ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have signed free agent second baseman Marlon Anderson to a one-year contract with plans to use him at more than one position.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Devil Rays also signed righthander Steve Parris to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training as a non-roster player.
Anderson, 29, spent his entire five-year career with the Philadelphia Phillies. Last season, he batted .258 with eight home runs, 48 RBI, and five stolen bases in 145 games.
"Marlon is an athletic player with good speed and quickness," said new Tampa Bay Manager Lou Piniella. "He will compete at second base during spring training, and we will move him around to try to make him more than a one-position player."
Brent Abernathy saw most of the playing time at second base with Tampa Bay last year, hitting .242 with two homers, 40 RBI, and 10 steals in 117 games.
Parris, 35, spent 2 1/2 months on the disabled list last season following shoulder surgery. He was 5-5 with a 5.97 ERA in 14 games for the Toronto Blue Jays, his third team during a seven-year career.
