Brown has elected free agency, SB Nation's Chris Cotillo reports.
With Brown coming off a miserable 2015 season and arbitration-eligible again this winter, the Phillies just decided to cut bait, outrighting the 28-year-old last week. Brown has refused the assignment and will hit the open market, but he is not guaranteed to receive a major-league offer despite being just two seasons removed from a 27-homer campaign.