CLEARWATER, Fla. — All along, the Phillies and Andrew Knapp needed this to work. It would be difficult to add another catcher to the 40-man roster, and there was no guaranteed playing time in triple A for the 25-year-old prospect.
The backup catcher's job was his to lose.
Knapp, on Monday, unofficially won it. The Phillies released veterans Bryan Holaday and Ryan Hanigan, who had clauses in their minor-league contracts that permitted them to request free agency if they weren't added to the 25-man roster.
Barring an unforeseen transaction or injury, Knapp is on the team.