Liriano, Walker head list of Phillies' NRIs

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies hope a few low-risk moves pay off in 2020.

The club announced Wednesday afternoon that it signed infielder Neil Walker and relief pitchers Francisco Liriano, Bud Norris and Drew Storen to Minor League contracts with invites to big league Spring Training.

Walker, 34, slashed .261/.344/.395 with eight home runs in 381 plate appearances last season with the Marlins. Walker has played most of his career at second base, but he spent most of last season at first and third base. Walker will compete for a utility infield job alongside non-roster utility infield candidates Josh Harrison, Phil Gosselin and Ronald Torreyes.

Liriano, Norris and Storen provide competition for a bullpen that struggled last season because of injuries and inconsistency. They are the first outside additions the Phillies have made to the bullpen this offseason.

Liriano, 36, went 5-3 with a 3.47 ERA and 4.53 FIP in 69 appearances last season with the Pirates. It was the first year in the left-hander’s 14-year career without a start. The fact that Liriano pitched an entire season in Pittsburgh’s bullpen, and pitched effectively -- left-handed-hitters batted just .194 against him -- seems to make him a legitimate candidate to make the team.

Norris, 34, was in big league camp last spring with the Blue Jays, but he did not make the team and did not pitch in 2019. He had 28 saves with the Cardinals in 2018.

Storen, 32, was a mainstay in the Nationals’ bullpen from 2010-15 before losing his closer’s job to Jonathan Papelbon in the second half of ’15. Storen has not pitched in the big leagues since '17, when he went 4-2 with a 4.45 ERA and a 4.88 FIP in 58 appearances with the Reds. He had Tommy John surgery that September, causing him to miss the entire ’18 season. In '19, he made nine appearances for Double-A Northwest Arkansas in the Royals' system, posting a 7.84 ERA.

The Phillies have 25 non-roster invitees coming to camp. Phillies pitchers and catchers have their first workout Feb. 12 in Clearwater, Fla.

Pitchers (11): Connor Brogdon, Kyle Dohy, Tyler Gilbert, Spencer Howard, Damon Jones, Francisco Liriano, Bud Norris, Ramon Rosso, Addison Russ, Drew Storen and Zach Warren.

Catchers (two): Christian Bethancourt and Henri Lartigue.

Infielders (nine): Alec Bohm, Phil Gosselin, Darick Hall, Josh Harrison, Austin Listi, Nick Maton, Ronald Torreyes, Neil Walker and Luke Williams.

Outfielders (three): Mikie Mahtook, Mickey Moniak and Matt Szczur.