The Phillies lost catcher J.T. Realmuto for at least a month while he rehabs from a meniscus procedure on his right knee. They’ll go with backstops Rafael Marchan and Garrett Stubbs behind the plate in the meantime, but Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports that the Phils will also likely seek some additional catching depth to stash in Triple-A alongside journeyman Aramis Garcia.
Between Marchan and Stubbs, the Phillies seemingly feel content at the moment. That’s understandable, given a relatively short timetable for Realmuto to recover and an MLB-high 10-game lead over their division at the moment. Marchan has missed much of the 2024 season due to a back injury but is healthy now and has hit .233/.382/.395 in 55 plate appearances since coming off the IL. He also hit .297/.331/.440 in Triple-A last season, and president of baseball operations sang praises for Marchan’s defensive capabilities when chatting with Gelb.
The Realmuto injury could give Marchan a big league run with some consistent playing time for the next few weeks — something he’s never received before. Though he’s long been a well-regarded catching prospect, Marchan has been blocked by Realmuto for years and has also repeatedly struggled to stay healthy in the minors. He’s appeared in just 23 MLB games and taken 65 plate appearances.
Marchan will be out of minor league options next season, so this will in some ways be an audition for a part-time role either next season or perhaps even later this year. Stubbs only has 63 plate appearances on the season and has delivered just a .179/.270/.196 slash. Manager Rob Thomson plans to split playing time fairly evenly between the two catchers and hopes to keep them lined up with the same starting pitchers during Realmuto’s absence, per Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
There’s not a ton out there when it comes to catching depth, though old friend Donny Sands was just released by the Giants and the Mets recently designated Tomas Nido for assignment. The Phillies won’t take on the remainder of Nido’s $2.1MM salary but could add him on a minor league deal whenever he clears waivers following that DFA. (Nido has five-plus years of service and can reject an outright in favor of free agency without needing to surrender the remainder of his guarantee.) The Mets also recently released veteran catcher Omar Narvaez.
A major catching acquisition for the Phillies is unlikely, barring some kind of setback in Realmuto’s recovery. Coffey notes that Dombrowski was asked whether Realmuto’s injury impacts the Phillies’ trade deadline outlook, to which the veteran baseball ops exec replied, “Not at this moment.” That said, a signing from the Narvaez/Nido/Sands bucket, a cash swap for a veteran playing in Triple-A with another club, or perhaps even signing a former big leaguer currently playing independent ball could all make sense.
I love them to grab Logan Porter from KC, if they’re willing to part with him.
How about Matin Maldonado of the White Sox? True, he’s only hitting something like .074, but he did get a hit last night so maybe he’s starting a hot streak. Take him. Please. Pretty please.
real – I think Sandy Leon is waiting for his phone to ring, he’s doing quite well with the Braves AAA team and would jump at an opportunity to play in the majors again. Still one of the best defensive catchers around.
Cam Gallagher is looking for something.
If it’s only a month or so I can’t see them looking for too much. The rest of the teams offense should be able to provide without realmuto for a little bit
They should give Marchan the lions share of time in the absence of JT. He has raked in the minors, it’s be a good time to see if he is Major league caliber.
I don’t hate the idea, but I’d bet the pitching staff would be more comfortable with Stubbs behind the dish.
Stubbs is underrated. He’s the #1 option.
Stubbs is here because they really value what he does working with pitchers and tendencies and preparation, while his overall defense is relatively solid on top of that. In this situation, that is enough for the greater share of playing time.
It will be good to see Marchan again with a shot at showing what he can do. I used to see a lot of him in Reading and LHV and he has some talent…at least enough to hold down a backup role if he can stay healthy.
The Rays have 2 catchers they need to get rid of with Jackson and Pinto.
I saw Jackson a few weeks ago against the Durham Bulls – was not all that impressed.
Reese McGuire. Sox can promote Teel and see if he’s the real thing.
I doubt Teel gets to AAA until the very end of this year even if he continues tearing up AA. Remember he was just drafted in ’23 and boston has always slow rolled prospects, as maddening as it has been.
John – I think with Teel being so old there’s a decent chance he could be called up this year. Salty went straight from AA to the majors, several other catchers also were promoted having spent very little if any time at AAA.
