Nieves played in 71 games last season for the Arizona Diamondbacks and batted .297 with one home run and 22 RBIs. He hit .302 with runners in scoring position. Over the last two years, he hit .299 in 103 games.
Nieves is a career .242 hitter, with eight home runs and 103 RBIs in 385 games with the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies and Diamondbacks.
He was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Padres in 1996.
The Phillies also signed right-hander Jeff Manship to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training. He went 0-5 with a 7.04 ERA last season with Colorado.
