By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Just a few hours after optioning SS/OF Roman Quinn to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, the Philadelphia Phillies signed another utility player to a minor league contract, seven-year veteran Alexi Amarista.
Amarista, 28, hit just .190/.227/.286 this spring with five RBI in 42 at-bats this spring with the Detroit Tigers, and was granted his release on Saturday after being informed he would not make the Opening Day roster. The Colorado Rockies declined to exercise their $2.5 million option on Amarista this offseason and instead opting to pay the $150,000 buyout.
In 702 games thus far in his big league career, 582 spent with the San Diego Padres from 2012-2016, the Barcelona, Venezuela, native has 404 hits, including 67 doubles, 16 triples and 21 home runs. Amarista has logged innings at all infield positions in his career except first base, at all outfield positions, and even two-thirds of an inning as a pitcher with the Padres, 1/3 in 2015 and 1/3 in 2016.
