Fryer, 32, has spent time with six organizations since being drafted by Milwaukee as a 10th-round pick in 2007. He spent last season with St. Louis, appearing in 34 games while hitting .155. For his career, he's a .232 hitter with just two home runs and 27 RBIs over 374 plate appearances in seven big league seasons.
With three catchers currently on the 40-man roster in Jorge Alfaro, Andrew Knapp, and Cameron Rupp it's hard at this point to see Fryer as anything more than organizational depth.
The Philadelphia Baseball Review has also learned the Phillies have signed Philadelphia product and former Northeast Catholic pitcher Ryan Etsell to a minor-league contract.
The 26-year-old right-hander spent last season in the Frontier League with the Evansville Otters where he started five games and finished 2-2 with a 2.42 ERA.
Originally drafted in the 16th round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2013 Amateur Draft, Etsell reached High-A Inland Empire in 2015 but was released by the organization in 2016 after battling an injury and a rough stint in the Arizona Fall League.
In three years with the Angels' organization, Etsell was a combined 12-11 with a 4.28 ERA.
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