Want to hear a cool fact about reliever Clay Hensley, who signed a minor league deal with the Nationals yesterday that includes an invitation to big league spring training?
Hensley was the pitcher who served up Barry Bonds' 755th career home run, which tied Bonds with Hank Aaron for the most homers of all time.
OK, so that fact might not be so "cool" to Hensley, especially since he was optioned to the minors the very next day.
It's one thing to be on the wrong end up history. It's another to then immediately receive a demotion afterwards. Talk about a double slap in the face.
Still, it's something Hensley will be able to tell the grandkids.
Hensley has posted strong numbers in his career against National League East opponents, if you're interested in that kind of thing.
He has a 3.28 ERA in 35 2/3 innings against the Braves, a 2.92 ERA in 12 1/3 innings against the Marlins, a 3.38 ERA in 42 2/3 innings against the Mets and a 2.93 ERA in 43 innings against the Phillies.
Take from that what you will.
Elsewhere around the NL East, the Phillies reunited with Bobby Abreu yesterday, signing the veteran outfielder to a minor league deal that carries an invitation to big league spring training.
Abreu last played in the majors in 2012, when he hit .246/.361/.344. He'll turn 40 in March.
I know that Abreu put up strong numbers this winter in Venezuela and that this is a no-risk deal for the Phillies, given that if Abreu doesn't produce or look good in spring, they can just keep him off the 25-man roster without any consequence. But man, this only adds to the lengthy list of aging players that the Phillies have signed this offseason.
Marlon Byrd is 36. He got a two-year deal. Carlos Ruiz is 34. He got a three-year deal.
Now a team that could use an infusion of young, talented players has added an outfielder who will turn 40 in a handful of weeks.
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