After an injury, Phillies General Manager Dave Dombrowski says teams were called to offer veteran catchers.

Dave Dombrowski, general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, is in his fifth decade as an executive and has seen almost everything. The Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, and now the Philadelphia Phillies have all had him head their baseball operations departments. There was no way that a trade deadline could take him off guard.

Though his Phillies aren’t considered to be among the more active clubs, this year is no exception. Why? The Phillies have the best record in the National League (46-22 going into their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday), but there isn’t much space for improvement on the squad.

Dombrowski agreed that at this point in the baseball calendar, there is no reason to press for a deal.

Dombrowski said, “I think it’s way, way, way, way too early,” to Matt Gelb. Five or six clubs declare themselves to be sellers. However, if they’re selling right now, it’s either because they’re asking for too much or they’re people that aren’t exactly high on your list.”

Teams called Dombrowski to see if he was interested in their own catchers, even though it is just the second week of June and Realmuto’s recovery timeline allows him to return this season.

“Well, we’ve had three organizations, and multiple people from those organizations call us on veteran catchers,” Gelb replied. Give us a call. “Hey, what do you think of this guy?” That they’re attempting to get rid of them is often not a positive indication. instead of going in the other direction and chasing them.”

Following Dombrowski’s logic, there are at least three very motivated sellers already, with seven weeks left before the July 30 trade deadline.

It’s purely speculation, but one team at the very bottom of the standings has an aging but marginally valuable catcher on its roster: the Chicago White Sox, and Martin Maldonado.

Maldonado, 37, has struggled to a .078 batting average in 102 at-bats with the White Sox. Never known for his bat, Maldonado is regarded as one of the best game-calling catchers during a career that began in 2011 with the Milwaukee Brewers.

It would be even more speculative to guess at the identities of the other two teams and catchers. The White Sox are 18-52, and no other team is within seven games of their won-loss record.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be other motivated sellers in