Even if Teel gets hurt or slumps, replacing McGuire wouldn’t be that difficult. He’s the backup to Wong, they could always replace him with Hickey or Heineken.
Fever, don’t undersell McGuire who was another underrated Bloom move.
dewey, exactly my point. He isn’t all that bad and Boston could maybe get a somewhat decent bullpen arm for him.
If McGuire could give a good Hickey, maybe he wouldn’t have got arrested in that parking lot.
Letit, unless the return is young, I’d rather keep McGuire as the combo has been very good. Things change when Teel is ready.
dewey – I’m not underselling him, he’s a decent catcher and certainly better than Vazquez. But I don’t see him supplanting Wong as the #1 catcher and when Teel comes up I think McGuire is the odd man out anyway, so why not get something for him when they can? He’s a free agent after next year too.
dewey – Is that based on the assumption the Sox will be GFIN after the trade deadline? If so then I agree, but that’s a mighty big assumption.
Based on the prior few years I have zero confidence ownership will approve deadline acquisitions to GFIN, even if they are in the lead for WC3 at the deadline.
I would give a call out to mike zunino. He remains unsigned. Any word on if he plans on taking an opportunity if one came.
Sure he doesn’t make a lot of contact but has produced loud numbers in the past. But most of all he is well regarded defensively and can do damage any given night when he does hit the ball. Also would be fit a short side platoon for the time being.
Zunino announced his retirement a couple of months ago…
Thanks I hadn’t seen that or heard if he decided to hang ‘em. Never know if a phone call prompts someone to find those laces but probably makes more sense to look around for someone who has actively been in and around the game within recent weeks.
Zach Pressnell of FS suggested Danny Jansen for RHP Griff McGarry and C Caleb Ricketts…
That would be a ridiculous price for the Phils to pay under the circumstances. His whole article was ill-considered, and quite typical of the Fansided nonsense that poses as sports journalism.
That’s a move the Phils make if they’re chasing the Braves, not leading them by ten games.
Why? They still have Schwarber and Harper who can catch so no problem.
You really want Harper to possibly get hurt playing catcher? i dont think so.. zero percent he catches.
dave – How about trading for Kenley Jansen? He is an effective reliever who can catch when he’s not pitching.
I’ll take the job for the MLB minimum. Once down in position I’ll need help getting up…
Marchan is out of options next year, this is an audition for him. Like the idea of pairing him up with Christopher Sanchez (caught him in the minors) & Ranger Suarez for communication reasons. DD said 4 weeks, you would think more like 6 for a Catcher. When they leave Baltimore next week, we could leave Whit Merrifield & Gregory Soto behind and take James McCann & Austin Hays with us. Luis Ortiz & Yunel Marte are both set to come off the DL soon so we’d only be short a bullpen arm for a couple of days.
@daves-4
Maybe he shouldn’t be playing baseball if he is constantly getting hurt. Rub some dirt on it and get back out there, like the good ol’days!
(some pretty good sarcasm wasted here…)
Since you mentioned a former Cub; The Cubs will send you Yan Gomes for a cheesesteak sandwich.
Maldonado if they don’t mind automatic out.
Narvaez cannot throw anymore, has trouble getting the ball down to second without bouncing it…
Alex action Jackson for sale for a Philly cheese steak
Rays need a catcher more than Philly. When their best catcher was either Dionner Navarro or Mike Zunino or Toby Hall, it shows how much they value the position. Why not trade a AAA non prospect for Nick Fortes or a Top 50 guy for Langliers or Soderstrom (whichever one A’s don’t want to start)? Either of those would be better than the current catchers in the roster.
Defense and pitch framing… I guess? Mike Zunino is the greatest catcher I’ve ever seen for the Rays. Kinda puts things in perspective
Dave D likes ex Tigers, so I’m sure he can work something out to acquire Eric Haase.
I think I’d prefer Stubbs/Marchan to another team’s refuse. In terms of the offense, pretty good timing that Turner is nearing a return.
May as well swing for the fences. Go big or go home amIright? Go get Martin Maldonado from the white sox. I thik your top 5 minor league players should do
Top 5? Not a chance. They can just sign him as a FA if they really wanted him, and they don’t because JT will be back in a month, and Stubbs is solid.
That’s a big old duh with Realmuto real injured.
If I still had two good knees and not been retired as a catcher for a couple of decades, I’d suit up for them.