DALLASScratch another item off the Phillies off-season to-do list.
According to sources, the team has reached agreement on a two-year contract with free agent Laynce Nix. The deal is pending a physical. Nix made 700,000 in a one-year contract with Washington last season.
Nix, 31, bats left-handed and primarily plays left field. His signing likely closes the door on free-agent Raul Ibanez returning to the Phillies. It also likely signals the end of the teams pursuit of free-agent Michael Cuddyer.
Nix hit .250 with 16 home runs and 44 RBIs in 324 at-bats for Washington last season. He played in 73 games in left field and also appeared in 47 innings at first base. Phillies officials cannot comment on the deal until it is official, but it is likely they plan to use Nix in a left-field platoon with right-handed-hitting John Mayberry Jr. Mayberry hit .306 with eight homers and 21 RBIs in 111 at-bats against left-handed pitching last season. Both players could also see time at first base in the early weeks of the season as Ryan Howard recovers from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon.
Most of Nixs at-bats came against right-handed pitching last season. He hit .263 with just a .306 on-base percentage against righties. All 16 of his home runs and all but one of his RBIs came against right-handers. He was just 3 for 27 (.111) against lefties.
The Phillies will be Nixs fifth team since breaking into the majors with Texas in 2003. He has reached double-digit home runs two of the last three seasons as a part-time player.
Nix is the latest move for a Phillies club that has been busy this winter. So far the club has signed free-agent pinch-hitter Jim Thome and All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon. It has re-signed backup catcher Brian Schneider and traded for backup infielderoutfielder Ty Wigginton.
MLB
Though the Phils could still add a reliever before the winter is overthe door is not closed on Brad Lidgethe major remaining item on the teams to-do list is filling the shortstop position. The team is trying to re-sign free-agent Jimmy Rollins, but length of contract has been a stumbling block. Rollins wants a five-year deal; the Phillies would prefer a three-year deal. Rollins agent, Dan Lozano, will meet with Phillies officials at the winter meetings, which begin here on Monday.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com