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The Phillies and infielder Ryan Flaherty have agreed to a minor-league contract, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. He’ll head to spring training and compete for a major-league job.
Flaherty, 31, has spent his entire six-year major-league career with Baltimore, posting a .215/.284/.355 line with 35 homers since breaking into the bigs in 2012. He has appeared at all four infield spots and both corner outfield positions in that time, giving Philly a versatile option in spring training.
The Phillies have already signed Pedro Florimon and Adam Rosales to minor-league deals this winter, so the trio of Flaherty, Florimon and Rosales will provide depth behind projected starters Cesar Hernandez, J.P. Crawford and Maikel Franco in the team’s infield.
Flaherty is a Maine native, one of just a few to ever reach the majors. As a fellow New Englander, I’m offended he’d choose to join a Philadelphia team this week. Too soon.