As rumors swirled ahead of Friday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline, a Philadelphia Phillies prospect and potential trade chip was sent down a minor-league level on Tuesday.
The Phillies demoted catcher Rafael Marchan to Double-A from Triple-A in a bevy of roster moves within the organization, which included his fellow catcher Rodolfo Durán moving up a level to Triple-A. Instead of traveling with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to Rochester for their series against the Red Wings, Marchan was assigned to play in Reading for the Fightin Phils’ series opener against the Somerset Patriots.
The move came just hours after reports emerged that Marchan’s name was in trade discussions.