Phillies sign free agent Gonzalez

02/08/2006
Infielder Alex S. Gonzalez has agreed to a one-year contract with the Phillies, General Manager Pat Gillick announced today.
Gonzalez, 32, hit .269 with nine home runs and 38 RBI in 109 games for the Devil Rays this past season. He was Tampa Bay's Opening Day third baseman - his 12th straight Opening Day start - and made a total of 97 starts, 91 at third base and six at shortstop. A right-handed hitter, Gonzalez batted .344 (11-32) against National League pitching last year in interleague play.
"This is a guy that has had a lot of success at the major league level as an everyday player," said Gillick. "He's a professional who will add some much-needed depth to our infield and provide a strong right-handed bat off our bench."
Gonzalez currently ranks seventh among active shortstops with a .975 career mark and has twice led the league in fielding percentage at that position (1997 and 2003). In 1994, he was the youngest player on an American League Opening Day roster, breaking camp with Toronto at 20 years old.
Gonzalez has eight career extra-inning home runs, which is tied for sixth-most among active players, and five career walk-off home runs.
In his career, Gonzalez has a .244 batting average with 137 home runs and 535 RBI in 1,376 games for the Blue Jays (1994-2001), Cubs (2002-2004), Expos (2004), Padres (2004) and Devil Rays (2005). He was originally selected by Toronto in the 14th round of the 1991 draft.
With Gonzalez' signing, the Phillies are at 40 on the 40-man roster.
In other Phillies news, catcher John Vanden Berg has been added as a non-roster invitee to spring training as a replacement for catcher Tim Gradoville. Vanden Berg, 26, was selected by the Phillies in the triple-A portion of the Rule 5 Draft in December. Gradoville will not be in major league camp due to a minor medical issue.

Source: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/