The Phillies yesterday announced the minor-league signings of RHP Eddie Bonine, late of the Tigers, and back-up catcher Erik Kratz, remembered here for being called up to the Pirates during this summer's Triple-A All-Star game. Kratz, who is from Telford, PA, is one of the few Mennonites in baseball. I used to see a Mennonite family at many of my regularly-scheduled games at CBP this past summer.
In other news, Jayson Stark of ESPN reported that someone in the Phillies organization said there was "zero chance" that Jayson Werth would be resigned. Ruben Amaro, Jr., asked about it, denied the whole thing, saying that the Phillies were making every effort to resign Werth but that they wanted a speedy resolution, a wish that agent Scott Boras is unlikely to indulge. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports then opined that it was all eyewash on the part of the Phillies to make them look good with the fans, on the lines of "See, we tried to sign him but he didn't take the contract." So far, what a boring off-season.
