Posted by Frank Klose
Courtesy pe.com
The Phillies have signed IF Kevin Frandsen to a minor league deal, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick is currently reporting.
Fans of course, are overreacting and reading too much into this.
Here is a sample from the Twitterspehere:
"Kevin Frandsen? It's this bad with Utley? Castillo was one thing but Frandsen? Yeesh."
"Kevin Frandsen moree infielders funnnn… lol"
"Phillies sign journeyman infielder Kevin Frandsen, spent the spring with the Padres. Does this speak more to Polanco's injury than Utley's?"
"desperate times call for desperate measures. bye bye utley RT @mlbtraderumors: Phillies To Sign Kevin Frandsen"
Relax. Frandsen does not factor into the major-league plans. Frandsen most likely will be the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs' shortstop.
Brian Bocock was previously lined up to be the AAA shortstop. However,
1) Bocock is injured
2) Bocock is on the Phillies' 40-man roster, currently fill. To add Luis Castillo, someone needs to be removed. Bocock is the most likely one to be removed.
Of all the position players, only Bocock does not figure into current or future plans. There are six outfielders on the 40-man roster, but five of them will make the team. The sixth is Domonic Brown, who is injured and likely will start the season on the 15-day disabled list. The infielders that will not make the team include prospects Freddy Galvis, Matt Rizzotti, Harold Garcia, Carlos Rivero, and Cesar Hernandez, all prospects the Phillies would want to keep.
If the Phillies remove Bocock from the 40-man roster, he must pass through waivers to remain in the organization. While that is entirely possible, Bocock is is still injured. David Hale of the Wilmington News Journal reported the other day that Bocock is headed for an MRI.
The next likely candidate to be designated for assignment could be Brian Schlitter, also getting an MRI according to the same Hale post, recently claimed from the Yankees. If the Phillies decide to add Mike Stutes to the roster, Schlitter could also go.
Looks like Frandsen will be perusing the hot tubs in Allentown, not Philadelphia, so please refrain from freaking out.
