4:06pm: USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets that Middlebrooks’ deal with Philadelphia contains a $1.2MM base salary if he makes the big league roster. The contract also has opt-out language to afford Middlebrooks the right to pursue opportunities in Asia should they arise.
3:58pm: The Phillies announced 10 minor league signees today, including one for former Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks. (SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo had previously tweeted that a match between the two sides was likely.)
Philadelphia also announced its previously reported minor league agreements with righties Pedro Beato and Steve Geltz, infielder Pedro Florimon and catcher Eric Fryer. Others joining (or re-joining) the Phils organization include catcher/infielder/outfielder Matt McBride, infielders Heiker Meneses and Mitch Walding, catcher Logan Moore and outfielder Danny Ortiz. All 10 players received invites to Major League Spring Training.
Middlebrooks and McBride are the only two newly revealed signees to bring MLB experience to the table. It’s now been five years since Middlebrooks looked to be a rising star in the Red Sox organization after hitting .288/.325/.509 with 15 homers in 286 plate appearances as a rookie. Since that time, the now-29-year-old Middlebrooks’ star has faded; he’s batted just .210/.256/.356 in 948 plate appearances split between the Red Sox, Padres, Brewers and Rangers. Last year, Middlebrooks hit .211/.231/.368 in 39 PAs with the Rangers.
McBride, 32, played in 92 games with the Rockies and A’s from 2012-16, batting a combined .201/.228/.299 in 202 PAs along the way. He does carry a lifetime .299/.343/.506 batting line in parts of eight Triple-A seasons — during which time he’s logged more than 1000 innings as a catcher, first baseman, left fielder and right fielder.
Blast from the past
This article reminded me of the scene from Major League where they are discussing all the spring training invitees.
Haha!…
“This guy here is dead!”
“Cross him off then.”
“I thought you didn’t have any high-priced talent.”
“Forgot about Dorn ’cause he’s only high-priced…”
Ill get back to you Charlie, I got a guy on the other line about some whitewalls.
more like a whiff..
Stacked!
Another big name off the board.
Don’t like this signing, why didn’t they go after Dominic Brown or Hak Ju Lee instead?
I’m sweating with excitement.
It’s funny to think back and recall that Middlebrooks and Swihart were supposed to be the foundations of a Hamels deal.
I sure thought Middlebrooks was gonna be the real deal…
I am a big Heiker Meneses fan. He was in AA with the Chattanooga Lookouts in 2015. Pretty slick fielder at 2B and seems to work hard. I have always thought he had upside to be a utility type guy in the majors
This offseason has hit a new low. What next? Rafael Palmeiro decides to make a comeback?
New low=
Mets signing Mo Vaughn to a minor league deal. It’s a unique package along with Bobby Bo who is coming to Port St. Lucie for FREE since he is already on the Mets payroll.
Mutt and Jeff announced the twin signings with the following:
“This proves that we are pulling out all stops to get back to the WS in 2018. These are two powerhouse hitters that will bolster our lackluster lineup!”
Mo Vaughn would not be a good role model for Dominic Smith.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Lots of potential ruined by Jenny Dell.
Jenny dell ruins nothing you take that back
If Jenny Dell is the consolation prize , then count me in! That is a very gorgeous , smart, and talented lady!
Gammons always used to hype him up as the second coming lol. Then again he hyped up Jeremy hermida so it’s normal for him
I think this may be the first time where the projection for 2018 is better than the last two or three years. Just saying if you look at the projections on a great majority of other top players the projection is worse for 2018 than recent years.
It’s not the first time. In fact it happens quite often because that’s how projections work. They’re based on career averages. Any guy that had a down year in 2017 will be expected to progress to the mean, while guys with above average seasons will be expected to regress. Look at any guy with a sub-par performance in 2017, like Maikel Franco, Matt Moore, Alex Gordon, etc.. You’ll see they’re all projected to be better in 2018 than 2017.
If Middlebrooks walks away right now he’s $2.5 million and a really hot wife ahead of the game
Slight error in the article: Middlebrooks and McBride are not the only 2 of the newly announced signees to have MLB experience. Danny Ortiz played in 9 games for the Pirates last year. Not a big deal but I know the writers here try to be very accurate.
So it looks like the Mexican League is out of luck
This guy reminds me of Mike Olt. (Who just signed minor league contract with Red Sox)