PHILADELPHIA -- Cameron Rupp is signed through 2018.
A source confirmed a Philly.com report that the Phillies and Rupp have agreed to a $2.05 million contract, avoiding salary arbitration. Teams and players had to exchange salary arbitration figures by 1 p.m. ET on Friday if an agreement could not be reached.
Third baseman Maikel Franco, right-hander Luis Garcia and second baseman Cesar Hernandez were also eligible for salary arbitration, and they reached agreements Friday, according to sources.
Rupp will enter Spring Training next month in an interesting situation. Rookie catcher Jorge Alfaro will make the Opening Day roster in part because he is out of options. It leaves Rupp and Andrew Knapp competing for the second catching job.
Rupp posted a .716 OPS in 331 plate appearances last season. He had a .750 OPS in 389 plate appearances in 2016. Knapp posted a .736 OPS in 204 plate appearances last season. Phillies general manager Matt Klentak has cited Knapp a couple times this offseason when talking about hitters that "control the strike zone," which is a point of emphasis for the front office.
Both Rupp and Knapp have options remaining, meaning one of them can open the season in Triple-A Lehigh Valley.