Categories: News

Phillies sign Chris Coghlan to minor-league contract

Photo by Keith Allison

Todd Zolecki reported Thursday that the Phillies have signed utility player Chris Coghlan to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Coghlan, 31, the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year (I didn’t realize so many people were still unhappy that JA Happ didn’t win that award that year), hit .188/.290/.318 with 20 extra-base hits in 300 plate appearances last year between Oakland and the Cubs. He was much better with the eventual world champions – .252/.391/.388 in 48 games – and even got in a couple postseason games (0-for-7, BB).

An outfielder who can also play middle infield positions, Coghlan will likely have an upper hand against veterans like Daniel Nava, Pedro Florimon, Hector Gomez and Taylor Featherston for a bench spot out of spring training.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.