Middlebrooks likely, Geltz on board with minor league deals

It’s an annual tradition. One we anticipate every year. It’s “the Phillies make some minor league signings” time.

The Phillies are either close to or have signed two players to these kinds of deals: third baseman Will Middlebrooks and pitcher Steve Geltz. That’s Geltz, with a G.

Middlebrooks, 29, who was once a promising young player with the Red Sox, has since turned into the worst possible outcome for Maikel Franco. Over the last two years he’s had just 70 major league plate appearances, and for his career he’s a .228/.272/.391 hitter. Take away his good first season with the Sox and Middlebrooks is a .210/.256/.356 hitter.

He is, however, decent at triple-A, hitting .258/.327/.529 last year with the Round Rock Express (Texas). More than likely he’ll be on the Lehigh Valley roster, if he accepts that fate. But he can play multiple positions, and with a great spring (we’re assuming his likely deal includes an invitation to spring training), could possibly make the big club as a utility player.

Geltz, meanwhile, is 30 and spent last year in the Dodgers system, putting up a 2.67 ERA with 29 strikeouts and 12 walks in triple-A. He was a fixture in the Tampa Bay bullpen in 2015 with a 3.74 ERA. He could find his way into the Phils’ bullpen, but again, is more likely a veteran to fill out the IronPigs’ roster.

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.