Brewers sign Nelson to Minor League deal

MILWAUKEE -- Having lost one third baseman to the waiver wire, and with another batting a series of minor injuries, the Brewers on Saturday signed former Rockies, Yankees, Angels and Padres infielder Chris Nelson to a Minor League contract and assigned him to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

The Phillies released Nelson from a Minor League deal on Friday after the 29-year-old former First-Round Draft pick hit .278/.328/.352 at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

He owns a .265/.311/.388 slash line in 901 plate appearances over parts of five seasons, appearing most recently with San Diego last season.

His deal with Milwaukee was sealed one week after the Brewers lost Luis Jimenez on waivers to the Red Sox, and on the same day Aramis Ramirez missed a second straight start with back tightness.