The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to make adjustments to their roster this offseason, though their flexibility is somewhat limited.
Several cornerstone players — including Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Aaron Nola — are locked into their positions, and the club appears inclined to retain free agents J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber to preserve stability in the lineup.
As a result, the areas most likely to see change are the outfield, bullpen, and select infield spots. To facilitate those moves, the Phillies have begun clearing roster space.
“INF Rafael Lantigua was outrighted to Lehigh Valley (AAA) and is now a free agent,” the team announced on X, formerly Twitter. “The Phillies 40-man roster is now at 30 players.”
The decision opened room for pitchers Zack Wheeler and Daniel Robert to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Still, it was a tough break for Lantigua, who had been promoted to the major league roster in September to cover for injuries to Turner, Alec Bohm, and Edmundo Sosa.
His call-up, combined with the team’s need for infield depth, made it seem as though Lantigua would finally make his MLB debut. However, his stay lasted only three days, and he never appeared in a game. Now, he heads into free agency seeking a new opportunity.
Lantigua should draw interest elsewhere, given his extensive experience and consistent production. As Charlie Wright and Darragh McDonald noted for MLB Trade Rumors, “He’s logged considerable time in the minor leagues, racking up 3,357 plate appearances across eight seasons. Lantigua has shown elite on-base skills at every level of the minors. He’s had an OBP above .345 in each of the past five seasons. A massive walk rate has helped Lantigua reach base at such a high clip.”
Capable of handling second base, third base, and shortstop, Lantigua fit the mold of a versatile depth piece for a contending team. But the Phillies appear intent on reshaping their infield around established veterans and, potentially, adding more star power to push for a championship run.
In the end, that focus leaves Lantigua searching elsewhere for the long-awaited chance to make his mark in the majors.