Paul

Phillips

Phillips went 1-for-5 in four games for the Royals last year. He’ll be John Buck’s backup.

Phillips takes Alberto Castillo’s spot as John Buck’s backup. It might be his job for the long-term. He doesn’t have the potential to be an asset as a regular.

He’ll replace Alberto Castillo, and was hitting .268 in Triple-A Omaha with seven home runs and 42 RBI in 332 at-bats.

Memorable, yet not so much. Phillips had been 3-for-17 with no RBI over the past two seasons.

The Royals would do just as well with the 29-year-old Phillips’ as John Buck’s backup, but they’re paying good money for Paul Bako’s intangibles. He was a member of the 2003 Cubs, you know.

Phillips, who was hitting .249/.295/.375 in 261 at-bats for Omaha, will serve as John Buck’s backup for at least the next couple of weeks. He shouldn’t be picked up even in two-catcher AL-only leagues.

The 29-year-old catcher doesn’t have much of a stick, batting just .246 with a .364 slugging percentage in 90 Triple-A games this year. He will probably be removed from the Royals’ 40-man roster after the season. KC also purchased the contract of righty Jose Diaz, who came over to the team in the Matt Stairs trade.

Phillips was already an extreme longshot to break camp with the big club, and this injury essentially seals his fate. He’ll likely be sidelined for a few weeks before beginning the season at Triple-A.

Phillips missed a majority of the Cactus League schedule to due a strained oblique. The 34-year-old backstop owns a pedestrian .262/.298/.357 career batting line in the major leagues.

Phillips will spend the rest of the season as the Royals’ third catcher.