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Giants sign former Phillies infielder [report]

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With Spring Training right around the corner, Jon Heyman reported on Monday afternoon that the Giants picked up utility infielder Andres Blanco, previously a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Although he only batted .192 with the Phillies in 2017, the 33-year-old is only three years removed from the best season of his career. In 2015, Blanco batted .292 with seven home runs. Blanco’s batting average (.253) and home run numbers (4) both took a hit after playing 90 games in 2016, but it was enough for the Phillies to keep him on their roster for 80 games last season.

Blanco jumped between six different positions last season, including a one-out pitching appearance in early June in a 14-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves. He made 16 appearances at third base and played 15 games at second base, 13 of which were starts.

Blanco originally signed with the Kansas City Royals as an amateur free agent from Venezuela in 2000 before debuting in 2004 and played there for three years, where he batted .252 overall in 78 games.

Once the Royals granted him free agency in 2007, Blanco spent the next six years jumping between the major leagues and minor leagues with four different teams; including the Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, and Texas Rangers.

Blanco began his six-year stint in the Phillies organization in 2012, when they signed him after being granted free agency by the Nationals. Although the Phillies released Blanco in 2013, they re-signed him later that year and he went on to spend 2014-2017 on their Major League roster.