The Phillies lost infielder Will Middlebrooks to a broken left fibula injury suffered Saturday when he collided with outfielder Andrew Pullin during a spring training game. Signed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, the former Red Sox prospect had an outside chance of making the major league team as a role player.
With Middlebrooks now out for an indefinite period of time, the Phillies bench enters a very murky situation.
Pedro Florimon entered camp as the favorite to replace the departed veteran Andres Blanco as the versatile defender off the bench. Veterans Ryan Flaherty and Adam Rosales were also brought in on minor league deals with invitations to big league camp in Clearwater.