Phillies sign Bobby Abreu to minor league contract

The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a minor league deal with outfielder Bobby Abreu, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The deal includes an invitation to major league spring training and will pay Abreu $800K if he makes the major league roster.

Abreu, who spent nine years with the Phillies from 1998 to 2006, last appeared in the majors with the Dodgers in 2012, when he hit .246 with 3 HR and 19 RBI in 92 games after being released by the Angels. He took last season off, but has been performing well in Venezuelan winter ball, hitting eight home runs and driving in 26 runs in 16 playoff games.

Abreu was also linked to the Indians this offseason due to his solid winter ball performance, but will head to the Phillies in hopes of breaking back into the majors for his eighteenth season. He turns 40 during spring training, but could still make the Phillies as a left-handed hitting bench option.

In seventeen years with the Astros (1996-1997), Phillies (1998-2006), Yankees (2006-2008), Angels (2009-2012) and Dodgers (2012), Abreu is a lifetime .292 hitter with 287 HR and 1,349 RBI. In his nine years in Philadelphia, the two-time All-Star hit .303 with 195 HR and 814 RBI in 1,353 games.