Josh

Phegley

The news was announced by his agency, Pro Star Management, on Wednesday. “Family considerations and business opportunities factored into his decision,” reads the tweet from PSM. Phegley, who turns 33 years old next week, will finish his eight-year major league career with a lifetime .225/.268/.381 batting line.

This move clears a Wild Card Series roster spot for Josh Phegley, who will serve as the Cubs’ emergency third catcher. Osich, 32, struggled to a 6.38 ERA in 18 1/3 innings this summer between Boston and Chicago.

Phegley was designated for assignment by Chicago last week to open up a roster spot for Jose Martinez. Phegley will remain in the organization but seems doubtful to reappear in the majors this year.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Jose Martinez. Phegley hasn’t played much as the team’s third catcher.

He’ll take a seat against left-hander Kwang Hyun Kim. Ian Happ is also out of the lineup for the first game. Look for them to play in Game 2. Albert Almora Jr. is in center field while Josh Phegley will serve as the DH in Game 1.

Phegley had a huge spring training and summer camp, convincing the Cubs to carry a third catcher. The expanded rosters didn’t hurt, of course.

The 31-year-old backstop appeared in a career-high 106 games with the Athletics in 2019, slashing .239/.282/.411 with 12 homers and 62 RBI. He’ll compete for a reserve role on the club’s Opening Day roster.

The 31-year-old Phegley saw the largest workload of his career in 2019, slashing .239/.282/.411 with 12 homers and 62 RBI in 342 plate appearances. He was expected to earn a raise to $2.2 million through arbitration though, and the A’s felt they could better allocate those funds elsewhere. Phegley will look to latch on elsewhere as part of a platoon.

As noted by Rosenthal, “all three players are non-tender candidates as they enter their final years of arbitration before reaching free agency.” Profar was acquired from the Rangers last December after a breakout 2018 season in Texas, but he went on to bat just .218/.301/.410 across 518 plate appearances with Oakland. The former top prospect is projected to make around $5.8 million in 2020 via the arbitration process. Treinen, who lost his closer gig in 2019 to Liam Hendriks, is projected for a salary bump to $7.8 million.

Phegley kicked off the Athletics’ four-run outburst in the second inning with a two-run double to right field off Tigers’ starter Spencer Turnbull. It was his lone hit in two at-bats on the night before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning. The 31-year-old catcher is hitting .247/.292/.425 with 42 runs scored, 11 home runs and 57 RBI in 314 plate appearances.