The Philadelphia Phillies have inked veteran utility man Phil Gosselin to a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
The 31-year-old Malvern Prep grad hit .342 in 38 pinch-hit at-bats for the Phillies in 2019. In total, he hit .262 in 65 major-league at-bats in 2019, while showing defensive versatility, playing third base shortstop and left field.
Gosselin spent the bulk of the 2019 season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, slashing .314/.405/.497 with eight home runs, 47 RBIs and 46 walks in 78 games with the Phillies Triple-A affiliate.
He joins former All-Star Josh Harrison as two options signed to minor league deals that will be at major league Spring Training looking to secure a roster spot. It’s unclear if either have the ability to opt out of their respective deals if they aren’t on the major league roster by a certain date.
Jay Bruce will headline the team’s best bench options. Bruce, 32, isn’t going to hit for a high average at this stage of his career, but he did hit 26 home runs and drive in 59 RBIs in 310 at-bats between the Phillies and Seattle Mariners last season.
After Bruce, the options dip even further.
Outfielder Roman Quinn is a valuable piece as a pinch runner and defensive replacement, but he’s never played more than 50 games at the major league level in a season because of injuries.
Odubel Herrera is a former All-Star, but it’s unclear what the Phillies plan for him is since he was suspended for much of the 2019 season after being arrested following a domestic incident with his girlfriend.
It increasingly appears Andrew Knapp and Deivy Grullon could compete for the bulk of the backup catching jobs and some pinch-hit opportunities as well.
Nick Williams, once one of the key pieces the Phillies got in return for Cole Hamels from the Texas Rangers, seems to have fallen out of favor organizationally. A change of scenery for him feels likely, though the Phillies do control him through the 2023 season.
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