PHILADELPHIA -- Pedro Florimon, Will Middlebrooks and a Lehigh University alum are among 10 players the Phillies signed to Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training as non-roster invitees.
Florimon, 31, hit .348 with four doubles, one triple and six RBIs in 49 plate appearances with the Phillies last season before a dislocated ankle ended his season Sept. 5. He has a chance to make the Opening Day roster as a bench player, filling a void left by Andres Blanco. Florimon can play in the infield and outfield.
Middlebrooks, 29, got a World Series championship ring with the 2013 Red Sox. He has played parts of six seasons with the Red Sox, Padres, Brewers and Rangers, posting a .663 OPS in 1,234 career plate appearances. He hit .258 with 23 home runs, 64 RBIs, a .327 on-base percentage and a .529 slugging percentage last season with Triple-A Round Rock.
Matt McBride, 32, is a Bethlehem, Pa., native who attended Lehigh. He has spent parts of four seasons with the Rockies and A's, compiling a .527 OPS in 202 plate appearances. He hit .231 with 10 homers, 49 RBIs and a .734 OPS in 285 plate appearances last season with Triple-A Nashville. He catches as well as plays first base and the outfield.
The Phillies also signed right-hander Pedro Beato, who had 33 saves with Triple-A Lehigh Valley; right-hander Steve Geltz, who has a 4.23 ERA in 110 big league relief appearances; catchers Eric Fryer and Logan Moore; infielder Heiker Meneses and Mitch Walding, who had an .842 OPS with Double-A Reading; and outfielder Danny Ortiz.