Flaherty signs minor league deal with Phillies

The Ryan Flaherty era in Baltimore really has come to an end. Or maybe it's just been put on hold.

The Phillies have signed Flaherty to a minor league deal, as first reported by ESPN.com. He'll go to spring training in Clearwater, Fla., and attempt to win a utility job.

Selected from the Cubs organization in the December 2011 Rule 5 draft, Flaherty spent six seasons with the Orioles and batted .215/.284/.355 in 1,270 plate appearances.

It wasn't about the bat.

Flaherty gained manager Buck Showalter's trust in the field, which kept him in the majors. He played 192 games at second base, 120 at third, 72 at shortstop, 28 at first base, 30 in right field and 13 in left. He also pitched one inning and was tabbed the emergency catcher.

Perhaps easily forgotten over the years, Flaherty was the starting third baseman in the 2014 American League Division Series and Championship Series with Manny Machado on the disabled list. He went 4-for-12 with a home run while the Royals swept the Orioles in the ALCS.

A shoulder injury limited Flaherty to 23 games last summer. He went 8-for-38 (.211) while making $1.8 million in his final year of arbitration.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette told season ticket holders at FanFest that the club reached out to Flaherty about a possible return. However, it doesn't appear that talks advanced to a serious stage.

The current utility candidates for the Orioles include Luis Sardiñas, Rubén Tejada, Erick Salcedo and Éngelb Vielma.

The Orioles travel to Clearwater for exhibition games on Feb. 24, March 3 and March 25. The Phillies come to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on March 11.

Three of the Orioles' 10 free agents have signed. Outfielder Craig Gentry agreed to a minor league deal with the Orioles earlier today and catcher Welington Castillo signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the White Sox.