Phillies drop outfielder Grady Sizemore

Manager Ryne Sandberg said it would be great if Grady Sizemore elected to stay with the organization if the outfielder clears waivers after being designated for assignment on Friday morning, making room for Cody Asche.

"He's a great guy, a baseball player. Good to have around," Sandberg said. "That'd be nice. It'd be a luxury to have him stay with the organization."

Sizemore batted .245 in 98 at-bats. He spent a stretch of five games earlier this month as the team's No. 3 hitter. He went 4 for 5 on May 16 but had just five hits in his next 29 at-bats before being designated for assignment. The Phillies signed Sizemore last June, a week after he was released by Boston. He has had seven surgeries since 2008.

If Sizemore passes through waivers, he can elect to become a free agent or report to triple-A Lehigh Valley. A team that claims Sizemore would be responsible for paying the rest of his one-year, $2 million deal.

"He said he was going to think about all of his options. So I think at this point anything is a possibility," Sandberg said. "He has a couple of days to think about it. But I think he showed anybody watching he can swing the bat and had some good pinch-hits off the bench."