Phillies Sign Versatile Utility Player Rodriguez

The Phillies added some more depth Friday to their infield.  The Phillies signed infielder Sean Rodriguez to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, the club announced.  Rodriguez will compete for a spot on the Phillies bench.

Rodriguez's biggest asset is his ability to play around the diamond.  In his 11 years in baseball, Rodriguez played first base, second base, third base, shortstop, right field, center field and left field.  Now 34 years old, Rodriguez has played for the Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh, Pirates, and Atlanta Braves.

Rodriguez is coming off a two-year, $11 million deal he signed with the Atlanta Braves prior to the 2017 season after three successful seasons in Pittsburgh.  Soon after signing the deal, he suffered injuries after a major car accident in which his family was t-boned by a stolen police cruiser.  Rodriguez took five months to recover from the injuries sustained in that horrific crash.

After two weeks playing with the Braves, Rodriguez was traded back to the Pittsburgh Pirates and hit a walk off home run in his first at bat back.

Since the accident and missed time, Rodriguez has yet to find his stroke.  Rodriguez batted just .167 the last two seasons.  He has remained a versatile player on the field.  The Phillies will have Spring Training to see just what Rodriguez has left in the tank.

The Phillies plan to use Scott Kingery as a utility player, but also have invited several infielders to major league camp. They include Phil Gosselin, Gift Ngope, Gregorio Petit and Andrew Romine.  Also on the 40-man roster is Mitch Walding, who can serve as a reserve infielder.