The Indians have agreed to a minor league deal with former Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp, per a team announcement. The former Phillies backstop will be in Major League camp when Spring Training opens.
Rupp, 31, hasn’t been in the big leagues since the 2017 season. He’s bounced between the Triple-A affiliates for the Twins, Rangers, Mariners, Tigers and A’s over the past couple of seasons, hitting for some power but struggling to get on base or hit for average. That general description is well in line with the skill set that Rupp displayed with the Phillies from 2013-17, when he appeared in 296 games and hit .234/.298/.407 with 39 homers in 1127 plate appearances.
The Indians don’t have an immediate need for a backup option, as Sandy Leon was brought in to support starter Roberto Perez, who enjoyed a breakout 2019 season at the plate. The Cleveland organization is a bit thin on catching depth in the upper minors, though, so Rupp will give them an experienced option to pair with fellow offseason signee Beau Taylor in Triple-A Columbus if he shows well in Spring Training.
Welcome to Columbus.
It’s amazing how bad the DET catchers were that he didn’t receive any playing time. It’ll be interesting how Mejia does this year in SD..but more so if Perez can repeat.
They needed someone to stash in AAA. They lost Haase on waivers and after Taylor nobody has MLB experience and is largely not good. The description of “thin” is spot on. You have:
Kungkuan Giljegiljaw (formerly Li Jen Chu, now going now by aboriginal name). Averaged like a .650 OPS in AA the last two years. And is a bat first catcher (read: not a good defender)
Logan Ice: Even worse hitter, but somewhat better regarded defensively
GianPaul Gonzalez and Jason Rodriguez – longtime organizational guys who have never been starters at any level.
Nobody else in the org has played above A ball. Gavin Collins might become a decent ish option this year, and longer term they hope Bo Naylor will be the answer (he starts at High A this year likely).
Giljegiljaw reminds me a lot of when they had Chun Chen in the system about a decade or so ago. He may end up producing a little with the bat, but not enough to overcome his defense or for his bat to profile anywhere else. I’m holding out hope, but I think Chun Chen is a realistic expectation, and he never even made the majors.
Logan Ice is a good defender but can’t hit at all. Gonzalez and Rodriguez aren’t even worth mentioning. Gavin Collins probably isn’t a long term catcher, but it’s possible. Naylor could be legit in a few years, but the key words there are “a few years.”
The only other catchers that warrant mention are Bryan Lavastida (probably a backup at best but he’s hit really well in pro ball so maybe he’s more than that), and Yainer Diaz (he absolutely torched rookie ball pitching but was pretty mediocre with the Scrappers).
Andy Tracy the manager of the Indians triple A team the Columbus Clippers was so happy he purchased a Rupp Roast for dinner when he first found out about the likely signing.
Cameron Rupp is a horribly rated pitch framer.
I still remember his days in Philly where he was a starter and in the Major Leagues *shivers* at least we have J.T. Realmuto now.
I played with Rupp in high school, great guy and great family. I hope he can get back to the show.
Hmmmmmm – interesting signing
Sorry – my first time in, just testing the waters
No apologies needed. Welcome.
“Give me the Larry Fine.”
Welcome Curly.
I loved all four of the original Stooges but Moe was my favorite because he was the intelligent Stooge.