Mets claim former Phillies catcher prospect off waivers

Former Philadelphia Phillies catcher prospect Deivy Grullon has found a new home with a division rival, the New York Mets, who claimed him off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, according to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo.

Grullon spent seven years in the Phillies organization from 2013-19. He was long considered among the organization’s best catchers in the farm system, even after Jorge Alfaro was acquired from the Texas Rangers in the July 2015 Cole Hamels trade. As DiComo notes, Grullon ranked among the Top 20 Phillies prospects as recently as the 2019 season.

Former Phillies catcher Deivy Grullon has joined the Mets.

Starting as a 17-year-old in 2013, the Dominican Republic native worked his way to the majors and wearing red pinstripes in 2019 — when in four games and nine plate appearances in late September, he collected a double, RBI, and two strikeouts (.111/.111/.222).

The Phillies designated Grullon for assignment last August, when he was then claimed by the Boston Red Sox. Grullon appeared in one game last season with President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski‘s former team, collecting a hit, RBI, walk, and strikeout across four plate appearances — coincidentally opposite the Phillies.

Grullon has since bounced around different MLB organizations in recent months. The Cincinnati Reds claimed him off waivers from the Red Sox in late December 2020. Then, the Tampa Bay Rays did the same earlier this month, before designating him for assignment this past Saturday.

The Mets are now the fifth Major League Baseball organization that the 25-year-old has been affiliated with. Considering James McCann and Tomas Nido already have big-league spots on the Mets depth chart, it will not be easy for Grullon to get playing time in the majors — unless there is an injury.

Surely, it is inevitable that Grullon will have a breakout game against Phillies pitching, right? He would not the first former top Phils catcher prospect to play for the Mets — Travis d’Arnaud, who was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays for Roy Halladay — comes to mind, in particular.