PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Everyone has been wondering since the start of spring training: Would Odúbel Herrera earn a spot on the Phillies Opening Day roster?
It took the entirety of spring training, but the question was finally answered on Monday.
Herrera will begin the season at the club’s alternate site in Lehigh Valley, while Roman Quinn and Adam Haseley will be at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday.
The Phillies had two roster spots open for three players — Herrera, Quinn and Haseley. Scott Kingery was already optioned to minor league camp over the weekend, ruling him out of the competition.
Herrera was trying to earn his way back onto the 40-man roster after being removed in the 2019 season. That May, Herrera was charged with simple assault in Atlantic City, but his girlfriend later dropped her complaint and the charges were dismissed.
Major League Baseball suspended Herrera for the rest of the season without pay for violating the league’s domestic violence policy. Herrera apologized, went through counseling and donated to the Pennsylvania Coalition of Domestic Violence.
Per the collective bargaining agreement, every decision the Phillies made regarding Herrera following his suspension had to be based on baseball, including the choice to designate him for assignment and take him off the 40-man roster. If the Phillies were going to put him back on the roster at any point this season, they have to make a corresponding move to take another player off.
Herrera started spring training strong but cooled off with a .231 average and .245 on-base percentage. Quinn, a switch-hitter who brings extraordinary speed, hit .270. Haseley hit .316 and recovered from a groin injury faster than expected.
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Manager Joe Girardi only spoke about the roster prior to the Herrera announcement: “You can’t really keep a player from being in the big leagues because of how some people might feel. I have total respect — people are allowed to have their feelings. Those are their feelings, and I understand that, but Odúbel paid a hefty price, and some people are gonna think it’s enough and some people aren’t gonna think it was enough.”
When asked if Girardi received ownership’s approval to bring Herrera to South Philadelphia this season, Girardi only said “that’s probably a question above my level.”
Because of the CBA, Herrera is still owed the remainder of the five-year, $30.5 million contract he signed prior to the 2017 season.
Even though Haseley and Quinn made the Opening Day roster, that doesn’t mean they are the team’s centerfielders for the remainder of the season. Girardi has said the players on the 26-man active roster need to continue to perform.
It’s still possible Herrera plays very well in the minor leagues and someone on the Phillies doesn’t, so Herrera could potentially be called up at some point in 2021.