Things are heating up around baseball.
The Phillies have agreed to a two-year deal with nine-year veteran Laynce Nix in what will likely be a platoon situation with John Mayberry Jr. in left field.
Nix spent last season with Washinton, batting .250 with 16 home runs (a career high), 44 RBI, 15 doubles, 23 walks and 82 strikeouts with an OBP of .299. He's a career .244 hitter. Nix is a bit of a down grade from Raul Ibanez, but comes at a much lower price.
They've also been linked to having serious interest in free agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez.
Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins have made the biggest splash of the off-season, first signing closer Heath Bell and then agreeing on a six-year deal with superstar Jose Reyes. Hanley Ramirez is expected to move to third base, not become trade bait.
The Nix move isn't likely to get fans too excited. He's not exactly what the team needed. Yet another left handed batter who hits for a low average and a low on base percentage. The signing all but secures Ibanez's departure from pinstripes, and also likely means the team's pursuit of Michael Cuddyer has ended.
This is the first off-season in quite some time that the Phillies have made a series of questionable moves. Starting with handing a major contract to Jonathan Papelbon, to the signings of veterans past their prime: Jim Thome, Ty Wigginton and now Nix. Of course, Thome was a great signing, but the others remain to be seen.
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