As spring training continues, you could say that the Phillies roster — and by extension, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs roster — will come down to options or the lack thereof.

In baseball terms, options are a type of transaction and are often misunderstood. When a player is added to the big league club’s 40-man roster, the team is given three options on the player.

Technically, the term is option years, but the “years” part is often forgotten by fans.

A player starts out with three option years, which means that the team can send them down to the minors — option them — as many times as they want in a season, but only for the next three seasons.

Many fans believe that the player can be sent down and back just three times in total, leading to confusion. Once a player is “out of options,” the team has to either keep them on the 26-man major league roster or risk losing them through waivers to send them back to the minors.

With the risk of losing the player as part of the deal, teams sometimes make roster decisions based on who they can safely send down to the minors.

The biggest decision this spring comes behind the plate. Garrett Stubbs has been the backup to starter J.T. Realmuto for the past few seasons, but Rafael Marchan, a promising young catcher who has been up and down with the Phillies, is now out of options.

He is good enough that the Phillies don’t want to give him away to another team, but is he ready to be the full-time backup to Realmuto?

If the Phillies decide to keep him in the majors, they can use the last option on Stubbs and send him to Lehigh Valley. The Phillies have also thought out loud about having Realmuto play some first base or DH more often this season to save some wear and tear on his body.

With that in mind, the Phillies could keep three catchers on the roster.

Utility player Kody Clemens is also out of options, so the Phillies have a decision to make on him.

Clemens has shown the ability to come off the bench in his auditions in the majors and is having a good spring, so it’s likely that he will make the club out of spring training.

Veteran utility man Buddy Kennedy is also out of options, and will likely have a difficult time making the Phillies roster. Edmundo Sosa is also out of options, but is considered somewhat of a lock to make the Phillies opening day roster. He has made himself more versatile by learning to play the outfield this spring.

Among starting pitchers, Chris Sanchez is out of options, but he will make the team. Tyler Phillips, who is normally a starter, could stick as a reliever, but is definitely on the bubble when it comes to making the team.

It’s possible the Phillies could trade him or allow him to go through waivers.

In the bullpen, Jose Ruiz is out of options and will be an interesting decision for the Phillies. Ruiz had a 3.71 ERA in 52 games with the Phillies in 2024 and is having a good spring, so he will likely make the team as well.

There are other players that by virtue of their MLB service time can’t be optioned to the minors, and can accept or decline being sent to the minors.

If they decline, they instantly become a free agent. Most of these players are a lock to make the team and include guys like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Aaron Nola.

Pitchers Joe Ross and Taijuan Walker are in this category, and both are fighting for jobs, most likely in the bullpen. Both will be interesting decisions, especially Walker, who is still owed a lot of money by the Phillies, and will have to pay him even if he becomes a free agent and signs elsewhere.

PROSPECT WATCH … Highly-touted prospects Justin Crawford and Aidan Miller were both sent to minor league camp last week after getting to spend some time with the big league club.

Mick Abel was going to start for the Phillies on Saturday, but was scratched when he came down with an illness that has been hitting the Phillies clubhouse.

Top prospect Andrew Painter, who has not pitched since having Tommy John surgery in 2023, will be in extended camp when the season starts and will begin throwing in the warm weather of Clearwater.

The Phillies are going to have him progress slowly, and will keep a close watch on his innings. Look to see him with Lehigh Valley likely around June or July.

PLAY BALL … The Pigs open the season at home against rival Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on March 28 for a three-game weekend series.

They then head out for what can always be a fun trip as they visit Rochester in early April. Former fan favorite Andy Tracy brings his Columbus Clippers to town for six days beginning April 22.

Tracy is entering his fifth season as Clippers’ manager. Wouldn’t this be a good opportunity to retire Tracy’s number as an IronPig?