According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies have signed Jayson Werth to a contract, pending a physical. The outfielder turns 28 in May; he was nontendered by the Dodgers.
Werth played in the Baltimore and Toronto systems before a trade to L.A. He plays all three outfield positions. He was actually a catcher with Baltimore and considered a backup at times in L.A. Perhaps the Phillies would pursue the idea once again.
He’s had plenty of injury problems: a strain in ’03, an oblique strain, two cracked ribs, and a torn elbow ligament in ’04, a broken wrist from an A.J. Burnett heater in ’05, a sore knee that same year, wrist surgery that winter, and a second wrist surgery last August. Whew.
Werth got Major League offers from the Cards and Padres as well this winter. He’ll join Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand, Jeff Conine, and Shane Victorino in the Phillie outfield if healthy. The signing might add some flexibility for a trade.
