The Phillies have signed utility infielder Mike Fontenot to a minor-league contract, the club announced on Twitter Friday afternoon. It's a move that makes plenty of sense. Fontenot is probably best suited at second base, but he could play any infield position.
With second baseman Chase Utley battling a lingering knee injury, Freddy Galvis is the regular starter at second. It's possible Fontenot unseats him at some point. Even when Utley eventually returns, Fontenot could serve as the backup with the ability to spell Placido Polanco at third and even give the occasional day off to 33-year-old Jimmy Rollins at shortstop -- though that's a huge step back defensively. Pete Orr is currently the Phillies' backup option in the middle infield.
Fontenot, 31, hit .227/.304/.377 with four homers and 15 doubles in 252 plate appearances for the Giants in 2011. He's a career .263 hitter who at times shows good offensive promise -- for example, he hit .305 with a .909 OPS for the 2008 Cubs.
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