Phillies: 5 catcher options if J.T. Realmuto leaves

Sign James McCann

We talked briefly about the free agent class earlier. Outside of Realmuto the Phillies options were limited. We already know that Molina is unlikely to leave St. Louis. Then there’s Wilson Ramos. Other than that, it’s a mixed bag.

Jason Castro isn’t going to hit for a very high average, Mike Zunino’s option is likely to be picked up by Tampa Bay, and the rest of the notable names are going to be in their late 30s by 2021.

The only other free agent option would be James McCann, who despite being 30 doesn’t have a lot of extra wear on his knees.

In his first four full seasons in Detroit, McCann averaged just 111 games a season behind the plate. He didn’t hit well, averaging just .240 and reaching double digit home runs twice.

Philadelphia Phillies

Last year McCann moved on to the White Sox where he had a mini power surge, hitting 18 home runs with a .273 batting average and making his first All-Star game. He set career highs across the board, including 26 doubles and 60 RBI. He also caught 31 percent of runners last year and has caught an average of 36 percent in his career.

Surprisingly this offseason the White Sox signed Yasmani Grandal to a four-year $73 million deal to play catcher. They also signed Edwin Encarnacion to be their designated hitter so the opportunities for McCann to play every day are slim.

If the White Sox do move on from McCann, he could be a cheap free agent option with power potential in Citizens Bank Park. A majority of his home runs over the last three seasons have gone to left field, a benefit playing in Philadelphia.

Fans would have to get to know McCann since he’s played his entire career in the American League, but he’s relatively young with not a ton of wear on his legs behind the plate. A short-term deal would give the Phillies stability behind the plate until one of their young catchers is ready.