Phillies ink $2.05M deal with Rupp to avoid arbitration

Per Matt Gelb, the Phillies have re-upped with Cameron Rupp, signing him to a one-year, $2.05 million contract.

By securing this deal, the Phils avoid arbitration with Rupp, as he was in his first year of eligibility. Rupp made $565,000 last season, so this represents a significant raise.

Rupp hit .217/.299/.417 with 14 home runs and 34 runs batted in, a poor season at the plate for sure, and not a great season behind it, either. His grip on the starting job was loosened during the season, as Andrew Knapp received more playing time before an injury. Prospect Jorge Alfaro was promoted in August and slowly received more playing time himself. After Sept. 1 he started just eight of the team’s final 28 games.

Whether Rupp remains with the Phils is still in question, but a $2.05 million pact makes it slightly less realistic that he’s moved. It seems the Phils are happy heading into 2018 with some depth at the upper levels of the catching ranks, which honestly can’t hurt. Still, one can argue that an established veteran catcher with better pitch framing and defensive skills

would be a better direction for the position.

Rupp is the first of four arbitration-eligible players with whom the Phils have agreed to a contract. The Phillies have until Friday to reach deals with Cesar Hernandez, Maikel Franco and Luis Garcia before arbitration hearings are set.