Rangers sign Cameron Rupp to minor-league deal

The Rangers have signed catcher Cameron Rupp to a minor-league contract, the team announced. Rupp, who had played for the Phillies for the last three seasons, has been assigned to Triple-A Round Rock.

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that Rupp will earn $1 million if he is promoted to the majors.

Rupp comes to the Rangers’ organization six days after being released from Philadelphia, a team in which he spent parts of five seasons playing for.

After being drafted in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft, the 29-year-old catcher broke into the big leagues with the Phillies in 2013, playing only four games for them that season. The Phillies were able to keep him from exceeding his rookie limits until 2015, when he played 81 games for them. In 2016, Rupp played a career-high 105 games, slashing .252/.303/.447 with 16 home runs and 54 RBI. However, Rupp had a drop off in production in 2017, batting .217/.299/.417 with 14 homers and 34 RBI in 88 games while also struggling defensively (eight errors and 11 passed balls).

Rupp will try to make it back to the majors and compete for the backup catcher position for the Rangers. Currently, Juan Centeno is the second catcher behind No. 1 man Robinson Chirinos.