The Phillies have announced that catcher who was recently designated for assignment, has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. While he has the option to elect free agency, it’s unclear whether he has chosen to do so yet.
He, 31, signed a minor league deal with the Phillies this offseason and appeared in 74 Triple-A games, though his performance was underwhelming. He hit eight home runs and stole six bases but struggled with a 4.4% walk rate and a 35.6% strikeout rate, leading to a .163/.219/.287 batting line.
Despite his struggles, the Phillies called Garcia up earlier this month when J.T. Realmuto needed time off due to a knee injury. Garcia served as a backup to Garrett Stubbs, appearing in three games and going hitless in seven plate appearances. With Realmuto returning, Garcia was removed from the roster.
Although Garcia hasn’t excelled offensively in his career—he has a .211/.248/.325 line in 327 MLB plate appearances—his defense is well-regarded, making him a viable depth option. Players with at least three years of service time or a prior outright can reject an outright assignment and become free agents, which Garcia is eligible to do. However, given the timing, he may choose to stay with the Phillies, as he could play in the postseason if either Realmuto or Stubbs gets injured. If not re-selected before the offseason, Garcia would be eligible for free agency.
Leave a Reply