September Seven: Phillies Call-Ups

Following Monday's combined no-hitter win over the Braves, the Phillies announced seven additions to the active roster: catcher Cameron Rupp, infielders Cesar Hernandez and Maikel Franco, outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr., and relievers Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Mike Adams, and Luis Garcia all will join the team before Tuesday's game. Cliff Lee was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to open a spot on the 40-man roster.

The group offers a little of everything. Franco is the marquee attraction: coming off a scalding two months to end his season in triple-A, the 22 year-old slugger could offer some badly needed hope and excitement while staking his claim to an everyday job in 2015. Gonzalez, the Cuban defector who signed for $12 million a year ago and struggled through spring training and an early-season rotation stint in Clearwater, is likewise coming off a very strong few months in short relief at three minor league levels (including 43 strikeouts in 31 innings between AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley) and will be auditioning for a big-league role next year. Hernandez and Rupp both return to the big club after a few journeys up and down the Pennsylvania Turnpike this season; either or both could be in the mix for bench jobs next season. In Hernandez's case, the  24 year-old utilityman is out of minor league options, so next spring the Phils will have to either keep him or expose him to waivers.

Garcia was the Phillies' lone triple-A all-star this season and dominated for Lehigh Valley, racking up 22 saves and an 0.96 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. He's fared somewhat less well in the majors, though, with a 12.71 ERA in four appearances this season. Garcia did an adequate job with the Phillies in 2013, posting a 3.73 ERA in 24 mostly low-leverage appearances.

Finally, veterans Mike Adams and Tony Gwynn Jr. return. Adams was perhaps the biggest addition to the roster after the 2012 season, signing a two-year, $12 million contract with an option he won't reach. Injuries have limited him to 42 innings since the start of 2013, but this year in particular he was effective when available with a 2.12 ERA in 19 games (17 innings). The emergence of Ken Giles and Jake Diekman as quality setup options, with Gonzalez possibly set to join them, likely means Adams won't have a role with the 2015 Phillies, so he's essentially auditioning for the rest of MLB.