The Phillies continued their offseason of adding depth by adding five more players to Minor League contracts on Monday. We were already aware about former closer Ernesto Frieri and local-native pitcher Greg Burke, but the Phillies also added a catcher, two other pitchers, and an infielder to the mix.
Todd Zolecki reported the moves:
Phillies sign C J.P. Arencibia, RHPs Greg Burke, Ernesto Frieri & Gregory Infante and INF Angelys Nina to Minor League contracts.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) December 14, 2015
They will be non-roster invitees to spring training.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) December 14, 2015
Where these players will fit remains to be seen. However, they will get a good look in Spring Training.
Arencibia is the biggest name of the non-Frieri players. Arencibia has two 20-home run seasons on his resume, hitting 23 home runs in 2011 and 20 in 2013. Despite having some power, batting average has been a problem for Arencibia; he is a lifetime .212 hitter. A part-time and minor league player for the Rays in 2015, Arencibia batted .310 and hit six home runs in 71 at bats.
Arencibia tweeted about the move:
Ready to get to work with the Phillies! #LetsGetIt
— Jp Arencibia (@jparencibia9) December 14, 2015
Right-handed pitcher Gregory Infante is mostly a career minor-leaguer, but the Phillies got to see him plenty in 2015. Infante split time between the New Fisher Rock Cats of the AA Eastern League and the Buffalo Bisons of the AAA International League. Both teams face Phillies affiliates. Infante combined for a 1-3 record and 3.18 earned run average in 51 games.
Infante also appeared in five games for the Chicago White Sox in 2010, pitching four and two-thirds innings, giving up no runs.
Nina is a career minor-leaguer who plays many positions, but whose primary position is second base. Nina adds to infield (and outfield) depth for the Phillies at AAA Lehigh Valley, and could be called up in case of injury. Nina batted .300 in 2015 in 420 at bats for the Albuquerque Isotopes, the AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played four positions in 2015 – second base, third base, left field, and shortstop.
Read our previous pieces about other Minor League free agents Greg Burke and Ernesto Frieri:
Greg Burke:
http://www.philliedelphia.com/2015/11/phillies-sign-gloucester-catholic-high-school-alumnus-rhp-greg-burke.html
Ernesto Frieri:
http://www.philliedelphia.com/2015/12/phillies-sign-ernesto-frieri-to-a-minor-league-deal.html
