As the Philadelphia Phillies were gearing up for the playoffs, I tried to predict who the backup to starting catcher J.T. Realmuto would be in the postseason. Although I ultimately landed on Rafael Marchan, the real conclusion was that the options were wholly uninspiring.
The Phillies, of course, wound up carrying both Marchan and Garrett Stubbs on their Wild Card Round roster and got promptly eliminated in three games, so we'll never know what would have been the right answer had they made the NLDS or gone even further. But seeing as Realmuto was the only one trusted to get any playing time against the Braves, it's safe to say Don Mattingly and his coaching staff weren't thrilled with the catching options available to them.
Thus, it falls upon the front office to upgrade that No. 2 catcher spot on the depth chart this offseason, even if it's a much smaller priority than other agenda items like addressing the bullpen and building a competent defensive unit. And when they do get around to it, the Phillies might ultimately find that a reunion is in everyone's best interest.
Logan O'Hoppe is laden with the upside Phillies have been yearning for behind J.T. Realmuto
Logan O'Hoppe never technically played for the Phillies, but he was one of the organization's top prospects before being dealt to the Los Angeles Angels for Brandon Marsh at the 2022 trade deadline. Like most young players in Anaheim, he showed flashes but never broke through, and the Angels eventually dumped him in a confusing intra-division trade with the Rangers this past summer.
Even though he played well after the deal (104 wRC+), he hardly got any playing time and is widely considered to be a non-tender candidate this offseason. His lack of recent success—he's been worth -1.6 fWAR since the start of 2025—will push him toward the bottom of the market if he does reach free agency, but there's some upside for the Phillies to bet on.
It was just two years ago that O'Hoppe put together a breakout campaign, clobbering 20 home runs en route to a 104 wRC+ in 2024. Combined with a tremendous evolution behind the plate (he was above average in framing, blocking, and catching attempted stealers), he was worth 2.3 fWAR as a 24-year-old and rising star at a position dominated by veterans.
Things have deteriorated since then, both at and behind the plate, but he won't even turn 27 until February. He brings far more upside to the table than either Marchan or Stubbs and would benefit from learning from a legend like Realmuto, a bounce-back candidate in his own right.
O'Hoppe wouldn't magically fix the catching depth chart overnight, but with the front office focusing their attention and resources elsewhere this winter, reuniting with O'Hoppe would at least make for a more exciting group at the position in 2027.
Add us as a preferred source on Google