By Theo DeRosa, Sports Talk Philly staff
Outfielder Collin Cowgill has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Phillies that includes an invitation to spring training, USA Today's Bob Nightengale is reporting.
Cowgill, 31, will be paid $800,000 if he makes the major-league roster. He hasn't played in the major leagues since 2016, spending a majority of last season in the Padres organization in Triple-A El Paso after receiving a similar minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. Even in 2016, Cowgill appeared in just nine games playing for the Cleveland Indians.
The right-handed-hitting outfielder played in 106 games in the major leagues in 2014 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. That year, Cowgill hit .250/.330/.354 with an OPS+ of 99, barely below league average.
Cowgill has also spent time with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who drafted him, the Oakland Athletics and the New York Mets. He figures to be one of the hitters — others including Ryan Flaherty and Adam Rosales — vying for a bench job in the majors. Short of that, Cowgill will provide outfield depth in Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
