Laynce Nix has signed a two-year contract with the Phillies, passing a physical today to make it official, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter). The deal is worth $2.5MM.
Nix, who turned 31 on October 30, hit .250/.299/.451 in 351 plate appearances for the Nationals last season. The journeyman is known for his ability to hit for big power against right-handed pitching (career .198 ISO versus righties), but he doesn't get on base much and his career .506 OPS against southpaws shows he's definitely a platoon player.
Nix, a client of Gaylord Sports Management, has signed minor league deals in each of the past four offseasons. He has experience at all three outfield positions (primarily left field and center field), and both UZR and DRS suggest that his defense has been a positive throughout his career. The A's and Red Sox were also interested in signing him, reports Amanda Comak of the Washington Times.
Salisbury first reported that the two sides had reached an agreement (Twitter links), while Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports added salary details (on Twitter).
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
I’m sure it won’t be for a lot of money, but two years? Was that really necessary for Laynce Nix?
Yeah, they should Nix this deal if given a second chance.
No need for a two year deal here. Classic Ruben
Lyle Overpay on years
another solid bench pickup for the Phils. Now they’ll resign Rollins in the next few days and call it an off season.
Why is 2 years really that much of an issue here? Obviously he will be a Platoon this season with Mayberry.. Next year when Thome leaves Nix will either continue to platoon with Mayberry or take the LH off the bench role!
Plus hes only 31 not like its a 35-38 year old that we are signing to TOO many years!
Stat jockies who pray to the altar of Keith Law, the guy who helped run the juggernaut mid 2000s Blue Jays. 2 years is nothing and he’s hardly old, good depth move. Mayberry/Nix in left now
Yeah seriously. The way some people reacted or are going to react, it’s like they signed him to a 2 year $50 million dollar deal.
they did though. my sources, that i will not name, told me so!
they did though. my sources, that i will not name, told me so!
That’s what people were saying about Contreras last year, and now we have him coming back, even though he spent most of the year hurt last year.
There is a difference between doing something because you can, and not doing something unless you have to. That difference is the difference between a so/so GM, and a great one.
im into advanced stats and I don’t understand the negative comments here. Platoon players have real value, if Nix can continue his batting line against righties for the next couple years that would be huge.
This coming from someone who despises the Phillies. There is nothing to bash here, get over yourselves Philly bashers. Wait til they actually make a dumb move to talk trash.
GL laynce glad to see your hard work off the bench and platooning has brought you a multi year contract
Eric Bruntlett 2.0?
bruntlett has no power , and i think could play the infield nix is pretty much left hander off the bench or platoon
So they got a platoon player. Who is he going to platoon with? Brown is not a match
John Mayberry Jr. in LF. Brown won’t be on the team to start the year.
Phillies are now the New York Spankees.
I see what you did there, changing Yankees to Spankees. What a clever, original and hilarious joke.
Also the fact they signed such a dominant force such as Laynce Nix. They are becoming the Yankees of the NL though, payroll is on such a high level, they always get what they want.
I could have sworn he got signed by the Yankees. Eh, who cares. Oh yeah that was Jayson Nix.
Laynce Nix brings the unnecessary “y” the Phillies have missing since Jayson Werth left.
Nats had too many. What’s Stark got to say about it?
awful pinch hitter. Would have been a good power off the bench but can’t hit off then bench. He is a cheaper version of Geoff Jenkins
If he can lead off the reconvened aborted 5th game of the World Series with a 2B and score a run, I got no problems with comparisons to World Champion Geoff Jenkins…
Wonder if Ben Francisco is going to get non-tendered.
we can all hope , although that 3 run bomb off garcia was a cool , however not enough to make up for the lack of production overall
Im surprised he got 2 years.
Me being an avid viewer of the Nationals (I don’t consider myself a fan) I can tell from watching him from last year he has really improved. He is a great bench player to have who mashes right handed pitching. The guy has some serious pop!
aye he was probaly my favriote journey man on the nats last year and if any bench/plantoon player deserves a 2 year deal its nix
I like this signing. Good player to fill out the bench for the Phillies.
Nix was good offensively in the first half then reverted back to career norms. Defense is sub-par for a bench/part-time player.
.111/.226/.185 vs lefties
.202-4-11, .269 OBP during 2nd half of season
.184/.256/.289 as sub/pinch-hitter
If he’s a platoon player and he hits like he did in the first half of last year, the Phillies will be okay. But he can’t field well, can’t pinch hit and can’t hit lefties.
