Phillies sign minor league free agents

The Phillies have begun signing their annual batch of minor league free agents -- players who are projected to start the season at Triple-A to serve as inventory in case of injury at the major league level.

(Wilson Valdez was a minor league free agent. So was Chris Duffy, and Travis Blackley, and Casey Smith, and a bunch of other guys you probably don't have on your fantasy team).

Among the players who have signed are utility infielder Pete Orr, lefty reliever Eddie Bonnine and catcher Erik Kratz

Orr saw action with the Braves and Nationals from 2005-09, hitting .260 with a .287 on base percentage and .347 slugging percentage in 555 plate appearances. He hit three home runs, stole 13 bases and struck out 98 times. He spent all of last season at Triple-A Syracuse, hitting .264 with a .326 OBP, .436 SLG, 12 home runs, 25 steals and 90 strikeouts in 536 plate appearances while playing second, third, short stop and all three outfield positions. He will be 32 next season.

Bonine, who will be 30 in 2011, appeared in 47 games for the Tigers last season, posting a 4.63 ERA with averages of 3.4 strikeouts-per-nine and 2.9 walks-per-nine.

Kratz made a brief cameo with the Pirates in 2010 but spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, hitting .274/.380/.496 with nine home runs and 41 RBI in 274 plate appearances. He is a career .252/.325/.434 hitter in the minors and will be 31 next season.