According to Matt Eddy of Baseball America, the Phillies have signed Jim Negrych to a minor league deal. Negrych, 28, was a sixth round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2006 and spent five seasons in the Pirates organization before being traded in 2011 to the Marlins organization. In 2012, he signed with the Nationals organization and in 2013, the Blue Jays organization. Negrych doesn’t have a whole lot of power (SLG of just over .400 in eight minor league seasons) but he has been able to get on base at a reliable clip (.374) through his minor league career. In parts of three seasons at Triple-A, Negrych has hit .280/.362/.393 in 954 PA, spending most of his time at second base, but also seeing action at third and in left field.
Analysis: I don’t know a whole lot about Negrych but this, on the surface, looks like a really strong minor league depth signing. Negrych was the starting second baseman in the International League All-Star Game last year and was a minor league All-Star in 2008 and 2010. At 28, Negrych has yet to reach the Majors and has been slightly older for the levels he has been playing at, but this move gives the Phillies a strong infield option should Chase Utley or others suffer a long term injury in 2014.
