The Phillies have claimed 23-year old lefty reliever/starter Mauricio Robles off waivers from the Mariners. He pitched in 43 games (6 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year for the Mariners and he was 2-5 with a 5.78 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. Robles has now pitched in 156 games (97 starts) in his first seven years in the minors and he was 31-35 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Robles will likely start the 2013 season in AAA-ball for the Phillies.

The Phillies have re-signed 28-year old switch-hitting 2B/SS Andres Blanco to a minor league deal. Blanco played in 120 games in AAA-ball for the Phillies last year and he was 97 of 413 (.235 avg, .648 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 10 homers, 40 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. He last played in the majors back in 2011 with the Rangers. He has now played in 235 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 151 of 591 (.255 avg, .634 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 3 homers, 47 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Blanco will likely start the 2013 season in AAA-ball for the Phillies.

The Phillies have signed 28-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jermaine Mitchell to a minor league deal. He played in 108 games in AAA-ball for the A’s last year and he was 103 of 409 (.252 avg, .731 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 6 homers, 38 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Mitchell has now played in 753 games in his first seven years in the minors and he is 792 of 2,822 (.281 avg, .803 OPS) with 495 runs scored, 55 homers, 325 RBIs and 144 stolen bases. Mitchell will get a shot to win a bench job for the Phillies next spring.