Phils sign 4 to Minor League deals, ST invites
Todd Zolecki
@ToddZoleckiPHILADELPHIA ¨C The Phillies need to hit on more than a few low-risk acquisitions to compete in the National League East in 2021.
Maybe Neftalí Feliz will be one of them.
Philadelphia announced on Monday that they signed Feliz and three other players with big league experience to Minor League contracts. Each will be in Spring Training as non-roster invitees. Feliz, 32, is the most notable of the bunch. He won the American League Rookie of the Year Award and made the All-Star team with Texas in 2010. Feliz has not pitched in the big leagues since 2017, but he owns a 3.07 ERA in 15 appearances in the Dominican Winter League.
The Phillies also signed catcher Christian Bethancourt, infielder Ronald Torreyes and right-hander Michael Ynoa.
Bethancourt, 29, played in 161 games over parts of five seasons (2013-17) in the big leagues. He provides the Phillies catching depth while they try to re-sign free-agent J.T. Realmuto (or look for Plan B, if Realmuto signs elsewhere). The only other catchers on the 40-man roster are Andrew Knapp and Rafael Marchan. Bethancourt spent last Spring Training with the Phillies.
Torreyes, 28, spent most of last season at the Phillies¡¯ alternate training site in Allentown, Pa., but started four times for the Phillies in September. Torreyes has played 240 games over parts of six big league seasons. Like Bethancourt, Torreyes offers the Phillies additional depth in the infield while they try to figure out what to do at shortstop. Didi Gregorius remains unsigned.
Ynoa, 29, has a 4.42 ERA in 45 appearances with the White Sox from 2016-17. He has a 2.13 ERA in 13 appearances this winter in the Dominican Republic.