Phillies Notes: Phillies sign reliever Villarreal to minor-league deal

The Phillies signed reliever Oscar Villarreal to a minor-league deal yesterday. Villarreal, who missed the entire 2009 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, will not be invited to spring training.

Villarreal, 28, last pitched in 2008 with Houston when he appeared in 35 games, compiling a 1-3 record with a 5.02 ERA. He was 9-1 with a 3.61 ERA in 58 games for Atlanta in 2006, his best season in the majors.

Villarreal, much like other recent signees by the Phillies, is probably ticketed for triple-A Lehigh Valley. In the last few days, the Phillies have also come to terms with outfielder Freddy Guzman, second baseman Luis Maza and pitchers Brian Gordon and Brian Mazone, all on minor-league contracts.

Guzman, 29, is the most notable, having spent time with the Yankees in 2009. He played in 10 regular-season games and hit .167 while stealing four bases. He also appeared as a pinch-runner twice during the American League Championship Series.

The Phillies also signed catcher John Purdom, who began 2009 in the Florida Marlins system, from the Camden Riversharks. - Matt Gelb