The Phillies announced that they have designated catcher Sebastian Valle for assignment in order to clear a 40-man roster spot for Roberto Hernandez, whose one-year contract with the team is now official.
The 23-year-old Valle ranked among the Phillies' top 10 prospects heading into each of the 2010-12 seasons, per Baseball America, but his performance has slipped in recent seasons. Valle followed up a lackluster .253/.271/.428 performance in 2012 with a .203/.245/.359 performance in 379 Double-A plate appearances last season. Following that 2012 campaign, BA said that he should end up as at least an average defender behind the plate, praising his lateral movement, receiving skills and strong arm.
I hope the Cardinals claim him. He still has value.
He wouldn’t make it that far on waivers. Rockies have a need at C and teams like the Brewers, Marlins and Diamondbacks could pick him up and put him at AAA and hope they get flip him later on if he rebounds.
His 379 PAs in 2013 were in AA, not AAA.
Thanks for that catch.
You’re welcome! I’ve unfortunately witnessed Valle’s decline over the past two seasons in Reading, and it’s quite frustrating.
Such high hopes for him
Good defensive catcher. Horrifying BB:K ratio (9:2 last year, 9:1 in 2012), which led to an abysmal OBP. With the other catchers in the system (Joseph, Rupp, Lino, and Knapp), I can’t blame them from moving on from him.
He is putting up some good numbers in winter ball, so I’m sure somebody will grab him.
valle -> rockies?
Not a terrible idea at all.
I could see the White Sox picking him up on waivers before the Rox get a chance.
Not a bad idea either, but I think with their rule 5 pick Nieto they have enough catchers on their 40 man
How would the White Sox get a chance to claim him before the Rockies? He’s on an NL team.
I thought it goes to the other league first? Wow, sorry. Rox could be a fit then.
I honestly can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic, I just thought it wasn’t that bad of an idea considering that Wilfredo Rodriguez is still like 4 years away. Not that Valle could keep up at the MLB level (as the Rox still need a backup catcher), but the Rox only have 1 catcher on the 40 man anyway and I think that Valle would probably be the second best catcher in the whole organisation for the Rox if they got him
Unsure why you thought I was being sarcastic but I do actually agree with you the Valle may be a fit. Our current backup is Jordan Pacheco. Rodriguez is behind Tom Murphy and Will Swanner in our system.
Sorry to jump the gun bro. Forgot about Pacheco, I forgot he used to catch.
Pacheco is the backup catcher. That is why they sent him down to AAA last year was to get him back into it.
They shouldve cut Savery
Theres alot of guys they should of cut before Savery and Valle. I guess they wanted to not have 5 catchers on the roster. It had to be done.
If they didn’t want 5 catchers then why not trade Rupp. Rupp has major league experience and could have netted up a minor league pitcher (AA or something). It would be better than losing a 23 year old with such potential for nothing.
Rupp is only 2 year older, Rupp hit .308 in his brief stint in the majors. ‘MLB experience’ is such a stretch. He had 14 PA. Valle had a awful year in 2013 at AA. Rupp has better potential, Valle has no spot with the Phillies anymore. I don’t see why they didn’t trade Valle for a PTBNL, so you got me there. But Valle vs Rupp is invalid if you are choosing Valle. Rupp’s upside on the MLB level is higher.
Rupp is a cowboys fan ..he has no place in Philly lol
Guess you’re not saying that about Dom Brown. Hes a Cowboys fan too,
Any relation to former M’s catcher Dave Valle, who was also a good defensive catcher?
Don’t think so.
I think it is his son.
Definitely not related.
Sebastian is from Mexico
Their names are pronounced differently.
Sebastian’s is Vai-Yay
Dave’s is Val-LEE
I am confused! This says that Valle was “DFA’d”…that does not mean the Phillies are necessarily giving up on him yet. He could still agree to be sent to the minors, correct?
He has no major league experience, so it isn’t even his choice. If nobody claims him on waivers he’ll be outrighted and stay in the system.
He could also be traded over the next 10 days as well.