An Updated Look at the 2016 Phillies Roster, 12/14

With the trades and roster moves all done for now, the Phillies 40 man roster now has 40 guys on it. They have an additional eight players not on the 40 man roster who are currently invited to camp to test their luck with the Phillies for a 25 man roster spot. Jesse Biddle's 40 man roster spot will be open for Opening Day, at least, after he had Tommy John surgery in October, pushing him to the 60 Day DL. Potentially joining him could be Matt Harrison, maximizing the open spots at two. Here's an early look at how the roster shakes out.

• Rotation- You can lock in Charlie Morton and Jeremy Hellickson, the off-season pick-ups that are supposed to help stabilize the rotation. If Matt Harrison were actually going to be ready for Opening Day, you could add him as well, but that's highly unlikely. Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff are virtual locks going into camp as well, as both young righties threw pretty well in 2015. That leaves one spot that would appear to be a fight between the recently acquired Brett Oberholtzer, Vincent Velasquez, and Adam Morgan right now. Alec Asher, David Buchanan, and Severino Gonzalez all would appear to be AAA locks, as would at least one or two of the guys who don't end up making the team, though Velasquez could also get a bullpen look. 
• Bullpen- You can pencil in free agent signing David Hernandez next to incumbents Luis Garcia, Elvis Araujo, and Jeanmar Gomez. Then it gets crowded. Dalier Hinojosa, Hector Neris, and Mario Hollands all have some levels of incumbency in this bullpen, either for part of last season, or all of 2014 in Hollands case. Rule 5 pick Daniel Stumpf has to make the team to stick around, and will probably get a serious look. Velasquez could get a look here if he doesn't make the rotation. Colton Murray, Jimmy Cordero, and Edubray Ramos all have 40 man roster spots, but appear to be headed to the minors, while Michael Mariot has a 40 man spot and will probably get a closer look. Ernesto Frieri was recently picked up on a minor league deal, and has some late inning experience that will give him a shot to make it as a non-roster invitee, as could James Russell and Frank Hermmann. Chris Leroux and Reinier Roibal are a little bit longer shots, but also come to camp. Assuming they stick around after being DFA'ed, A.J. Achter and Dan Otero will also get a look here.
• Catchers- Cameron Rupp and Carlos Ruiz look like locks here, but the signing of J.P. Arencibia on a minor league deal at least provides competition. Andrew Knapp is still without a 40 man spot, so he is probably AAA bound. Arencibia could provide some depth there with him and Gabriel Lino (the Ironpigs have often carried three catchers in recent years). Jorge Alfaro, who does have a 40 man spot, is likely heading for Reading. 
• Infielders- Maikel Franco will play third on Opening Day. That's the closest thing to a lock I have for you. Freddy Galvis appears headed for shortstop, at least to start the season, while Odubel Herrera will probably be at second, unless he's terrible there in Spring Training. Cesar Hernandez will provide some competition at second for him, presumably though. Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf are probably going to share first base for most of the season. Andres Blanco and Hernandez would be the likely "utility" players on this team. Darnell Sweeney is probably headed for AAA to start out the season, where he can get regular at-bats and develop further. Emmanuel Burriss and Ryan Jackson are likely providing Spring Training depth, and could possibly go to AAA if they so desire.
• Outfielders- The cupboard is pretty bare to start out the season. Aaron Altherr should get a shot in right field, and right now Cody Asche is probably getting a look in left. Peter Bourjos is in center if Herrera is in the infield, and Tyler Goeddel is taking at-bats from all of them. Roman Quinn is in the minors to start the season.
• Predicted 25 man- Starters (5): Hellickson, Morton, Nola, Eickhoff, Oberholtzer; Bullpen (7): Hernandez, Garcia, Araujo, Gomez, Frieri, Hinojosa, Hollands; Catchers (2): Rupp, Ruiz; Infielders (7): Howard, Ruf, Herrera, Galvis, Franco, Blanco, Hernandez; Outfielders (4): Altherr, Asche, Bourjos, Goeddel; 60 DAY DL(2): Harrison, Biddle; Minors(13): Quinn, Sweeney, Alfaro, Mariot, Murray, Cordero, Ramos, Neris, Velasquez, Morgan, Buchanan, Asher, Gonzalez;

I'd like to see the Phillies clear some of the starting pitching backlog, as it takes up AAA room that could go to Thompson or Eflin. I'd also like to see them keep Stumpf somehow, perhaps moving another reliever in a trade too. The Phillies could elect to keep another two players not on the current 40 man roster under my scenario, but aren't likely to fill those spots until they need to.