PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies added another outfielder to their Spring Training mix on Friday, and he has a good chance to make the Opening Day roster as a bench player. Philadelphia announced it has signed outfielder Chris Coghlan on a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
Coghlan, 31, played well with the Cubs in 2014-15 (.793 OPS in 935 plate appearances) before being traded to the A's last February to make room for William Fowler. He was traded back to Chicago in June and hit .252 with one home run, 16 RBIs and a .779 OPS in 128 plate appearances the rest of the way. Coghlan also had eight plate appearances in the postseason, in which the Cubs won the World Series.
Odubel Herrera, Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders are expected to be the Phillies' Opening Day outfielders. Aaron Altherr is a good bet to be the fourth outfielder. Coghlan and fellow non-roster invitee Daniel Nava figure to be the top competitors to be the fifth. Tyler Goeddel also could be in the mix.
Coghlan, who bats left-handed, has hit .260 with a .736 OPS in an eight-year career with the Marlins, A's and Cubs. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2009. Nava, who is a switch-hitter, has hit .262 with a .727 OPS in a six-year career with the Red Sox, Rays, Angels and Royals.
Other outfielders in camp include top prospectsDylan Cozens, Roman Quinn and Nick Williams, but each is expected to begin the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Prospects Cameron Perkins and Andrew Pullin also will be in camp as non-roster invitees. They also are likely to begin the season in the Minor Leagues.