Orioles sign Dontrelle Willis to minor league contract - MLB

The Phillies released Dontrelle Willis last Friday after he allowed five runs on five hits and four walks over 2 2/3 innings this spring, but it didn’t take him long to find a new home.

As first reported by Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, Willis has latched on with the Orioles on a minor league deal. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun adds that it’s a split contract worth $700,000 for time spent in the majors.

Willis posted a 5.00 ERA and 57/37 K/BB ratio over 75 2/3 innings with the Reds last season, but the 30-year-old had a .127 batting average against and a 20/2 K/BB ratio against left-handed batters. The Phillies inked him to a one-year, $850,000 deal over the winter with the idea of using him as a left-handed specialist, but they quickly threw in the towel after he dealt with arm fatigue and was showing diminished velocity this spring. It’s not clear whether the O’s intend to use him as a starter or a reliever.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins needs surgery for a torn ACL after injuring his left knee Thursday fielding a grounder in a spring training game and is expected to miss a significant amount of time.

The Phillies did not say when Hoskins would have the surgery or exactly how long the slugging first baseman might be sidelined.

Hoskins hit 30 homers with 79 RBIs last season for the reigning National League champions.

He was backing up to play a chopper on Thursday when the ball popped out of his glove. Sooner after, he fell to the ground and began clutching his left knee. Teammates gathered around him before he was taken off of the field.

Hoskins, a free agent at the end of the season who turned 30 last week, hit six homers in Philadelphia’s playoff run last season. The Phillies lost to the Houston Astros in the World Series.

The injury was another blow for the Phillies, who will be without top pitching prospect Andrew Painter for another few weeks because of a sprained ligament in his right elbow. And slugger Bryce Harper isn’t expected back until around the All-Star break after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November.