Frandsen gets one-year deal; 4 others tendered contracts

The Phillies continue to keep their nucleus intact.

Before Monday's 11:59 p.m. deadline to tender contracts to their players who were eligible for salary arbitration, the Phils moved to retain all five players.

They agreed to a one-year, $900,000 contract with infielder Kevin Frandsen. The deal includes performance bonuses.

Frandsen, 31, earned $850,000 last season, when he batted .234.

The Phillies also tendered contracts to all four of their remaining arbitration-eligible players: righthander Kyle Kendrick, lefthander Antonio Bastardo, first baseman-outfielder John Mayberry Jr., and centerfielder Ben Revere.

Players who were not tendered contracts by the deadline became free agents. If the Phillies and any of the players cannot come to terms, their salaries will be decided in arbitration.

Kendrick, 29, earned $4.5 million last season in the second-year of a two-year, $7.5 million deal. He went 10-13 with a 4.70 ERA in 2013.

The righthander didn't finish well, posting a 6.49 ERA after July 1. A minor shoulder injury cost Kendrick his final three starts.

Matt Swartz, who projects arbitration salaries for MLBtraderumors.com, estimates that Kendrick could earn $6.6 million.

Bastardo's contract was for $1.4 million in 2013, but his season ended when he was suspended for 50 games for his ties to the Biogenesis drug scandal. He forfeited close to $500,000.

Mayberry's return is a mild surprise. He will turn 30 on Dec. 21, but his ability to play first base and any of the outfield positions likely added to his value.

Last season, Mayberry batted .227 and struck out 90 times in 353 at-bats. He had 11 home runs and 39 RBIs.

Bastardo, 28, was 3-2 with a 2.32 ERA in 48 appearances. He struck out 47 in 422/3 innings but also walked 21. The lefthander rebounded from a poor 2012 when he had a 4.33 ERA in 65 appearances.

Revere, who will turn 26 on May 3, batted .305 with 22 stolen bases in 315 at-bats before suffering a season-ending broken ankle on July 13.

Frandsen is another player known for his versatility. Last season he played 38 games at first base, 20 at second, and four at third.

Frandsen also hit .250 as a pinch-hitter (14 for 56) with a home run and 10 RBIs.