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Brandon Kintzler and Matt Joyce could create 40-man roster crunch for Phillies

If the Phillies have more talent in camp, it’s partially an indictment of the top-heavy rosters of the last few seasons.

Phillies manager Joe Girardi watches from the dugout during a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday in Dunedin, Fla.
Phillies manager Joe Girardi watches from the dugout during a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday in Dunedin, Fla.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer

A lot of things can happen -- and let’s face it, some of them probably will -- in 25 games over 27 days. It’s precisely why Phillies manager Joe Girardi doesn’t like to think too far beyond tomorrow.

Here, though, is a prediction: The Phillies will face a 40-man roster crunch before the end of spring training.

At the risk of making too much of reliever Brandon Kintzler’s scoreless inning or lefty-hitting outfielder Matt Joyce’s home run earlier this week, the Phillies appear to have deepened their talent pool by adding capable major-league veterans on minor-league contracts. But it isn’t as simple as adding them to the active roster and turning them loose on opening day. First, spots must be cleared for them on the 40-man roster, which at present is filled to capacity.

It begs the question, then, of whether the Phillies can find room for Kintzler, Joyce, and possibly even lefty reliever Tony Watson or right-hander Héctor Rondón.

“Not my job,” Girardi said with a laugh. “My job is to manage the people that we have, and right now I have a lot of nonroster very good players in here and I’m pretty thrilled about it.”

If the Phillies have more talent in camp, it’s both a testament to the work of new president Dave Dombrowski and general manager Sam Fuld to add depth on the margins and an indictment of the top-heavy roster built by former GM Matt Klentak.

» READ MORE: Why veteran reliever Brandon Kintzler bet on himself that he could win a job with Phillies | Scott Lauber

But keeping Kintzler, Joyce, and Watson -- 36, 36, and 35 years old, respectively -- might require nudging younger players off the roster, a move that teams aren’t inclined to make unless they’re ready to win.

Kintzler and Watson can use their March 24 opt-out dates to force the Phillies into a decision. Joyce doesn’t have such a provision, but the Phillies would have to pay him a $100,000 retention bonus to send him to triple A.

Wheels up

Zack Wheeler’s first start of the spring went about as smoothly as possible Tuesday in Dunedin, Fla.

Facing at least two-thirds of the Blue Jays’ projected opening-day lineup -- George Springer, Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette, Lourdes Gurriel, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Cavan Biggio -- Wheeler worked out of a two-on, one-out situation in the first inning and overcame a leadoff walk in the second. He threw 37 pitches and faced nine batters in two scoreless innings of a 4-2 Phillies loss.

Extra bases

Third baseman Alec Bohm made three solid plays, including coming in to barehand a ball. ... Young relievers Bailey Falter and Cristopher Sanchez each gave up two runs. ... Minor league first baseman Darick Hall had a two-run double. ... Shortstop Didi Gregorius will make his spring debut and Zach Eflin will be on the mound Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. ... Left-hander Matt Moore will start Thursday against the New York Yankees followed by right-hander Chase Anderson on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Both games will be televised by NBC Sports Philadelphia+.

» READ MORE: How a spring-training battle in Yankees camp 12 years ago might offer clues into the Phillies’ center-field competition