Josh Fields is first minor-league signing
Six seasons ago, Josh Fields was a 24-year-old rookie third baseman who mashed 23 home runs in 100 games and a future cornerstone of the Chicago White Sox. You know, the kind of guy the Phillies currently dream of to fill a gaping hole.
Josh Fields is first minor-league signing
Matt Gelb
Six seasons ago, Josh Fields was a 24-year-old rookie third baseman who mashed 23 home runs in 100 games and a future cornerstone of the Chicago White Sox. You know, the kind of guy the Phillies currently dream of to fill a gaping hole.
He has played in 103 major-league games since 2007, been labeled as a first-round bust, and is now property of the Phillies as he attempts to revive a career that has taken him from Arkansas to Japan to Albuquerque.
Fields is the Phillies' first minor-league free agent signing, as reported by Baseball America. He'll come to spring training looking to win a bench job but is probably ticketed for triple-A Lehigh Valley for depth.
It's depth, though, at a position of need.
Fields, who turns 30 in two weeks, has not appeared in a major-league game since 2010 with Kansas City. Before that charmed 2007 season, he was rated the 45th best prospect in baseball by Baseball America. He was a two-sport star at Oklahoma State and set all sorts of passing records since broken by Brandon Weeden.
Fields spent all of last season at the Dodgers' triple-A affiliate and raked in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League to the tune of .322/.392/.488. He played at third base a majority of the time.
The Phillies think they hit on Kevin Frandsen, a player with a similar trajectory. Maybe Fields can emulate that success. Maybe not.
And that was 236 words on Josh Fields. Happy Black Friday.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Slow news day?— 1republican- Understand Mikael Franco said he was told he was going to Reading in 2013, jumping CLW. Then have to assume Asche heads for LHV. So Josh Fields does some DH/1B and 3rd?????? — Romus
- I can see why you call yourself "#1" - I only wish you hadn't attached it to the word republican. Matt - I thank you for ANY words.— dwp66
- Aa opposed to what, 1FraudulentVoter? — RRinVA
- Pathetic phoned in faux article of zero content, acknowledged by the writer himself, as if this was some type of contrition or confession, exacted by his bosses.
I want to know what ownership, you know, our "phantom ownership" with their front man Montgomery, will do with the megabucks they earned for years of being cheap, non-spenders, before CBP, built on taxpayer money made them all very rich. Lets see them spend real money, scoff at the luxury tax, and also learn to trust the homegrown talent you haven't even seen yet, like Asche or Gillies.
On a final note, the reason I post here is RRinVA, who should stay in his backward Republican world of Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly, and that empty echo chamber of conservatism. This was one of the largest wins in popular voting, and the true scary and pathetic part is that these fools actually believe what they write. I practice in a world which demands proofs and evidence, professionally that is. Try imposing that standard on these zealots and "true believers". Their defenses are downright frightening. Hey RR, if you want a conspiracy, try looking at Bush morphing 9/11 to the neocon objectives of starting a war in Iraq, and the outright lie of WMD. Wake up you neocon frauds. - Nice signing for the organization. Will be an excellent addition for LV or if he has an impressive spring training could turn some heads. Have to be concerned that the LAD didnt re-sign him with their lack of depth at 3B.— argonne
- Dear friend: after the Andrew Bynum damaged goods trade for our Sixers, would you ever trust again any player from a Los Angeles sports organization??? — TEDcGEGI
- world series here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— Bernard Washabaugh
- Looks like Cody Asche will have to spend another year in the minor league camp and then at AA. Only 22 years old; way too young to play for this Major league team. Yet other teams like the O's, the Rangers, the Nationals and the Tigers start players younger than Asche in the post season. But not the Phillies. Can't wait for the next free agent signings. LOL!— Dull
- Right again. Asche will be here around 28 or so. — dmn
- another 30 year old player, a pick from scap pile, nice work amaro— Ed Hartwell
- Hey, Victorino came from the Dodgers as a cast off. I like the signing. I'm also glad they're not jumping out and opening the vault for the big names out there now.— cupajoe
- OK, then Werth. — commenter1111
- Hey, Ed- it is organizational depth. Not like they signed this guy to a 5 year 120 Million deal. Take some Pepto and lighten up.— Nigel#1
