The Phillies agreed to a minor-league deal last week with T.J. Rivera, as first reported by Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter). No other terms are known, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the former Mets’ infielder secured an invite to MLB spring training.
Rivera, now 31, hasn’t seen MLB action since a September 2017 Tommy John Surgery. Before that injury, he had done fairly well as a role player in Queens, slashing .304/.335/.445 (109 wRC+), while logging time at first, second, third and in left field. He’s never been one to draw many walks or hit for much power, but he perennially put the ball in play in the minors and ran a minuscule 14.2% strikeout rate over his 344 MLB plate appearances.
Rivera latched on with the Nationals on a minor-league deal last August, but an undisclosed injury limited him to fifteen games in AA. He’ll try to earn a spot as a right-handed utility option off Joe Girardi’s bench, much like Phil Gosselin, whom the Phillies also recently signed to a minor-league deal.
It’s been a huge winter for Bryce Harper’s headband.
Next winter should be huge for J,T, Realmuto. It’s just him and Mookie Betts.
That’s Bitterman, Troll Bitterman…
FELONY FRAUD!
Maybe the Phillies can trade Harper to the Giants for Joey Bart?
Yeah, maybe…
TJ had some nice little runs for the Mets.
I’m having some right now. Too much eggnog.
Good luck
nice signing. he has the potential to hit a lot better than anyone on last year’s bench.
Last year’s bench was one of the biggest problems with the team. Depth is what the Phillies really lacked. So I’m with you. I like this move. They still need a lot more, but this helps.
Potential as am OB guy but notucj More
That’s why they signed him to a minor league deal.
That’s all they need here. Bench depth.
Welcome to Lehigh Valley TJ.
How about re-sign Brad Miller and his left handed pop, Jose Iglesias and his great glove and great range up the middle as insurance and Billy Hamilton and his amazing baserunning and defensive metrics as the 26th man. I like Roman Quinn in that true CF/pinch runner role but he hasn’t stayed healthy for even one season since cracking the majors. Even Todd Frazier would be a nice bench bat that can back up Kingery at 3B if we want to move Kingery around the diamond and provides insurance at 1B for Hoskins. Right handed pop off the bench
No Todd Frazier please.
It’s ridiculous that a team with no natural 3B or CF expects to compete.
For some reason, call me crazy,I think if Odubel breaks camp and starts in CF that maybe he has a great year. Maybe the arrest and suspension put some perspective into that brain of his and he’ll come in focused and determined to prove himself. Sometimes it takes people to hit their rock bottom before they can fully live up to their potential, not only on the field, but in life.
Seth Ator hit rock bottom.
Dirt floor, hard and dry.
Perhaps. Herrera is the best option, but everything I read makes it seem like it’s Haseley’s job to lose. I wish they’d keep Dickerson and maybe try Cutch out in CF.
Couldn’t agree more. They have Bruce, who would be a great bat off the bench then. Keep Dickerson, Bruce on the bench, Cutch in CF
Not bad for an UDFA from the Bronx via Troy University!
I think if TJ is healthy the Phillies fans will appreciate his versatility and the steady approach he brings to his at-bats. He was the fill-in for David Wright and handled himself well, and then could slide over and cover second or first base too. Too bad the Mets have no loyalty to their players. But then again, they would need to announce that they have won a grievance against Robbie Cano for not hustling and save $10M on his contract before they sign anyone else.
Good time to interject a question:Where is the billions in Comcast money that was supposed to have kicked in by now? In another MLB Rumors post here regarding the Braves…there is similar speculation about billions in TV money they will be receiving from Fox. It was reported over the last few years that a windfall was on the horizon for the Phillies but facts seem to demonstrate otherwise. If Comcast purchased years of TV rights , it would stand to reason that they desire and require a winner on the field.. The Dodgers have a lucrative TV agreement. They go out and assemble a winner without hesitation. Are we dupes for believing that a TV windfall was on it’s way? So ingenuous. Where is the Philly media on this subject. Every outlet whether it be NBC Philly Sports, Inquirrer, Atheletic, and WIP to name a few have gone missing. Pressure to improve does not exist in Philadelphia.
The Phillies TV deal is in three parts:
1)Cash
2)25% ownership of the NBCComcast Philly sports network
3) huge cut of advertising revenue on games
Parts two and three are not subject to MLB taxation and thus they go up just about every year as live sports still provide the best opportunity for advertiser eyeballs.
The Phillies TV deal over its lifespan is very close to the valuation of the Dodgers.
The Phillies signed Harper last year. Wheeler & Didi this year. What exactly do you want from them?
RENDON
GERRIT COLE
Rebuild is a total fail.
I mean, you ain’t wrong about the rebuild. It was a complete failure. How many prospects with the Braves loss? Like 12? Their farm system is still great. Could you imagine how much better they be if they weren’t stripped of those prospects? It’s scary to think
did the Braves lose* I meant to say