Phillies sign Blanco
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Phillies sign Blanco
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Phillies and Nationals are trading castoffs all of a sudden.
Andres Blanco, a 27-year-old utility infielder, signed a minor-league deal with the Phillies on Saturday, two days after he was released by Washington.
Blanco will report to minor-league camp later Saturday, but he stands a chance to play in Philadelphia this season. In 32 Grapefruit League at-bats with the Nationals, Blanco had two hits and scored three runs.
Upon his release earlier in the week, Washington manager Davey Johnson remarked the Phillies would have interest in Blanco.
The Phillies are scouring the market for any bench upgrades, but it appears Pete Orr (a former National) could enter the season as the utility infielder. Michael Martinez, plucked from the Washington organization last winter in the Rule 5 draft, has a broken foot and will miss at least the first month of the season.
San Francisco released Mike Fontenot on Friday, but he is still owed approximately $700,000 from his $1.05 million deal. The Phillies, according to a baseball source, had talks with Cincinnati about Paul Janish, who is making $850,000 in 2012.
But the team is at or beyond the luxury tax threshold of $178 million, and could decide the utility infield job is best filled cheaply. If they're going to go over the limit, it could be for more important costs.
Blanco, a native Venezuelan, is a career .255 hitter in 235 major-league games over six seasons. He hit .224/.263/.342 for Texas in 82 at-bats last season while playing shortstop, third base, second base and right field. He's known as a slick fielder.
Former Phillies Jayson Werth and Brad Lidge will make the Nationals. Chad Durbin, a nonroster player, has a chance to be in the bullpen. Washington also cut Jason Michaels earlier in the week.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Should have kept Wilson Valdez but he was making much more than minimum wage so out the door he went. They figured reserve infielders were interchangeable and all minimum wagers. Now they're finding that's not the case. This will cost them another 4-6 games in the standings come October. Idiots.— Richie Allen- Surely, sir, you are not suggesting that the loss of Wilson Valdez will mean a reduction of 4-6 wins for the Phillies. The man is a utility infielder for a reason. He has been with seven teams in seven seasons for a reason. I always attempt to look beyond statistics when evaluating a player, but in this case it seems necessary (I also urge you to view his career statistics). Valdez is the absolute walking definition of "non-factor". It would be futile to argue otherwise. Just a little too much hoopla for the 24th man on the roster. Many people like to argue that he did the "little things", but "little things" also don't show up in box scores for a reason. — CornerPretzelGuy
- I love soft pretzels...career stats for part time players are virtually meaningless. And Valdez was the BEST hitter on the team last year with runners in scoring position. And his fielding is second to none. That's what the Phillies are going to miss this year. Get ready for our worst-fielding infield in the last 20 years in 2012. It's hard to win championships with that going against you.
- With your logic, Valdez should bebatting 3rd or 4th...not 8th. Valdez only played a lot because of injuries. — mwcnabb
- Blanco = Zippo— shawnmac
- Would love to know the details behind the speculation that the Phils are at the luxury tax threshold which is a good story in itself. In particular, it would be interesting to know when a team is compliant with the luxury tax -- when the first pitch is thrown (some teams have already started their season) or when.— Claudio Vernight
- I won't be upset about paying the minimum for bench depth if Cole is signed to a long term deal. They have a lot of good players under a lot of big contracts (and some mediocre and/or hurt but the contracts are still big). I know they print money at the Bank but there has to be some limit to the payroll.— TongueWagger
- I would have preferred Fontenot. Better player than Valdez. Galvis looks good at 2nd. Problem is Phills lineup for 40 or so games will have Schneider, Galvis and pitcher at bottom.— Don w
- The Wilson Valdez move looks worse every day!— BEMiller
- Fontenot would be nice but I guess he's out because he only plays second base.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- amaro's trade of valdez was moronic.— psualum
- Amaros trades lean way in favor of great moves. You can't win every one. Sheesh...Does your boss micro-manage you like that?— Hatfield_ham
What was with that comment at the end "Former Phillies Jayson Werth and Brad Lidge will make the Nationals." I mean was there any chance Werth wasn't going to make the team? The guy is owed 126 million.
— KINGOFZED- Too many comments on the trade of Valdez. If the Phillies had to rely on him to be a key player we would be chasing the Mets for 6th place.— oakmontleo
- Pray that nothing happens to Chooch, I'll find it difficult watching Schneider hitting a robust .150 all season.— younged
