A wide net was cast by the San Francisco Giants in their search for a backup catcher last spring.
Cameron Maybin, Rene Rivera, Tom Murphy and Stephen Vogt were all signed to minor league deals, while Erik Kratz was acquired in a minor trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The team eventually decided on Kratz for the backup job to start the season, with Vogt accepting an assignment to Triple-A and waiting in the wings to eventually take over the job,
In the aftermath of that decision, Rivera was released, Rupp was traded to the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations, and Murphy was traded to the Seattle Mariners for rookie ball right-hander Jesus Ozoria.