Lakeland, Fla. – Nobody has to explain the cruelties of this game to Cameron Rupp.
Coming off two productive seasons with the Phillies, the organization that drafted him and groomed him since 2010, Rupp avoided arbitration before the 2018 season by signing for $2 million. After playing parts of five seasons with them, hitting 30 home runs from 2016 and 2017, he was ready to settle in as the Phillies' backup catcher.
Two months later, he was designated for assignment.
“Welcome to the business side of baseball,” said Rupp, who the Tigers signed as a non-roster invitee on Friday.