Brewers Sign Infielder Donnie Murphy To Minor League Deal, Invite Him To Spring Training

So it turns out the Brewers will have at least one more infield option in camp in February.

Today the team announced they've signed veteran infielder Donnie Murphy to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training. Murphy will turn 30 in March and has played parts of seven seasons in the majors, including the last three as a member of the Marlins. He's a career .205/.270/.373 hitter over 640 plate appearances.

Before anyone asks, yes, Murphy can play shortstop. He's appeared in 70 major league games there, plus 66 more at third base and 63 and second. He's also played 255 games there in the minors over eleven professional seasons.

Murphy is unlikely to unseat anyone for a starting role on the 2013 Brewers, but he's an interesting alternative to Jeff Bianchi for a bench job on the infield and his occasional power (he has a .461 career slugging percentage in the minors) could make him a useful right-handed bat in a reserve role.

The Brewers now have seven non-roster invitees for major league spring training. Mike Vassallo has the full list:

NR invitees: RHP Jairo Asencio, C Dayton Buller, RHP Darren Byrd, INF Hector Gomez, C Blake Lalli, INF Donnie Murphy and LHP Travis Webb

— Mike Vassallo (@MikeVassallo13) December 17, 2012