The Nats have three everyday outfielders, Morse, Werth and the new center fielder who hasn’t been traded for/signed yet. They also have Roger Bernadina and (probably) will resign Rick Ankiel. ‘
Bryce Harper will probably make it to Washington by mid-season.
So while I wish Laynce Nix well, the Nationals just don’t need his particular talents.
Reports are the 2nd year was what the Phils had to give to get him away from the Nats.
Pretty sure GM’s make depth-chart decisions based on “here’s where Center Fielder X is going to play, after we sign/trade for him”.
As a Phillies fan, I do not approve of two years for a player like Nix. One, maybe. Two, no way. Amaro always gives 1 year too many.
Solid platoon/Bench player. I like it.
Should go well with all the other mediocre bench players they’ve signed to MLB deals.
That’s why they are bench players.
thanks bro didnt know
Yet you post inane comments.
Most teams don’t have a bench full of veterans with similar skill sets locked down to MLB contracts before spring training even starts. Especially when they already have players (Francisco, Mayberry) who are better than said veterans.
Mayberry is the starter in LF. Francisco may not be tendered. Any more wise input?
Francisco is a better player than Nix, so it would be quite dumb to give a bigger commitment to Nix to replace Francisco.
Except he’s not.
you seem like a really interesting guy
why is the window in this convo getting smaller and smaller
mostly an OF but nix can play 1st base pretty well also, maybe an alternative to jim thome for that 1st few months while howards healing
Flexibility is always nice
I think Ruben’s done a good job of building our bench. I think Nix did a good job with the Nationals last year and in a part time role and should add some left handed pop to the bench.
Jim Thome, Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix. Solid additions. Other than going crazy with Papelbon (which I’m not too upset about), he’s had a good offseason.
Good addition to the bench but once again Rube gives out the extra year for no discernible reason.
It’s for a shade over $1 million dollars next year. If he sucks, you can cut him.
Jim Salisbury who broke story on Comcast sports Philly reports one year at $700,000–not two years.
link to csnphilly.com Link on $700,000 one year deal
You need to go back and Re-Read the article, says Nix signed a 1 Year deal for $700K LAST year with WAS!!
it says he made $700,000 on a one year deal with the nationals last year…btw hooked on phonics could solve your problem
link to csnphilly.com
This must signal the end of Jimmy Rollins. If the Phillies are smart they’d let him walk.
idk about that but it would seem likely raul ibanez wont be resigned now?
it might also drop the philles out of the micheal cuddyer chase
How would signing a back up outfielder to help replace Raul signal the end of Jimmy Rollins?
bye bye raul ibanez
Played against him in high school. He hit 3 bombs off of us in 2 games.
Cool story bro
I was played him in high school, and then I took an arrow to the knee
what is it with the Phillies and that weird “Y” stuck in the middle of some first names. First Jayson and now Laynce.
I can’t believe people are complaining about this deal. It’s 2 years for $2.5 million dollars! Big deal if he sucks this year they will cut him! I don’t think that will be the case as he is a very good bench/platoon player to have. I can see people arguing about Jim Thome but Ty Wigginton and now Laynce Nix, seems like some Phillies fans are never pleased. For those who don’t like the bench signing give me good REALISTIC options for someone who you would prefer on the bench.
4th outfielder who has no speed, isn’t a defensive upgrade on anyone we have right now, can’t pinch hit and if one of the regulars goes down he isn’t an everyday player and never has been. Doesn’t get on base or hit lefties at all either. I’d rather have someone with a slightly different skill set who can do some of the things you would like a 4th outfielder to do. McLouth on a 1 year deal would have worked…endy chavez maybe would at least give you some speed and defense off the bench…ankiel is the same player only can play all 3 outfield spots and can run the bases a bit better. Probably could trade a low lever prospect for other similar type players as well on other teams. This bench is full of HR or nothing hitters right now with no speed and limited defensive abilities.
Man, Phillies…way to try and upstage the Angels.
Phillies didn’t need to upstage anyone… they are coming off a 102 win season.. and we improved our bench and got one of the best closers in the game.
Angels NEEDED to improve, The Phillies needed to address some things, and have, and will continue, I doubt they are done yet.
Nix signing is a good deal. Great arm, pretty decent defensively.
And hes jacked!
& out of baseball by the time he was 32…
And has his jersey and glove in Cooperstown.
Not everyone turns an unassisted triple play, it’s not as ho-hum as a perfect game or anything…
You imply he was better when younger?
Eddie Gaedel’s stuff is in Cooperstown too. That doesn’t make him a good backup for the Phillies.
Bruntlett was the Michael Martinez of the 08-09 Phillies. Except not as good a hitter.
The Phillies should be set now.