Phils release outfielder Nate Schierholtz

Outfielder Nate Schierholtz became a free agent when the Phillies declined to offer him a contract before Friday's deadline for salary arbitration-eligible players.

The Phillies acquired Schierholtz from the San Francisco Giants as part of the Hunter Pence deal at last season's trade deadline. Schierholtz, 28, had hoped the move to Philadelphia would serve as an opportunity to become an everyday player.

Instead, he suffered a fractured big toe two weeks into his brief tenure with the Phillies and the opportunity he was hoping for never materialized. In 37 games with the Phillies, he batted .273 with four doubles, one home run, and five RBIs. The home run came in his first game with the Phillies, at Washington.

Schierholtz made $1.3 million last season and would have been eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this offseason.

The decision to let Schierholtz walk means that catcher Tommy Joseph and pitcher Seth Rosin are the only remaining players from the deal that resulted in a World Series title for Pence.

Six outfielders remain on the 40-man roster: Domonic Brown, Darin Ruf, John Mayberry Jr., Tyson Gillies, Laynce Nix, and Zach Collier. Gillies and Collier have almost no chance of making the roster out of spring training.

The only other Phillies eligible for salary arbitration were infielder Kevin Frandsen and pitcher Antonio Bastardo.

Frandsen signed a one-year, $850,000 deal earlier this month and Bastardo was tendered a contract Friday, which means he will remain with the Phillies.