Predictions for Phillies’ Opening-Day 25-Man Roster Entering Spring Training

Building a roster isn’t easy. 

Sure, some decisions are easier than others. You’ll take the All-Star over the career minor leaguer and not think twice about it. Players owed more guaranteed money often have a much better shot of making the team. 

Even after you make those simple decisions, however, they aren’t always the right ones. Building a club isn’t a linear thought process. Sometimes, the handsomely paid players are blocking a cheap, but productive player from making the roster.

Spring training gives clubs an opportunity to evaluate their team from head to toe. Some camps are more interesting than others, with the 2013 Philadelphia Phillies being a case in point. 

This Phillies club is one that has the potential to look quite different from what most people would expect of them come Opening Day. Two positions in the outfield are essentially up for grabs, and what happens there will define what the bench looks like. 

Much of the same could be said for the bullpen, where things seem black and white, but are actually much more gray. 

Here’s how the Phillies’ roster could look come Opening Day.

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