The Phillies have signed infield Yairo Munoz to a minor league deal, per the team’s transactions log at MLB.com. Munoz was outrighted off Boston’s 40-man roster in October and elected minor league free agency at season’s end, making him eligible to sign during the lockout.
Munoz, 27, has seen action in each of the past four MLB seasons, but with his playing time diminishing each year. After playing 108 games for the Cardinals in 2018, that went down to 88 in 2019. Munoz had shown some potential over those two seasons, slashing .273/.331/.391, with strikeout and walk rates of 21.2% and 7.3%. However, before the 2020 season, the Cardinals released Munoz when he left the team during spring training and flew home without notifying the club, reportedly dissatisfied with his lack of playing time.
He signed with the Red Sox a few weeks later and saw sporadic big league action with them over the past couple of seasons, 12 games in 2020 and five games last year. But in 88 Triple-A games last year, he hit .308/.340/.444, with a meager 4.2% walk rate but striking out in just 14.2% of his plate appearances. That amounted to a wRC+ of 109, along with 18 stolen bases to boot.
Munoz primarily lined up at third base last year, though also saw some time at second base, shortstop and all three outfield spots. For the Phillies, this is a no-risk way to improve their depth by taking a flier on a player who has some MLB experience but is still relatively young. They have some uncertainty in their infield mix, given the struggles of Alec Bohm and Didi Gregorius last year. If either player carries those struggles into the future, Munoz could be in line for another shot at the show. Along the same lines, the Phils also signed Johan Camargo to a major league deal just before the lockout began in early December.
Red Sox triple A consecutive games with a hit record holder
Get upstairs and make your bed. Go outside with the other kids and get some exercise. Staying in that basement all day responding to inane roster moves is sad.
I remember when this guy up and left camp? Officially closed the books on the Stephen Piscotty trade. Good Luck Yario Munoz
Hippytripper, you remember that closing the book on the Piscotty trade? You must have had inside info that the Cubs were going to make that claim on Max Shrock from the Cards 6 months later.
Did the Red Sox actually cut him or did he just decide it was time for a vacation?
Munoz left the Cardinals spring training.
Munoz was a minor league free agent. The Red Sox resigned him after 2020, but not after 2021.
good move by the Phillies
He’ll probably get a real chance there, whereas Boston shortchanged him and gave him less than a handful of games, even letting that rule 5 dude Arauz have more than him.
Munoz gives it all he’s got, might swing at about everything, but makes enough contact and plays enough positions to be a valuable utility piece for someone not named boston evidently. For them the IF utility piece must have sawdust for a bat.
If he ends up playing in Philly, it’s likely because something went really wrong with Bohm.
How much for a one way ticket from Clearwater to the DR? Asking for a friend.
Better than Camargo
Camargo is a WORLD CHAMPION.
Camargo has a ring but his contributions were irrelevant. He’s one of the laziest players in the game.
For the record, Johan Camargo has more World Series rings than Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Fernando Tatis Jr., Aaron Judge and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. combined.
You take Camargo, I’ll take players that contribute and aren’t lazy and pouty.
Dude…I’m a Braves fan. This is just a shot at the rest of the league. I know Camargo is a waste of a roster spot.
God I will be so happy when this lockout ends…
I thought the Camargo was a great pick-up….
What is the “lazy” cloud hanging above him? Can any Braves fans or anyone else clarify for me…
He got all offended when he lost his spot to Donaldson in 2019 and then Riley took the spot afterward.
You get the feeling that this guy is going to play 100+ games for the Phillies.
…..and Michael Martinez has entered the chat….
One has to wonder if given a chance could Munoz have filled the role KeKe Hernandez played in Boston last year? (Though i am glad they signed Hernandez). Philadelphia is good spot for an opportunity as they let Ronald Torreyes finish the season as the regular SS last year
Hernandez was better defensively, has more power, walks way more, has a better OBP and OPS,……need I go on. Hernandez is a way better player.
Arauz is a better SS than Munoz for the occasion when Bogaerts needed a break or got Covid.
The A’s were high on the clown penis for years. Sucks