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Phillies Invite Four Non-Roster Players to Spring Training

By George Stockburger

Jul 1, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Hector Gomez (5) gets the force out on Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Ben Revere (2) during the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park. The Brewers defeated the Phillies, 9-5. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 1, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Hector Gomez (5) gets the force out on Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Ben Revere (2) during the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park. The Brewers defeated the Phillies, 9-5. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Four players have been invited by the Phillies to compete for a spot on the 25-man roster once Spring Training gets underway in Clearwater

With Spring Training less than two months away (!!!!!) the Phillies have extended invitations to four players to attend major league camp.

Reliver Sean Burnett, outfielder Daniel Nava, and infielders Hector Gomez and Pedro Florimon have officially been asked to join the camp in Clearwater come February.

Burnett and Nava have several years experience playing in the majors, while Gomez and Florimon have bounced between professional levels in recent years.

Considering the Phillies have not re-signed Emmanuel Burris or Andres Blanco, one would assume Gomez and  Florimon will battle for the utility role spot.

Sep 27, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Pedro Florimon (18) looks on at the batting cage before playing the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Pedro Florimon (18) looks on at the batting cage before playing the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Florimon, 30, has played 256 career games over six seasons with three different clubs. A career .200 batter, Florimon recently split two seasons with the Pirates playing shortstop and second base. His most productive season came in 2013 with the Twins, where he hit .221 with nine home runs and stole 15 bases.

In just short of 1,000 minor league games, Florimon has a career minor league batting average of .250 with 140 stolen bases.

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Gomez, who will turn 29 this spring, played his entire 2016 season in Korea after being released by the Padres. He hit .281 with 23 home runs and 16 stolen bases in the Korean Baseball Organization.

Gomez made his major league debut in 2011 with the Rockies, and spent parts of 2014-2015 with the Brewers. The Dominican Republic native has a career major league batting average of .183 with one home run in 83 games. He has playing experience at shortstop and third base, two positions the Phillies lack in major league depth.

Nava and Burnett have legitimate chances of breaking the Opening Day roster as veterans for the Phillies. Burnett bounced between four organizations last year, including the Braves and Nationals. He will have the opportunity to serve as a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen, and possibly be an option to appear in the sixth inning if necessary.

Next: Ken Giles Trade: One Year Later

Nava was a star on the Red Sox 2013 World Series team, but has failed to continue his dominance in the majors. He will compete with Aaron Altherr for one of the outfield/platoon roles this season in Philadelphia. His experience as a switch-hitter could give him an advantage over the struggling Altherr.

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