The Phillies announced Friday that they’ve signed infielder Sean Rodriguez to a minor league contract and invited him to Major League Spring Training. Rodriguez is represented by MVP Sports.
Rodriguez, 34 in April, has struggled over the past two seasons after turning in a strong showing with the Pirates in 2016. Back in ’16, Rodriguez posted a very strong .270/.349/.510 slash with 18 homers in just 342 plate appearances while playing all over the diamond in Pittsburgh. That led him to sign a two-year contract with the Braves in the offseason, but a shoulder injury suffered in a frightening car accident that winter wiped out the majority of his 2017 season.
Rodriguez was eventually traded back to Pittsburgh, but the struggles he had in Atlanta continued in his return to the Bucs. In all, over the past two seasons, he’s batted a combined .167/.277/.305 through 326 trips to the plate. He’ll give his new organization some depth at second base, third base, shortstop and in the outfield corners.
At present, the Phillies have Maikel Franco, Jean Segura, Cesar Hernandez and Rhys Hoskins lined up around the infield, with Andrew McCutchen and Nick Williams penciled in as the corner outfielders. Those mixes, however, could change — and, perhaps more accurately, will change — as the Phils are widely expected to land either Manny Machado or Bryce Harper before the offseason draws to a close.
Another former Pirate
I hope they’re well-stocked with Gatorade coolers.
Good signing. Now the Phillies need Harper, Kimbrel and another starting pitcher. The team definitely looks better than last season.
The Phillies are still a bum club
Everyone hates haters, and trolls. Just admit your scared of them, and wish your team made these moves. That’s all you had to say, we would’ve understood
Good assessment he’s an idiot….I don’t however like the cutch and Sean signing Sean won’t make the team but welcome citizens bank JT
Amen
It’s a minor league signing… if he doesn’t make the team than so what. Literally zero downside to those deals ever yet people on here continue to show ignorance daily expecting their team to sign 6 harpers every offseason
I personally don’t care if we sign Harper or machado I’d rather sign moustakas and than keuchel
you mean…
I wished the Padres signed Carlos Sanatana and then traded him away a year later and ate a portion of his contract?
Hosmer though…now that guy is doing some stuff…
The Hosmer contract will never hurt the Padres
Well said, even though i’m not a Phil’s fan. Grew up a pirates fan in the late ’70’s and the Braves were my adopted team (grandma had cable & watched a lot of TBS).
Um No…sign Harper and Keuchel.
Amen , lefty starter and moose.let’s go! Yeah baby.
Preach, phillyphil1, agree 1000%
I agree, I saw the potential lineup. Had McCucthen leading off lol, Segura second, Realmuto batting third. That might be a weaker 1-2-3 than the Padres right now… 5-8 hitters are still not good. Hernandez, Herrera, Williams/Altherr, and Franco.
Arrieta is not a #2 anymore, he looks like a 4-5 guy on a playoff club
^^ nice troll job^^
Those are the players in the line-up, I’m not trolling Philly fans…the GM of the Phillys is trolling fans by these signings
Wut? They’ve got a incredibly deep lineup. The one grip I’ve seen with potential lineups is a need for a LH power bat. Harper imo fits the team better than Machado.
Cutch
Segura
Harper
Hoskins
Realmuto
Herrera
Hernandez
Franco
SP
With or without Harper that’s a pretty deep lineup for the 8 games at best where teams use their optimal lineup during the season. Rarely do teams ever use their optimal lineup during the entire year more than a handful of times. Focus is on getting gets a rest and using platoons.
Sorry,without Harper that is not a deep line-up….
Yea, I don’t know where you “saw” that other than in some Meth induced fever dream….But nearly any rationale Philly report has either Segura or Hernandez slotted as the leadoff guy. Cutch’s leadoff days are numbered, and while the Yanks had him in their a few times last year he is most certainly NOT gonna do much leadoff for these Phils.
Notice I said “much” as Kapler likes to dabble with weird lineups from time to time.
DEFINITELY more excited for the Phils this year than I have been in awhile.
It’s a nice feeling, and they’re not done yet 🙂
Oh Juggy!
Oh, I figure signing SeanRod takes them out of the Harper/Machado derby.
nice, another guy that will give them negative WAR as an injury replacement at some point.
I’m not sure WAR is a good measurement for versatile players like Rodriguez.
With teams carrying 12, 13 pitchers, having a guy like Rodriguez on the roster gives them the flexibility to carry a less versatile, but better player, on the active roster.
Your opening line got people triggered.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
you mean Harper or Machado haven’t signed yet
finally sean rodriguez signed, let the harper and machado dominoes fall now.
Lmao
Haha. Established the market!
Thought he retired?
I would have signed Adam Rosales.
Not quite Harper or Machado but…
Seems like a good fit for Kapler. He can move around and be useful in double switches, if he pulls a P crazy early.
After his 18 HRs back in 16 his swing got very pull happy yet his stance remained far from the plate. If he goes back to going with the pitch he’ll still have decent pop and better results. Easier said than done I know.
Bounce back candidate, at least for a modest, yet productive role. The car accident before last season really seemed to affect him all year. Versatile guy.
Great guy. Doubt he does, but I hope he makes the club.
Phillies have NO pitching, Mets will dominate them in that category.
So a pitcher who finishes 3rd in the NL CY voting …. quantifies as “NO” pitching? What about bullpens? Depth goes to the Phillies imo.
The Mets vs the Phillies last season were 11-8, even with all the “dominating” pitching the Mets had. Phillies are greatly improved, Mets have improved, going to be a closer battle than you think with or without BH/MM being added to the Phillies. Keep an eye on the Phillies SP, you’re in for a rude surprise if you believe the Phillies have NO pitching.
Nice troll job
Oh Neems!
Harper is looking for 10 years, 300 mil. What are the offers and who does he want to play for? If it is a done deal with the Nats or Phillies, why is it taking so long?
I think you should ask him. One could make an educated guess that no one is offering what he thinks he is worth. He can easily wait it out until a week before the season starts.
Harper 7 years 350 mill. Done!
The guy kills the Cards. I’m glad he’s not in the Central
Sean Rodriguez man-bun = gross!
Any guy with a man-bun = gross!
Clean it up meat!
We all make mistakes.
By all reports over the last several years S-Rod is a great teammate & clubhouse guy. However, the problems are many. Besides the low batting average last year, he struck out a ton, and kicked balls all over the field when he wasn’t relegated to only pinch-hitting duties.
Dont you already know what he is by now? At 35, what’s the point of bringing him in? Theres a better 25 yr old out there somewhere. Heck a better 15 yr old.