Detroit Tigers acquire Cameron Rupp, get insurance at catcher

March 09-- Mar. 9--TAMPA -- The Tigers made a minor move on Friday evening, acquiring catcher Cameron Rupp from the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations.

Rupp, 30, is a .234 hitter in parts of five seasons with the Phillies. The Giants signed Rupp to a minor-league deal in December. In 2018, he played in Triple-A for the Rangers, Twins, and Mariners.

Rupp will join the Tigers in major league spring training as a non-roster invitee.

The move should be viewed in the context of veteran catching insurance.

Currently, rookie Grayson Greiner is slated to be the team's Opening Day starter at catcher. Behind him, John Hicks will back up. Bobby Wilson, a nine-year veteran, represents the team's most seasoned option behind the plate.

Rupp's addition will insure them in the case Greiner cannot hold down the starting catcher position. In such a scenario, Greiner likely would head back to Triple-A Toledo, with Hicks likely stepping into the everyday role.

But Hicks is also being counted on to back-up Miguel Cabrera at first base.

Wilson, a terrific defender, is limited offensively. Rupp, who hit double-digit home runs in his last two Major League seasons -- 16 in 2016 and 14 in 2017 -- offers some pop at the position.

Because Rupp is not on the 40-man roster, the team will not have to make a corresponding roster move.

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.

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