The Philadelphia Phillies were hoping to gain clarity at the catcher position by mid-January, but that hasn’t happened. Veteran catcher J.T. Realmuto remains unsigned, and despite heading into his age-35 season, he stands as the most dependable option on the free-agent market for teams in need of a catcher. As a result, negotiations with the Phillies have continued to stretch on, even though the organization still wants to bring him back.
With uncertainty lingering, Philadelphia has been forced to at least explore contingency options. While far from an ideal alternative, the Phillies have ensured they added catching depth on minor-league deals for spring training. These signings provide insurance in case Realmuto ultimately departs, even if the newcomers are primarily competing for a backup role.
Earlier this week, the Phillies added a veteran catcher on a minor-league contract. According to the transactions log on his MLB.com roster page, René Pinto agreed to a minor-league deal with Philadelphia on Tuesday, though it took a few days for the move to officially appear in the log, which is common for such signings.
Pinto, 29, has appeared in 83 major-league games, all with the Tampa Bay Rays. After being waived by Tampa Bay at the conclusion of the 2024 season, he spent the past year at the Triple-A level within the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays organizations.
Pinto opted for free agency from the Blue Jays shortly after the team’s narrow World Series loss in November, likely seeking an organization with less depth behind the plate than Toronto. Philadelphia fits that description, as the Phillies’ projected Opening Day catching tandem would consist of Rafael Marchán and Drew Stubbs.
In limited major-league action, Pinto has produced a .231 batting average with 10 home runs and a respectable .404 slugging percentage. If he’s able to improve his on-base ability, he could carve out a role as a capable backup catcher at the major-league level.
