The Phillies have added some catching depth, agreeing to a minor league deal with Brian Navarreto that includes an invite to big league camp, according to Ari Alexander of Boston 7 News.
Navarreto, who turns 32 next month, comes to Philadelphia after electing free agency when the Marlins waived him at the end of the season. He has spent 13 years in the minors across four organizations and has only seen MLB action with Miami.
His big league résumé is still pretty limited, but he did carve out a real role over the last two seasons as a backup catcher. This year was his busiest stretch yet: 32 games and 61 plate appearances, both career highs, while he held a roster spot for the final three months of the season.
At the plate, the results were light. Navarreto hit .135/.193/.250 with one home run in limited action.
His value came more from the other side of the game, where he worked with rookie Joe Mack and second-year player Agustín Ramírez. Over nearly 1,000 Triple-A plate appearances across six seasons, he owns a .232/.300/.366 line.
He doesn’t bring much offensive upside, but he does carry a reputation for defense and has a strong arm. This season, he threw out eight of 23 attempted basestealers, good for 34.8%.
The fit makes sense for Philadelphia, which has been trying to clean up one of the least productive catching groups in the majors. The club wants to reduce J.T.
Realmuto’s workload, so a more dependable backup is part of the equation. Garrett Stubbs is already gone, and Rafael Marchán remains on the roster, though he is out of options and would have to clear waivers if the Phillies try to send him to Triple-A.
If Philadelphia adds another backup through a trade or another signing, Marchán could be the odd man out on the 40-man roster and possibly in the organization altogether. Navarreto, by contrast, gives the Phillies more flexibility and is likely to begin the season in Triple-A.
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