Phil Gosselin highlights Philadelphia non-rpster invitee list to spring training
The Philadelphia Phillies announced the signing of seven players to minor league contracts on Friday with each contract including an invitation to Major League spring training in Clearwater, Fla.

Perhaps the most notable name is infielder Phil Gosselin, a local product out of Bryn Mawr and a graduate of Malvern Prep. The 30-year-old made the Reds Opening Day roster in 2018 after being a non-roster invitee during spring training. He has batted .263 over 276 major league games in parts of six seasons with the Atlanta Braves (2013-15), Arizona Diamondbacks (2015-16), Pittsburgh Pirates (2017), Texas Rangers (2017) and Reds (2018). He appeared in 20 games with the Cincinnati Reds last season.

Joining Gosselin is pitchers Jeremy Bleich and Josh Martin.

Martin, a right-hander, posted a 2.91 ERA (7 ER, 21.2 IP) with 24 strikeouts in 19 relief appearances for triple-A Columbus last season. The 28-year-old was originally selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 10th round of the 2012 draft.

Bleich, a left-hander, made his major league debut on July 13, 2018, with the Oakland Athletics. Last season at triple-A Nashville, the 31-year-old posted a 2.63 ERA (15 ER, 51.1 IP) and held left-handed hitters to a .211 batting average in 38 relief appearances.

Other signees include:

Rob Brantly, C – The 29-year-old catcher played in 72 games combined at the triple-A level last season for Gwinnett and Columbus. He has appeared in parts of four seasons in the majors with the Miami Marlins (2012-13) and Chicago White Sox (2015 & 2017). In 13 games with the White Sox in 2017, he batted .290 (9-31) with one double, two homers and five RBI. A member of the U.S. Team in the 2012 MLB All-Star Futures Game, Brantly was originally selected by the Detroit Tigers in the third round of the June 2010 draft.

Matt McBride, C/1B/OF – A native of Bethlehem, Pa and a graduate of Lehigh, McBride spent the entire 2018 season with triple-A Lehigh Valley, his first year in the Phillies organization. He also was a spring training non-roster invitee for Philadelphia in 2018. The 33-year-old batted .242 with 13 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 26 RBI and posted an .812 OPS in 60 games last season. He also has played in the majors in parts of four seasons with the Colorado Rockies (2012; 2014-15) and Oakland Athletics (2016).

Gregorio Petit, INF - Petit, 34, played in 26 games for the Minnesota Twins last season and hit .246 with two doubles, three RBIs and three stolen bases. He also played in 79 games for the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate in Rochester. The right-handed hitter has batted .249 over 197 career games in the majors and has collected 1,299 hits (.269 AVG) in 1,315 career minor league games.

Shane Robinson, OF – A member of the 2013 National League champion St. Louis Cardinals, the outfielder has appeared in parts of nine seasons in the majors, including each of the last eight since 2011. Robinson, 34, has played for the Cardinals (2009; 2011-14), Minnesota Twins (2015), Los Angeles Angels (2016-17) and New York Yankees (2018). He played in 18 postseason games over two years (2012-13) with the Cardinals, including four games in the 2013 World Series.
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BY PATRICK GORDON
Managing Editor
pgordon@philadelphiabaseballreview.com

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