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Phillies Notes: Phillies sign veteran infielder Fontenot

The Phillies signed veteran infielder Mike Fontenot on Friday to provide infield depth, and his history suggests that he could be a useful reserve capable of playing three infield positions.

Infielder Miek Fontenot will report to Phillies' extended spring training next week. (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)
Infielder Miek Fontenot will report to Phillies' extended spring training next week. (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)Read more

The Phillies signed veteran infielder Mike Fontenot on Friday to provide infield depth, and his history suggests that he could be a useful reserve capable of playing three infield positions.

But he doesn't figure to displace rookie Freddy Galvis, who has impressed with his conversion from shortstop to second base in place of the injured Chase Utley.

Fontenot, who will be 32 on June 9, signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies. He was released by the San Francisco Giants on April 3.

Last season, Fontenot hit .227 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 85 games. The lefthanded batter appeared in 37 games at shortstop (33 starts), 23 at second (16 starts), and eight (1 start) at third base.

It is the versatility of the 5-foot-8, 165-pound Fontenot that makes him valuable. He also has playoff experience with the 2007 and 2008 Chicago Cubs and the 2010 World Series champion Giants.

Fontenot's career high in at-bats is 377 that came in 2009 when he hit .236 for the Cubs.

He will report to the Phillies extended spring training in Clearwater, Fla., next week.

Feeling better

Reliever Chad Qualls said he could barely walk Sunday due to a right heel injury but since then has pitched scoreless eighth innings in the wins Wednesday and Thursday over the Miami Marlins.

"It feels better," Qualls said before Friday's game. "I wouldn't say it is exactly 100 percent, but it's 90-95 percent.

"When it happened it was pretty hard to walk on. Now it feels great and doesn't hinder me at all, so I'm good."

Wright not right

 It would take an awful lot of quick healing for Mets five-time all-star third baseman David Wright to see action this weekend against the Phillies.

Wright missed his third consecutive game with a fractured right pinkie and, while he is listed as day-to-day and hopes to improve enough to play this weekend, it appears as if he has a long way to go.

"Right now it's not so much the pain. I can't functionally grip a bat or a baseball," Wright said before the game.

Versatile batter

Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino was in the leadoff position Friday for the fourth time in seven games. He has also batted second once and fifth twice.

Manager Charlie Manuel, possibly slightly exaggerating, said he could bat Victorino anywhere from one to nine.

"To have somebody like that is definitely good for your team," Manuel said. "Every team in baseball has to have one or two guys like that."

For his part, Victorino said he is indifferent to moving around in the lineup.

"Some guys like to know where they are going to hit and stay there. But for me personally it doesn't matter," Victorino said. "Having the opportunity to be in the lineup is what matters and making most of that opportunity is what is important."