Biddle DFA'd to make room for new addition

Biddle, image- Jay Floyd

The Phillies made a move on Friday removing 2010 top draft choice Jesse Biddle from the team's 40-man roster in favor of lefty pitcher Bobby LaFromboise, who was claimed off waivers from the Angels.

It's not a stunning move that the Phils designated the 24-year-old for assignment, as he underwent Tommy John surgery this off-season and is expected to miss the entirety of the 2016 campaign. With that down time in mind, it isn't very likely that another team will claim him.

Biddle, a lefty, had a fair season last year, splitting time with Double-A Reading the Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In 24 starts, he posted a 9-8 record with a 4.95 ERA and a .295 batting average against. Control had been an issue for Biddle in recent seasons, issuing 4.6 free passes per nine innings for his 2014 and 2015 campaigns.

Injuries have become a concern for the Philadelphia native as well. Aside from the elbow issue he is currently dealing with, Biddle has also been sidelined with a concussion as well as a separate elbow strain and he faced a serious battle with whooping cough all within the past couple years.

It is worth noting that players on the 60-day disabled list don't "clog up" a spot on a team's 40-man roster, as there are exceptions to make additions in place of such players, as the Phillies did with Cliff Lee and Jonathan Pettibone last season. So, the Phillies could have certainly found a way for Biddle to remain untouched. This could be a bit of evidence of the new front office's vision going forward and that it may not include Biddle.

LaFromboise was originally an 8th round draft selection in 2008 by Seattle. In 27 big league appearances, the 29-year-old sported a 0-1 record with a 3.63 ERA along with a 9.3 K/9 mark.

Comments

PhoulBallz Q&A with Mike Stutes

Mike Stutes completes "The Reading Phils Mike Tri-fecta" over three days, here on PhoulBallz.com. Stutes, a 22 year old, was an 11th round selection by the Phillies in the 2008 amateur draft. Stutes, a right handed starting pitcher, helped lead Oregon State to the College World Series championship in both 2006 and 2007. Stutes and teammate Vance Worley are the first players to begin a season at Reading the year after being drafted since Pat Burrell did it in 1999. Stutes was the Phils' minor league pitcher of the month in August '08, when he went 4-1 with a 1.72 ERA in 6 starts. Check out my Q&A with the third Mike below. Can I get you to talk about the coaching staff and how they help you deal with ups and downs? They've been real positive with me. I started out good and then I hit a rough patch. They've stuck with me through it all. I haven't heard any negative words from them. Every day they try to come out, work with me, try to get me turned around...

Jason Knapp Q&A

PhoulBallz .com was fortunate enough to meet with Phillies prospect Jason Knapp just one day after he caught the attention of the baseball world with his 7 shut out innings, 14 strike out performance against the Indians' Lake County team. - I asked Jason, the Lakewood BlueClaw , for some thoughts about his big game... I had pretty good command of three pitches (fastball, curve, change up). I was on the same page with my catcher, D'Arnaud , and I ended up, ya know, I felt pretty good. - In a great performance like that, how much credit goes to Travis D'Arnaud , the catcher? More than you might expect, definitely. I didn't shake him off once. He told me what to throw and I do what I'm told. And if it works out, a lot of the credit goes to the catcher. - Does the lack of run support (Lakewood has scored 3 total runs in his 3 starts), in your few starts, increase your stress level, or enhance your focus? No, I just try to go out and do my job every outing. Ya know, we...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog