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By Jackson Roberts
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Philadelphia Phillies have no shortage of notable free agents this offseason.
Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suárez will be at the top of many teams' wish lists this winter. But those players won't be able to negotiate with the 30 major league clubs until five days after the World Series ends.
For one Phillies infielder, however, free agency has already begun.
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Donovan Walton, a 31-year-old utility man who spent most of the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, elected free agency (via his official transactions page). He wound up appearing in just two games for the Phillies at the major league level this year.
Walton was selected from Triple-A on Sept. 8, spent the vast majority of his time on the bench in Philadelphia, then was designated for assignment on Sept. 24. But after outrighting him off the 40-man roster, the Phillies kept him ready during their playoff run in case someone got injured.
With the Phillies eliminated, however, it made sense for Walton to get a jump on finding his next opportunity. He's appeared in 72 major league games across six seasons for the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, and Phillies.
Walton went 1-for-8 with a walk and an RBI for the Phillies in September. For the Phillies' Triple-A team, he slashed .339/.413/.424, racking up an impressive 60 hits in 50 games.
Players like Walton can be invaluable organizational depth during a playoff push. It will be intriguing to see if the Phillies pursue a reunion, and if any teams offer better opportunities to challenge for a roster spot out of spring training.
More MLB: Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber Gives Emotional Hint About Where He Wants To Play
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