Phillies sign Kevin Frandsen to minor league deal

The Phillies continued to add depth to their middle infield today, signing second baseman Kevin Frandsen to a minor league deal, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.

Frandsen, a former Giant and former Angel, spent spring training with the Padres before being released. He is very versatile in the field, having played every position in the field except center and catcher in his major league career. He isn't much at the plate, as his career .243 batting average and .302 OBP and 7 homers in 5 seasons tell you, but he isn't being brought in to swing the bat.

Frandsen gives the Phillies yet another option to plug into second or third base should Chase Utley and/or Placido Polanco continue to struggle with injuries. Since he signed a minor league deal, it likely means the Phillies will stick with Luis Castillo as the starting second baseman on Opening Day and keep Michael Martinez on the roster. If all goes well, Frandsen won't get a sniff of playing time in the majors this year.