A year ago, right before the start of the winter meetings, the Washington Nationals signed free agent and ex-Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth. Today, right before the start of the winter meetings, the Phillies have struck back, signing free agent and ex-Nationals outfielder Laynce Nix. Got 'em!
Laynce Nix, Phillies Reach Two-Year Contract Agreement
The Philadelphia Phillies have signed free agent outfielder Laynce Nix to a two-year contract.
Phillies have reached agreement with free agent Laynce Nix, sources tell CSNphilly.com. Deal is pending physical.
Nix deal w Phillies is for two years, sources say.
It’s not the sexiest move ever, but it’s a helpful move. And it’s a welcome move for Nix, who last February had to settle for a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Now he’s got a little more financial security.
The 31-year-old Nix is a lefty bat capable of playing all three outfield positions, although he hasn't played much center field for a long time. He struggled earlier in his career, but over the last three years with the Nationals and Reds, he's hit .254/.306/.461 with a 104 OPS+. He's limited, but he's powerful and potentially effective in a platoon role, which he could get in Philadelphia. Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence are locked in, but the lefty Nix could platoon with John Mayberry Jr. or Ben Francisco. Or he could be a weapon off the bench.
I don't know if Nix is an improvement over Domonic Brown. I don't know if Nix is even an improvement over John Bowker. But Nix is the guy it looks like the Phillies are going to use, and Nix is reasonably useful. Brown is supposedly set for another year in triple-A.
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