The Phillies have signed catcher/first baseman John Hicks to a minor league deal, per Baseball America’s Chris Hilburn-Trenkle. Presumably, Hicks will be invited to participate in major league Spring Training, though an official announcement has not been made.
Hicks, 33, has appeared in six separate MLB seasons dating back to 2015. He’s gotten into 264 major league games in his career, mostly with the Tigers but also with the Mariners and Rangers. He’s hit 32 home runs in that time but with subpar walk and strikeout rates. His overall slash line is .236/.279/.401 for a wRC+ of 78.
He signed a minor league deal with the Cubs for 2022 but never got the call to the majors. In 95 Triple-A games, he hit .261/.313/.510 for a wRC+ of 112. Defensively, he got into 67 contests as a catcher but also saw some limited time at the infield corners.
The Phillies already have one of the best catchers in the game in J.T. Realmuto and a solid backup in Garrett Stubbs. They have a couple of depth options on the 40-man in Donny Sands and Rafael Marchan. However, they did subtract from their overall depth by trading Logan O’Hoppe to the Angels in the Brandon Marsh deal. Adding Hicks will give them a veteran option to on hand should a need arise.
I would complain but given how well the Wynns maneuver worked for us I can’t complain.
Interesting, looks like Marchan may be on the move?
Phillies future minor catching depth is deep down in the single A levels. Curious…
Or just spring training fodder…..? IDK just love the hot-stove season, even when the burner is on simmer….
Again, same was said when Wynns was signed last year and here we are. Phils like having 3 AAA catchers.
Stove=Scalding Hot (source: trust me bro)
This one’s a head scratcher. If he was a lefty and you could platoon him with Hoskins then maybe, but he’s a rightie with worse stats then Hoskin, who Phillies fans would like to see an upgrade at 1b.
This move has zero to do with Hoskins. He will be minor league depth, nothing more.
No scratching needed he is a fifth string depth catcher. Pitchers in the minors need someone to throw to. Head scratcher would be that the Yankees keep the other “Hicks”.
5th string depth catcher? That is solid. He’ll be in the show by mid April.
I’d have rather Bill Hicks.
Warm up catching depth.
Depth move. He plays catcher and 1B. Decent bat with some power.
Injury insurance and/or trade bait..
Hicks is my man. As you might guess, I’m partial to the back up catcher to the back up catcher. Don’t have to do much while collecting MLB meal money. And, working on your tan in the bullpen is another plus.
Gotta feeling Dombro will make a much bigger splash in the FA market as the weeks move by. Hoping we get Trea Turner, a solid #4 or #5 SP and maybe a bullpen arm or two.
Happy Thanksgiving to all baseball fans.
Stockpiling for Spring. Always happens. Never a bad idea. When pitchers and catchers report, you need guys like this. Good luck to him.
Damn was hoping it was Aaron