CLEARWATER, Fla. - The competition for the final two spots in the Phillies bullpen became a bit thinner on Sunday morning when lefthander Sean Burnett was granted his release.
Burnett, who has twice had Tommy John surgery, allowed two earned runs this spring in nine innings. He had no strikeouts and two walks in seven outings. The 34-year-old returned to the majors last September with Washington after having his second Tommy John surgery in May of 2014.
The race for the final two bullpen spots will come down to lefthanders Adam Morgan and Joely Rodriguez; righthanders Alec Asher, Luis Garcia, and Colton Murray; and switch-pitcher Pat Venditte.