Veteran catcher Bryan Holaday has exercised the opt-out clause in his minor-league deal with the Phillies, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick tweets. The Phillies told Holaday he wouldn’t make the team’s Opening Day roster. The Phillies have also released veteran catcher Ryan Hanigan, tweets MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. It therefore appears Andrew Knapp has made the team as the backup catcher to Cameron Rupp, as Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.
The Phillies signed Holaday and Hanigan over the winter to provide veteran competition for youngsters Knapp and perhaps Jorge Alfaro. Holaday, though, played somewhat sparingly this spring, receiving just 24 at-bats even though he out-hit Knapp in a small sample. Hanigan hit even better and played even less. Of course, a catcher’s job is about far more than hitting, particularly over just a handful of games, and Knapp (the primary catcher at Triple-A Lehigh Valley last year) appeared to be the favorite for the job heading into camp.
The 29-year-old Holaday has appeared in parts of five big-league seasons, batting .245/.282/.346. He played for the Rangers and Red Sox last year. Hanigan, a ten-year veteran, also played for the Red Sox in 2016.
Who in the Philly FO came from Boston? Holaday, Clay, and Hanigan? Gotta be someone, right?
Well the players are gone now so I’m guessing Boston made the right decision.
Daniel Nava and Dailer Hinojosa too
Forgot about them.
why
With so many players being released you have to wonder if this is a league wide conspiracy by the owners to not pay players. Thats collusion and is not allowed per the elective bargaining agreement. If the players association gets the right lawyer or lawyers they will clobber the owners on this issue.
There is a deadline for all Article Xx-B Free Agents who signed minor league deals this past offseason to be purchased by Tuesday noon or given a retention bonus of 100K$. Very few of these vets have been good enough to be purchased or be given a bonus to go to AAA. It’s no different than last year and written into the CBA, they have no basis for a lawsuit.
Dudes get cut all the time. It’s tough, every year there’s a new kid tryin to take your job, and ya he’s making league minimum. Pro sports is cutthroat. I remember when owners got in trouble for collusion, this sir is not collusion.
I doubt they could claim collusion when a team cuts a 36-year old catcher who can’t hit and led the league in passed balls while playing 1/5 of the season.
Agreed — all players listed are washed up… Philly has a strong scout presence in Boston . They didn’t show enough.
I’ll be interested to see how Knapp handles major league pitching. He had a difficult season in AAA last year defensively. There were games when he was removed late for defensive purposes. The Phillies obviously went with his offensive upside here.
More young guys Phillies put on MLB roster the better. Hanigans and holadays can be found anywhere if needed