The Diamondbacks have signed infielder Kevin Frandsen to a Minor League contract and assigned him to Triple-A Reno, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter). Frandsen is a client of All Bases Covered Sports Management.
Frandsen, 32, spent the 2014 season serving as a utility infield option for the Nationals. In 236 plate appearances with Washington, he batted .259/.299/.309 and appeared at second base, third base, first base and in left field. The Nats tendered a contract to Frandsen this offseason and agreed to a $1MM salary, but the team released him late in Spring Training.
Frandsen can serve as a depth option for the D-Backs, as he has experience at all four infield positions as well as both corner outfield spots. With Jake Lamb set to miss a few weeks due to a stress reaction in his foot, it’s possible that Frandsen could find his way onto the big league roster in the near future.
nice depth move
Frandsen wasn’t as spectacular with the nats as he was with the Phils in 2013, but that slash line is still better than the likes of Dan Uggla.
this is probably a placeholder move because they aren’t ready to promote a prospect (either due to readiness or service time considerations)
Fran will give you 100% and has a good bench presence. His BA/OBp last year with the Nats is about what you expect from a bench player. The Phils wanted to bring him back last year but had to stash him away at AAA for a bit. He refused and became a FA.