Kintzler, Joyce agree to deals with Phillies
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PHILADELPHIA -- Brandon Kintzler should find plenty of opportunities to be inspired by Phillies media this year.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said on Wednesday that Kintzler agreed to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. One source said that Kintzler turned down a guaranteed big league deal from the Marlins because he can make more money with the Phillies. If Kintzler makes the Opening Day roster, he will earn $3 million, plus as much as $1 million more in incentives.
Dombrowski also said on Wednesday that the Phillies agreed to a Minor League deal with outfielder Matt Joyce, who slashed .252/.351/.331 in 148 plate appearances last season with Miami. He has a .772 OPS and 112 OPS+ over 13 years with seven teams. Joyce will earn $1.5 million plus performance bonuses if he makes the Phillies' roster, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.
Kintzler, 36, had a 2.22 ERA, 5.00 FIP and 12 saves in 24 appearances last season for Miami. He walked 14 and struck out 11.
Phillies fans might remember that Kintzler took offense to a comment made by NBC Sports Philadelphia analyst Ricky Bottalico last summer, following Miami¡¯s season-opening victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Bottalico called the Marlins ¡°bottom feeders¡± on the station¡¯s postgame show.
So after the Marlins clinched a National League Wild Card berth and beat the Cubs in the NL Wild Card Series, Kintzler spoke about the ¡°Bottom Feeders¡± T-shirts the Marlins wore on the field.
¡°We¡¯re still here. You can¡¯t get rid of us,¡± Kintzler said. ¡°I don¡¯t care if we¡¯re bottom feeders. Want to thank Ricky Bottalico for that motivation [on] Opening Weekend in Philly. He¡¯s probably the one who sent the Phillies home for that.¡±
The Phillies have added relievers Archie Bradley, José Alvarado and Sam Coonrod to the 40-man roster since Dombrowski joined the organization in December. Chase Anderson and Matt Moore signed as starters, but both could pitch out of the bullpen if they don¡¯t win rotation jobs. Besides Kintzler, the Phillies also signed Héctor Rondón, David Paulino, Bryan Mitchell, Neftalí Feliz and Michael Ynoa to Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training.