J.P. Arencibia heads into the batting practice cage with the Phillies (Philliedelphia/Frank Klose)
When the Phillies signed catcher J.P Arencibia, the plan was that Arencibia would provide organizational depth at catcher. After Carlos Ruiz and Cameron Rupp made it through 2015 without a single disabled list stint, the Phillies figured their luck was not likely to continue through a second season at the very physical catching position. The Phillies suffered a loss of that depth when Arencibia was granted his release at his request.
Arencibia has a new team: his old team. The Tampa Bay Rays signed Arencibia to a minor league contract, Mark Topin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Arencibia most played in the Major Leagues with the Rays in 2015. Arencibia found success with the Rays in 2015, batting .310 with six home runs and 17 runs batted in appearing in 24 games with the Rays.
As for the Phillies, almost immediately they found themselves challenged at catching depth on Saturday, after Cameron Rupp collided with Eugenio Suarez in a game-ending play at home plate. Rupp was able to return to catch on Wednesday, but if he had not been able to, the Phillies might have found themselves in a precarious situation. The only other catcher on the Phillies 40-man roster currently is Jorge Alfaro. However, the Phillies probably would prefer to keep Alfaro and Knapp in the minor leagues to develop.
But, the development of those players did not help the veteran Arencibia, who was batting .167 in just 12 games. With the Rays, Arencibia heads to AAA, but will not be blocked at the position like he was with the Phillies. Logan Moore replaced Arencibia as the backup catcher at AAA, and Joel Fisher fills that role at AA Reading.
