From Chuck Booth:

You guys are all in for a treat.  Jeff Kleiner recently contacted me about a partnership merge for the website.  He has developed a site (prosportsrosters.com) that covers all organizational affiliates in the Minors for all of the Major League Baseball Clubs. 

We are going to combine efforts to bring you the best look at salaries, current 25 Man Player Rosters and Depth Charts for all 30 teams. 

Jeff is going to provide the documents in form of spreadsheets and I am going to accompany the posts with deep analysis of what the numbers tell us from my perspective. 

If you can’t wait for all of my assessments for each club, go and visit Jeff’s website over at http://www.prosportsrosters.com.

In Speaking with Jeff, he is one of the more passionate fans I have come across towards the game of baseball.  He spends enough time in updating his MLB Facts for it to be a Full-Time Job. 

So after the usual Video Clip and READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY button, you will find some serious &*!@?!#!

Jeff updates this page below on a daily basis.  After you click on it….Bookmark it.  There is a 3 year salary forecast and stats not listed here on this page.  Jeff updates these pages daily and these changes include any Roster moves!

Authors for this post:

Jeff Kleiner:  “I have been a sports fan since the first Baseball game I went to at Comisky Park in Chicago in 1959, when baseball for me turned from black and white to color.

I have attended or watched thousands of games, always paying attention to statistics, rosters and salaries of all professional sports.

Luckily I had the advantage of watching WGN TV and seeing hundreds of games in the 60’s. Collecting Baseball Cards and then later dealing them gave me an extra sense of the sport, both good and bad.”

For all of your Salaries, Roster and Depth Charts for all 4 Major Sports (entire organization – Minors and Majors) click here or Follow Me on twitter  Follow @prosportsroster

prosportsrosters.com is the best source for following entire organizations in all 4 Major Sports.

Chuck Booth – Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner and author of the Fastest 30 Ballgames:   To learn more about my  “The Fastest 30 Ballgames Book” and how to purchase it, click here .

You can also follow my Guinness Book of World Record Successful Bid to see all 30 MLB Park in 23 Days – click here.  I am happy to be part of such an awesome Magazine-Style Baseball Website and am looking forward to talking to all of the fans of the MLB. 

You can reach me on Twitter here Follow @mlbreports

Like us on Facebook here