The Atlanta Braves have signed former Phillies outfielder Jeff Francoeur to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
Francoeur, 32, will return to the organization that drafted him 23rd overall in the 2002 amateur draft, where from 2005 to 2009 he hit .266/.308/.424 with 78 home runs and 359 runs-batted-in spanning 631 games and 2,633 plate appearances.
The Brewers, Pirates, Rangers and Marlins were linked to Francoeur this offseason, however Miami was the only club reported to have seriously considered signing the 11-year veteran, according to Jon Heyman, prior to Atlanta Monday evening.
Last season over 119 games with the Phillies, Francoeur hit .258/.286/.433 with 13 home runs and 45 runs-batted-in. While the Phillies and Francoeur had "mutual interest" in re-signing for 2016, there really was no fit after the Phillies claimed 28-year-old outfielder Peter Bourjos off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals on Dec. 2.
Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com writes:
In addition to his work on the field, Francoeur has been a much-needed veteran voice in the clubhouse and mentor to younger players. Though still relatively young himself, Francoeur has gained much wisdom during a roller-coaster career that saw him streak onto the scene as a regular in the Atlanta Braves' outfield at age 21 only to turn into a journeyman by age 26.
The Phillies will face the Braves for the first time in 2016 Grapefruit League action on Friday, March 4, at Bright House Field.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
