Phillies make change to roster shortly after opening day loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Phillies did not officially release their opening day roster until about four hours before first pitch Thursday. They completed a last-minute trade with the Oakland Athletics for center fielder Cristian Pache late Wednesday afternoon and it was too tight a window for Pache to report by game time Thursday in Texas.
Dalton Guthrie made the opening-day roster as the fifth outfielder but it was only temporary. Pache is out of minor-league options and the Phillies didn't acquire him to immediately place him on waivers. Guthrie was optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley shortly after the Phillies' 11-7 loss to the Rangers and Pache will report by the time of their second game Saturday at 4:05 p.m.
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Both are right-handed hitting outfielders who offer more defense than offense. Pache is 24 years old and only a year removed from being a huge piece of the A's return from Atlanta for Matt Olson. He was the Braves' top prospect and one of the top prospects in all of baseball as recently as spring training 2021 but he hasn't hit. In 332 major-league plate appearances, Pache has batted just .156/.205/.234. He's hit .262 with a .729 OPS in 156 games at Triple A. That's why he was available.
In Pache, the Phillies see a player with upside who can help right away with his above-average defense and right-handed bat. Brandon Marsh, who doubled and tripled on opening day, is the everyday center fielder. But he'll need to be spelled occasionally and won't face every left-handed starter. Jake Cave can also play center but he's a left-handed hitter and the Phils wanted another righty.
Guthrie appeared in 14 games with the Phillies last season and one more in the NLDS. He played well defensively and went 7 for 21 with a homer, five RBI and six walks. He'll play every day at Triple A and will likely be the next outfielder up in the event of an injury.
