Veteran right-hander Jason Marquis has signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies as he comes back from Tommy John elbow surgery last July.
Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports that Marquis will head to extended spring training for now, but he could be an option for the Phillies’ rotation in the second half if his recovery continues to go smoothly.
Marquis has generally been a decent back-of-the-rotation starter except for a disastrous stint with the Twins two years ago and had thrown 211 innings with a 4.05 ERA in a season-and-a-half with the Padres at the time of the injury.
It’s a no-risk move for Philadelphia to add the 35-year-old Marquis for organizational depth amid concerns that Cliff Lee’s elbow injury could be more serious than initially believed.