Phillies invite 12 to spring training
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Phillies invite 12 to spring training
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Most of the names on here you already know. But the Phillies have officially announced 12 players that will be invited to spring training on minor league deals. More will come in the future.
The break-downs of each player are courtesy of Phils' PR whiz Kevin Gregg.
Josh Barfield, INF … Barfield, 27, spent last season with triple-A Portland in the San Diego Padres organization where he batted .294 with five home runs and 36 RBI in 78 games. For his major league career, he has hit .264 with 16 home runs and 112 RBI in 309 games between the Padres (2006) and Cleveland Indians (2007-09). Barfield’s father, Jesse, spent 12 seasons in the majors between the Blue Jays and Yankees from 1981-92.
Eddie Bonine, RHP … The 29-year-old Bonine spent his first full season in the major leagues with Detroit where he went 4-1 with a 4.63 ERA in 47 appearances (one start). A Rule 5 draft selection of the Tigers in 2005, Bonine set career highs in wins, appearances and innings (68.0) in 2010. In 62 career appearances in the majors, he has posted a 7-3 record with a 4.74 ERA.
Tagg Bozied, INF/OF … In 104 games for double-A Reading last season, Bozied, 31, batted .315 and led all Phillies minor leaguers with 27 home runs and 92 RBI. The Eastern League All-Star also led the league in batting average, on-base percentage (.402) and slugging percentage (.631). Bozied appeared at both first and third base as well as left and right field for Reading.
Ryan Feierabend, LHP … Feierabend, 25, spent last season between three levels of the Seattle Mariners organization after missing the entire 2009 season due to “Tommy John” surgery. In 2010, he appeared in 25 games (24 starts) and went 5-8 with a 5.14 ERA between triple-A Tacoma, double-A West Tennessee and single-A High Desert. Feierabend has appeared in 25 major league games (19 starts), all for Seattle (2006-08).
Erik Kratz, C … In 70 games last season for triple-A Indianapolis in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Kratz, 30, hit .274 with nine home runs and 41 RBI. The native of Telford, PA, batted .336 over a 36-game span in May and June to earn a promotion to Pittsburgh in July. Kratz collected two hits in his big league debut, July 17 against Houston.
Jeff Larish, INF … Larish, 28, split last season between four teams in the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics organizations. He began the year with triple-A Toledo and appeared in three games with the Tigers in late July before being claimed off waivers by the A’s on August 3. After playing in eight games with triple-A Sacramento, he finished the season with the A’s where he appeared in 24 contests. Following the season, Larish, a .224 hitter with eight home runs and 32 RBI in 101 major league games, played for Leones del Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Dan Meyer, LHP … A native of Woodbury, N.J., Meyer, 29, spent last year in the Florida Marlins organization. He spent the majority of the season with triple-A New Orleans where he went 1-2 with two saves and a 3.38 ERA in 32 games. In 2009, Meyer appeared in a career-best 71 games for the Marlins, posting a 3.09 ERA and holding opponents to a .219 batting average. For his major league career, he has gone 3-9 with two saves and a 5.46 ERA in 103 games (seven starts) for Atlanta (2004), Oakland (2007-08) and Florida (2009-10).
Matt Miller, OF … A Pacific Coast League All-Star in 2010, Miller, 27, hit .325 with 10 home runs and 81 RBI in 136 games for triple-A Colorado Springs. He led the team in hits (165) and runs scored (90) and finished second in RBI. Miller finished the season with a .345 batting average with runners in scoring position.
Brandon Moss, OF … Moss, 27, spent the majority of the 2010 season with triple-A Indianapolis where he batted .266 with 22 home runs and 96 RBI in 136 games. He led the team in several offensive categories including hits (133), home runs, RBI and runs scored (73). In 2008, Moss was a part of the three-team trade between the Red Sox, Dodgers and Pirates that included Manny Ramirez and Jason Bay. For his major league career, Moss has hit .238 with 15 home runs and 78 RBI in 244 games between the Red Sox (2007-08) and Pirates (2008-10).
Pete Orr, INF … Orr, 31, hit .264 with 12 home runs and 45 RBI in 137 games for triple-A Syracuse in the Washington Nationals organization. He led the team in hits (129), doubles (32) and runs scored (63). For his major league career, Orr has hit .260 with three home runs and 35 RBI in 347 games for the Braves (2005-07) and Nationals (2008-09).
Juan Perez, LHP … The 32-year-old Perez spent last season with triple-A Albuquerque in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization where he was 4-3 with one save and a 2.96 ERA in 45 appearances. For his major league career, he is 0-1 with a 5.17 ERA in 24 games for Pittsburgh (2006-07). Perez is currently pitching for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League.
Dane Sardinha, C … Sardinha, 31, was also a non-roster invitee to Phillies spring training in 2010. He spent the majority of his season with triple-A Lehigh Valley where he hit .207 with five home runs and 24 RBI in 67 games. Sardinha also appeared in 13 games for the Phillies and belted his first major league home run in his debut with the team on June 24 against Cleveland.
Tagg Bozied: Phils need him on big league roster because of his name alone.— smel4727- Good for Tagg - you never know if it could work out for him one way or another, a la Chris Coste. He had some value for the Phils for part of the time he was around.— B in DC
- ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ— djw26
- Brandon Moss is a wild card. He was the center of that Bay deal with the pirates. Obviously he never worked out but hey very low risk possible reward of some kind.— Phillyphan26
- They are all too old. Maybe they need people for Triple-A, the final resting place for those who don't quite have enough talent.— 4thand10
- Desaun and Jeremmy - Speed
With John Mayberry and now Josh Barfield, the Phillies will be able to call on two not-quite-talented-enough sons of talented fathers.- Pete Orr is a "ballplayer" Prob AAA for the whole year but always good to add guys that play hard and show some passion— Nails
djw26, you just showed all of us how much you know about building a 25 man roster. A year ago at this time you would have read the name Wilson Valdez being invited to camp. Do the Phillies with the NL without him? Doubt it. Good teams have good scouts who pick up one or two gems each years. These aren't guys destined for Cooperstown. But they are the guys who give a team the depth they need for a 162 game season. Maybe Bozied will make it and maybe he won't. Wouldn't it be nice to have a guy with some power hitting near .300 coming off the bench or perhaps replacing our current left fielder? The Phillies are doing things the way good teams do them. They scout thoroughly and give these guys a chance in spring training and at AAA. All it takes is one of these guys coming through and it can make a huge difference. Just like Wilson Valdez did.- By the way, if you need a reason to root for Bozied (other than the fact that he might be the right handed power that the Phillies need), take a look at http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-02-21/sports/17189826_1_tagg-bozied-flight-home-usf
- Hey Murph- Whatever happened to Taveras? Has he completely fallen off the radar? Strange to see a guy with his speed decline so quickly
