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Phillies bring back Grady Sizemore

Looking toward a thin free-agent outfield market and a lack of major-league-ready prospects, the Phillies extended one of their own on Thursday by signing Grady Sizemore to a one-year contract.

Grady Sizemore scores the winning run against Houston on Aug. 5. (YONG KIM / Staff Photographer)
Grady Sizemore scores the winning run against Houston on Aug. 5. (YONG KIM / Staff Photographer)Read more

Looking toward a thin free-agent outfield market and a lack of major-league-ready prospects, the Phillies extended one of their own on Thursday by signing Grady Sizemore to a one-year contract.

Sizemore, 32, joined the team in June after he was released by Boston. He missed the 2012 and 2013 seasons after back and knee surgeries. The lefty has undergone seven surgeries in four years.

His contract is for $2 million and includes performance bonuses. Sizemore played all three outfield positions and hit .253 in 60 games, including 14 extra-base hits. He went 4 for 41 (.098) in September.

The Phillies avoided arbitration with Cesar Jimenez by signing the lefthander to a one-year contract. The 29-year-old pitched in 16 games, all in relief, and posted a 1.69 earned run average last season.

Sizemore's signing gives the Phillies five outfielders, but the landscape could change this winter. The Phillies will look to trade Domonic Brown and they remain in the mix to land Cuban free-agent Yasmany Tomas.

Brown hit .235 this season. If he remains with the team, he is slated to start alongside Ben Revere and Marlon Byrd. Sizemore is expected to join Darin Ruf as the team's reserve outfielders.

The New York Daily News reported this week that the Phillies are "serious contenders" to land Tomas. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. traveled to the Dominican Republic in September to scout Tomas in a private workout. The report said that Tomas, a righty, could receive a $100 million contract.

@matt_breen