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Don't expect much suspense in Phillies spring training

The Phillies' final transaction before heading to Clearwater, Fla., for spring training was the signing of veteran Chris Coghlan to a minor-league deal. It was a blip on the baseball ticker, but enough to drain the remaining uncertainty that lingered around a Phillies roster that enters camp practically complete.

The Phillies' final transaction before heading to Clearwater, Fla., for spring training was the signing of veteran Chris Coghlan to a minor-league deal. It was a blip on the baseball ticker, but enough to drain the remaining uncertainty that lingered around a Phillies roster that enters camp practically complete.

There will be talk - as there always is at spring training - about "open competitions" and the need for players to earn their roles. But the reality is that the majority of spots on the 25-man roster have been claimed. Barring injuries, spring training will not offer much suspense.

Coghlan, who has an invitation to spring training, fills one of the team's last remaining needs as a reserve outfielder. The Phillies enter the seven-week camp, which begins with Tuesday's workout for pitchers and catchers, with a clear idea of who will return to Philadelphia in April. The most uncertainty lies in who will be a reserve infielder and who will be the seventh member of the bullpen.

It sounds like high drama in Clearwater.

"You can't write anything in ink," manager Pete Mackanin said. "You never know. From one year to the next, we've seen guys have great years and stumble the next year. And we've seen the opposite."

A sorted-out roster is a minor victory. The Phillies are still expected to struggle in 2017. Earlier this week, Baseball Prospectus predicted the Phillies will win 74 games this season. It would be a three-win improvement from last season and seven wins shy of the .500 record that Mackanin outlined as his goal. The Phillies outperformed Baseball Prospectus' 2016 Pecota projection by six wins. Perhaps a roster that is already charted could provide an advantage.

The infield is set with third baseman Maikel Franco, shortstop Freddy Galvis, second baseman Cesar Hernandez, and first baseman Tommy Joseph. Catcher Cameron Rupp is back with switch-hitting Andrew Knapp, a second-round draft pick in 2013, expected to be Rupp's backup.

Odubel Herrera will be in center field, with offseason acquisitions Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders playing the corners. Kendrick (left field) and Saunders (right field) are the veteran hitters Mackanin hoped the Phillies would add.

Coghlan and Aaron Altherr appear to be the reserve outfielders. A reserve role could fit Altherr well - he is still working his way back from last season's wrist surgery.

Utility player Andres Blanco will be joined on the bench by a reserve middle infielder, perhaps Hector Gomez, who hit 21 homers last season in South Korea.

"We'd like to win as many games as we can and I think the addition of Kendrick and Saunders is going to give us the opportunity to do that," Mackanin said. "I think they're going to give us some quality at-bats. Looking at Saunders, I scouted him when he was with Seattle and I'm a little surprised he hasn't had better success because he has a good-looking approach at the plate and is a solid defensive player. He's athletic. I think he's going to thrive in Philly."

The only real question about the starting rotation is Aaron Nola's elbow, which the righthander said is fully healthy. If so, the rotation lines up to be Nola, Vince Velasquez, Jerad Eickhoff, and veterans Jeremy Hellickson and Clay Buchholz, who was acquired from Boston. Zach Eflin, Jake Thompson, Alec Asher, and Adam Morgan will all be in camp after logging major-league starts in 2016. One of them could find a future in the bullpen.

"I'm excited to get going," Nola said. "I think Clay is a good add for our staff. We have him and Hellickson as the veteran guys for our staff. It was good to have Jeremy there last year with our young group of guys and show us the ropes and you could learn from him."

The bullpen returns righthanders Hector Neris, Jeanmar Gomez, and Edubray Ramos. Righthanders Joaquin Benoit and Pat Neshek and lefthander Sean Burnett were veterans acquired in the offseason. The final spot will likely belong to lefthander Joely Rodriguez. The Phillies will use spring training for the second straight season to identify their closer.

The spring training clubhouse at Spectrum Field will feature seven of the team's top 10 prospects. None are expected to leave Florida with the major-league team. Not even Roman Quinn, who reached the majors last September.

Some of those players - such as J.P. Crawford and Nick Williams - will likely reach the majors this season, and spring training will provide a glimpse of what is coming. They will return to Florida in 2018, when jobs will be on the line for many of the team's top prospects and suspense will return to spring training.

mbreen@phillynews.com

@matt_breen philly.com/philliesblog