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Philadelphia Phillies: 5 non-roster invitees who could crack the main roster

By David Esser

Aug 25, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler (27) pitches during the bottom of the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 25, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler (27) pitches during the bottom of the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia Phillies Matt Joyce
Aug 22, 2020; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Matt Joyce (7) hits a two run home run against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Matt Joyce, OF

A veteran outfielder to seemingly replace the void created by Jay Bruce’s departure, Matt Joyce could sneak himself into a bench bat role should he have a promising Spring Training. While the Philadelphia Phillies outfield competition is a bit crowded at the moment due to the likes of Adam Haseley, Roman Quinn, Scott Kingery, and the recently reacquired Brad Miller (he can play some corner OF), Joyce has the type of pop to warrant some major league action.

A 13 year MLB pro, Joyce has played for seven different teams throughout his career. While his best days came in Tampa Bay way back in 2011, he’s found a way to remain valuable as a good bench bat/pinch hitting option.

As recently as 2019, Joyce posted an eye-popping OPS of .858 across 129 games with the Atlanta Braves. Despite being 34 years old at the time, Joyce proved that he has plenty of offensive firepower still inside him.

While Joyce’s 2020 with the Marlins didn’t go as well, he’s still a name that’s worth an extended look this spring. Should he show up to camp swinging the bat similar to the way he did in 2019, he’d be a pretty sizable addition to a Philadelphia Phillies team that is still lacking overall bench depth.

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