Phillies release Grady Sizemore
The outfielder, who joined the Phillies last July, hit .245 in 39 games this season.
A WEEK before he could file for free agency, Grady Sizemore was re-signed by the Phillies to a one-year, $2 million contract last October.
Less than two months into the season, Sizemore has been cut loose.
Sizemore, the 32-year-old former three-time All-Star who had his career curtailed by knee injuries, was released yesterday, the Phillies announced. Sizemore had been designated for assignment on Friday, when the Phillies recalled Cody Asche from Triple A Lehigh Valley.
Sizemore, who split time in rightfield with fellow veteran Jeff Francoeur the first two months, hit .245 with a .584 OPS in 39 games this season. Since joining the team last July, Sizemore hit .250 with a .657 OPS and three home runs in 99 games.
Before last year, Sizemore hadn't played a major league game since 2011.
"With Sizemore, it was just a numbers thing, opening up a chance for a younger player like Cody to be in there everyday," manager Ryne Sandberg said Friday. "I think 'Size' was really on the rise the last three weeks with some playing time, so he really got his bat going pretty good and was a pinch-hitter that had some pinch-hits off the bench. Just one of those things as far as numbers. It had nothing to do with performance."
With converted third baseman Asche in place as the team's new leftfielder, and former centerfielder Ben Revere shifting from left at the start of the season to right in the last week, Sizemore was set to lose even semi-regular playing time in a crowded outfield.
Former All-Star Domonic Brown, who was set to move from leftfield back to right this spring, remains at Triple A. Brown, 27, is hitting .244 with a .595 OPS and zero home runs in 41 games with the IronPigs.
Blog: ph.ly/HighCheese
