Edward Mujica over Andrew Bailey? Phillies' bullpen taking shape

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With spring training wrapping up — the Phillies come back up north after Wednesday's game in Clearwater — their once crowded bullpen picture is starting to take shape.

The Phils entered camp with 37 pitchers. Only 19 remain after Monday's series of moves — Adam Morgan, Elvis Araujo and Luis Garcia were sent to Triple A Lehigh Valley, while Bobby LaFromboise, Chris Leroux and Reinier Roibal were reassigned to minor-league camp.

Included in that group of 19 is the starting rotation: Jeremy Hellickson, Aaron Nola, Charlie Morton, Jerad Eickhoff and Vince Velasquez.

Also included is a group of four pitchers who have been hurt during spring training: Mario Hollands, Yoervis Medina, Michael Mariot and Frank Herrmann. Medina is the only one of the four who's pitched in Grapefruit Leagues games.

That leaves 10 relievers for seven spots. Thus, projecting the opening day bullpen is now much easier.

The locks
Anything can happen, but the locks appear to be David Hernandez, Dalier Hinojosa, Jeanmar Gomez and lefty Brett Oberholtzer. Hernandez is making $3.9 million; Hinojosa continues to impress; and Gomez and Oberholtzer both offer versatility, stamina and the ability to induce groundballs.

Bubble boys
Battling for those remaining three spots are six relievers: right-hander Hector Neris, lefties Daniel Stumpf and James Russell, and former closers Andrew Bailey, Edward Mujica and Ernesto Frieri.

Three lefties?
With the lefty LaFromboise being reassigned on Monday, it's a safe bet that one or both of Stumpf and Russell will make the team. Stumpf is a Rule 5 pick, so if he's not on the opening day roster the Phillies must offer him back to the Royals for $25,000.

Russell, a six-year veteran, has a 3.90 career ERA in 387 appearances with the Cubs and Braves.

There is a strong possibility that the Phillies, with five right-handed starting pitchers, do open the season with three lefties in the 'pen.

If both Stumpf and Russell make it, that would leave one spot for the group of Bailey, Mujica, Frieri and Neris. Neris has minor-league options so the Phils wouldn't risk losing him if he doesn't make the team.

Former closer trio
Mujica had an opt-out clause in his contract for this past Saturday that allows him to become a free agent if he is not added to the Phillies' 40-man roster, so he could be gone very soon if they don't plan on carrying him. He pitched a scoreless inning Monday in Dunedin against the Blue Jays.

Bailey was impressive early in camp but has struggled of late, both with velocity and results. After opening the spring with five strikeouts in four scoreless innings, Bailey has allowed four runs on six hits over his last three. As Jim Salisbury pointed out Saturday, the Phillies could send Bailey to Triple A and wait and see whether his velocity increases. Bailey can opt out of his contract with the Phillies on May 1 so they do have some time to continue to evaluate him.

Frieri, once a dominant late-inning reliever, has found his velocity and deception again in camp this spring, but the results have been mixed. He's walked only two batters in 6⅔ innings, but he's allowed three home runs in Grapefruit League play. Home runs have always been the issue for Frieri, who loves his fastball.

The guess here is that the final spot goes to Mujica. He's just been better in camp, posting a 2.16 ERA in seven appearances and holding opponents to a .154 batting average (4 for 26).

If that is all true, the bullpen would look like this:

• RHP David Hernandez (closer/setup man)
• RHP Dalier Hinojosa (closer/setup man)
• RHP Edward Mujica (setup man)
• RHP Jeanmar Gomez (long man/middle relief)
• LHP James Russell
• LHP Daniel Stumpf
• LHP Brett Oberholtzer (long man)

We shall see. The Phillies host the Yankees and Astros at Bright House Field Tuesday and Wednesday before coming back to Pennsylvania. They have a Futures Game at Reading on Thursday night, then host the Orioles at Citizens Bank Park on Friday and have another Futures Game Saturday afternoon at CBP. They're off Sunday and open the regular season next Monday in Cincinnati.

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