The Phillies have outrighted 33-year old righty reliever Brian Sanches to AAA. Sanches pitched in 3 games (0 starts) for the Phillies so far this year and he was 0-1 with a 11.25 ERA and a 2.75 WHIP. Sanches gave up 9 hits (2 homers) in only 4 innings for the Phillies this year, as opposing batters have been running up to the plate against him. Sanches has now pitched in 192 games (2 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 13-7 with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Sanches could get another chance with the Phillies at some point in 2012.

The Phillies re-signed 33-year old switch-hitting SS Jimmy Rollins over the winter, and he isn’t repaying them for their confidence so far this year. Rollins played in 31 games for the Phillies this year and he was 27 of 121 (.223 avg, .539 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 0 homers, 5 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. The Phillies expect much more out of Rollins’ bat and they need it soon, as they are wasting a lot of good pitching due to a lack of offense.

The Phillies have released 30-year old righty swinging outfielder Luis Montanez. He played in 17 games in AAA-ball for the Phillies this year and he was 6 for 44 (.136 avg, .423 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 1 RBI. Montanez has played in 129 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 68 for 305 (.223 avg, .586 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 5 homers, 32 RBIs and 1 stolen base. This is no loss for the Phillies.

22-year old righty starting pitcher Trevor May came into this season as the Phillies’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America. May is dominating in AA-ball so far this year for the Phillies. He has started 5 games in AA-ball so far this year for the Phillies and he is 5-0 with a 2.40 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. He has only given up 21 hits in his first 30 innings this year, while whiffing 33 batters and only walking 8. His control is vastly improved this year as the coaches at AA-ball have May attacking the strike zone and the results have been outstanding so far. May has pitched in 79 games (74 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 32-18 with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. The Phillies are going to let May advance on his own timetable, as they have no need to rush him to the show.

32-year old lefty swinging outfielder Laynce Nix is swinging a hot stick off the bench for the Phillies so far this year. He has played in 17 games for the Phillies so far this year and he is 13 for 38 (.342 avg, 1.076 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 homers and 10 RBIs. If Nix keeps swinging the bat like he is right now, the Phillies are going to have to start playing him more….likely at the expense of Juan Pierre in LF. But, that might be hard to pull off as Pierre is also hitting well right now.