The Phillies added another player on a minor-league deal on Wednesday, signing veteran catcher Ryan Hanigan and inviting him to spring training.
Hanigan, 36, spent his first seven seasons with the Reds before spending a year with the Rays and two with the Red Sox.
He's played sparingly the last two years, hitting .219/.298/.294 in 314 plate appearances with Boston.
But Hanigan has provided value as a backup catcher throughout his career. He has a .345 career on-base percentage, a decent number for a backstop. And he's thrown out 37 percent of base-stealers, nine percent better than the league average.
Hanigan's best run was from 2010-12, when he hit .279 with a .373 OBP for the Reds. But his on-base skills have been slightly overstated given the 37 intentional walks he's been issued as a No. 8 hitter.
Hanigan will provide depth in spring training and could potentially earn a job as Cameron Rupp's backup if he has a strong camp. He'll be battling with fellow non-roster catchers Bryan Holaday, Logan Moore and Chace Numata.
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The Phillies also have two catching prospects nearing the majors in Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp.
Alfaro, who has by far the most upside, is expected to begin the year as a starter in the minors.
Knapp, now 25 years old, is also a candidate for the Phillies' backup catcher job, with GM Matt Klentak saying this offseason that the backup doesn't necessarily have to be a veteran.
