PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies on Tuesday added top prospect Andrew Painter — and two other high-ranking prospects — to their 40-man roster.
Along with Painter, the club also selected the contracts of outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. (Philadelphia’s No. 9 prospect) and right-hander Alex McFarlane (No. 20). The moves came ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for Major League teams to add players to the 40-man or risk losing them in the Rule 5 Draft.
There were no surprises in the players the Phillies chose to protect (or not protect). With the three additions, Philadelphia’s 40-man roster is now at 33 players in the early stages of what figures to be a busy offseason.
Painter was a no-brainer, given the 22-year-old checks in as MLB Pipeline’s No. 16 overall prospect — and the third-best pitching prospect. Though many expected him to make his MLB debut this past season, Painter instead spent the entire 2025 season in the Minors after missing the ’24 campaign due while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
That said, Painter is certainly expected to factor into the Phillies’ 2026 rotation. Philadelphia currently has Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker under contract for next season, though Painter could crack the Opening Day roster — especially if Wheeler isn’t yet ready after undergoing thoracic outlet decompression surgery on Sept. 23.
It also remains to be seen how things will play out with Ranger Suárez, who — along with designated hitter Kyle Schwarber — became a free agent after declining the Phillies’ qualifying offer on Tuesday.
Regardless, Painter is expected to be a key piece for the franchise, both in 2026 and beyond.
As for Rincones, the 24-year-old spent the entire 2025 season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. A third-round pick in the 2022 Draft, he posted an .800 OPS with 18 home runs, 73 RBIs and 21 stolen bases over 119 games with the IronPigs.
Rincones finished particularly strong, posting a .943 OPS from July onward after struggling to a .696 OPS through June.
McFarlane, meanwhile, wasn’t quite as much of a certainty to be added to the 40-man roster as Painter and Rincones — though the right-hander’s inclusion comes as no surprise.
Selected one round after Rincones in that same 2022 Draft, McFarlane has flashed elite strikeout potential at times in the Minors, though he has also struggled with control. The 24-year-old has 163 strikeouts over 138 1/3 career Minor League innings, but he’s also issued 84 walks during that time.
That said, another big league team would have almost certainly taken a flier on McFarlane in the Rule 5 Draft given his elite fastball that touches 100 mph and his impressive slider. After being used exclusively as a starter over his first couple professional seasons, McFarlane was moved to the bullpen in mid-August — and it’s possible that’s where he may be used moving forward.
