Jayson Nix elects free agency after Philadelphia Phillies outright him

Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran utility infielder Jayson Nix has refused an outright assignment from the Philadelphia Phillies, instead electing free agency. The team announced the move on Tuesday after initially outrighting Nix off their active roster following Monday’s game.

Nix had appeared in just 18 games for the Phillies this season, batting just .154/.214/.231 with a home run through 43 plate appearances. His versatility had come into play, as he played three different infield positions in the field, but the team was finding zero production off their bench and a moved seemed necessary.

The 31 year old had initially joined the Phillies on a minor league deal during the offseason. Nix was coming off a year in which he hit .236/.308/.311 in 303 PA, the most playing time he’d seen since the 2010 season. He was an important piece off the Yankees bench, but hasn’t been able to replicate that success this year. Over parts of seven seasons in the Major Leagues he’s hit a collective .216/.288/.354 in 1,417 PA for six different organizations.

Philadelphia did not immediately make a corresponding move to replace Nix on the roster on Monday, but they did add second baseman Cesar Hernandez to the roster from Double-A Reading before Tuesday’s game. He reached on an error in his lone at bat, pinch-hitting for Cliff Lee. Hernandez had been hitting .340/.410/.485 in 117 PA but he’d struggled in limited action with the Phillies earlier this season.