Phillies add Yuniesky Betancourt for depth
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Phillies add Yuniesky Betancourt for depth
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Phillies signed Yuniesky Betancourt, a light-hitting veteran middle infielder, to a minor-league deal Monday. He is invited to big-league spring training, where a chance at a bench job could await.
More than likely, Betancourt will simply provide depth if he agrees to a triple-A assignment. The 30-year-old has spent parts of eight seasons with Seattle, Kansas City and Milwaukee. He has not played in the minors since 2005, save for rehab assignments.
Of course, if the Phillies must rely on Betancourt for anything more than depth, they could be in deep trouble. Betancourt is an out-making machine who has not posted an OPS above .692 in five seasons.
Betancourt's career on-base percentage of .290 is 11th worst in the Expansion Era (since 1961) among players with at least 3,800 plate appearances.
He has played 949 career games at shortstop, and that's what sets him apart from much of the infield depth the Phillies will have in spring training. Kevin Frandsen, who signed for $850,000 guaranteed, cannot play shortstop. Freddy Galvis is the best defender there, but the Phillies could decide he's best suited playing every day at triple A.
Pete Orr, a camp invitee, has limited work at short. Michael Martinez can play there but has his own offensive liabilities. He'll be in camp, too. Andres Blanco was triple-A Lehigh Valley's shortstop in 2012 and he will also be in camp.
Betancourt made $2 million in 2012 but did not finish the season with Kansas City. He was released Aug. 14 and cleared waivers.
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trade or sell howard put ruff at first.
keep tyler cloud. only needs to know how to waste a pitch— Lew Klein- Hey! They are making a singles hitting team so Manger Manel can play more small ball. hehe— MooseBreathMints
- Booben will have this team in last place in no time— stayoutofphilly
- I believe this signing is insurance that Freddie Galvis has taken a few steps backward as his winter ball stats suggest.— RunningTheBases
- Keyboard freeze there ... What stats are you looking at? Galvis hit .300/.351/.432 in winter ball. And he'd be on the bench for his defense anyway. — s
- S ... I believe that you have just been trolled. Shame on you. :)
— zubzub - Year â–ľAge Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP
2012 30 KCR AL 57 228 215 21 49 14 1 7 36 0 1 9 25 .228 .256
2011 29 MIL NL 152 584 556 51 140 27 3 13 68 4 4 16 63 .252 .271
2010 28 KCR AL 151 588 556 60 144 29 2 16 78 2 3 23 64 .259 .288— MooseBreathMints - I believe the Phillies could start Darin Ruf at Lehigh Valley even though they could use his power from the right-hand side. The signing of Young almost tells you Ruf will play every day at Lehigh Valley as the Phillies struggle to mix-and-match Nix/Mayberry/Brown/Young. Ruf will be promoted to Philly when they think he is ready to play everyday. I think they don't want him to lose confidence. But, that is only my best guess. I think the Phillies management believe a Cuddyer or Willingham might become available during the season, and we can only hope.— RunningTheBases
- Calling Steve Jeltz! Calling Steve Jeltz!— gakski
- Guys, Michael Martinez and Pete Orr have minor league contracts. They have no effect on the major league roster unless there are so many injuries or they play so well in spring training the Phillies offer them major league contracts. Same thing with Betancourt.
Personally, I'd carry both Galvis and Frandsen on the bench but that's just me and it pushes one of the outfielders out of the picture. We may see Delmon Young start the season on the DL coming off his ankle surgery so it's not an issue up front.— s - It seems that the only criteria that the Philloies use in deciding to sign a player is salary. With the highest attendance in the majors, they sign over-the -hill players who can't field, surely bigots who can't field, and utility players who either can't hit or can't field. If Halliday, Lee, and Hamels have good years and their bullpen is decent, they may play .500 ball. When will they begin to sign good players who other teams want and when will their farm system start turning out good players? Do they have a master plan other than to fill positions with the cheapest players?— Drumgoole
- Bat this clunker after JPop and before Howard, and you'll have a guaranteed three outs every time.— orange rhino
- What time is the parade?— Ssteve115
- Cholly will see a veteran and decide to keep him around for his wisdom of the game. cholly hates to let the young guys get a legit shot.— FunCakes
