Major League Baseball

Phillies sign Willy Taveras to minor-league deal

Published Jun. 3, 2010 1:35 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed outfielder Willy Taveras to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Taveras batted .200 with four RBIs in 27 games with Washington this season. The move was announced Thursday. Taveras was designated for assignment by the Nationals on May 16 and granted his unconditional release May 25.

The 28-year-old Taveras is a career .274 hitter with 195 steals in 670 games for Houston, Colorado and Washington.

In another news, outfielder Dewayne Wise, who signed a minor league contract with the Phillies in November, exercised the out clause in his contract, effective June 1, and is now a free agent.