Catching Help (the boring edition)

[nicksaviking]

Sometimes I think there just isn't an good answer to some problems.  I think catcher in 2016 might be one of them.  You might be stuck with free agents that have too many question marks to give a long term deal (Matt Weiters) or trade targets that will cost top prospects, and walk right when the team is ready to compete (Jon Lucory).  The position itself is cause for concern as prior and pending injuries may force a shift to another position or crush their effectiveness altogether (Weiters, Lucroy and that other guy)  Sometimes I think you just have to suck it up, say there is no real answer to this problem and make the best out of an ugly situation.

 

We have recently seen some former part-time/journeymen catchers surprise us.  Pittsburgh struck gold getting the previously forgotten Francisco Cervelli and Oakland found something when they got unknown Stephen Vogt.  Of course the Twins had four months of success giving Kurt Suzuki another chance at full-time duty in 2014.  I think there may be something to taking a chance on a part-time player and seeing if more regular play positively influences his game.

 

Let's look at the cringe worthy free agent catching class of 2016:

 

Geovany Soto - Not bad behind the plate and can throw out runners.  Nothing sexy but would be cheap and even in part time duty has managed an OPS over .700 in two of the last three years.  Perhaps there is still some chance that he could sniff his past glory and be a useful player?

 

Dioner Navarro - Solid behind the plate and can throw out runners.  Has had varying degrees of offensive success, including an OPS of .856 as recently as 2013 in a part-time role, though last year he was not very good.  He has some pop and is a switch hitter.

 

Michael McKenry - Um who? Well he's been the number two catcher in Colorado and Pittsburgh the past five years. Three of those five years he's had an OPS over .730 with a .910 (double take) OPS in just under 200 PA in 2014.  Defensively he doesn't look too hot, throwing out only 3 of 33 batters last year.  That seems like a high number of attempts against a back-up catcher, either the book is out on him, or Billy Hamilton was on base all the time against the Rockies last year.

 

Chris Iannetta - Experienced Colorado and Los Angeles Angles backstop.  2015 was a down year for the veteran, but he had plenty of full-time (most of the time?) duty in prior years and only once had an OPS under .730 between 2008 and 2014.  Defensively, he isn't the greatest, but he has thrown out 25% of his would-be base stealers in his career.

 

Jared Saltalamacchia - Former 1st round pick and top prospect.  A history of solid power for the position and his only truly dreadful year this decade was his first in Miami in 2014.  That was unfortunate as the sour taste he left in their mouth probably helped convince the team to cut bait on him after only 33 PA in 2015.  Upon signing with Arizona and playing part time, the switch hitter put up a .804 OPS which wasn't out of line with his years in Boston.  Defensively, well, let's just say he at least owns his own equipment.

 

Jordan Pacheco - Um who part II? Backup (often 3rd) catcher for Colorado and Arizona since 2011.  However he once was a starter, way back in 2012.  Offensively he hasn't been good.....except that one year he was a starter when he put up a .762 OPS (though still only a 93 OPS+) and 32 doubles in 475 PA.  Interestingly, this guy could hit in the minors with a .799 OPS with very strong on-base skills.  When he's had a full-time gig, he's put up really nice double and walk numbers.  So why didn't he ever get a chance? Well it doesn't look like his defense is all that great.

 

AJ Pierzynski - Not much to say here, we all know who he is.  Old but offensively reliable for nearly two decades.  Defensively he's not pretty and slightly less pretty aesthetically, but who wants a good looking catcher anyway?

 

Other catching free agents include Alex Avila, Carlos Corporan, Jeff Mathis and Brayan Pena, but none of these guys have shown the ability to swing a bat in years, if ever, and as much as fans want a defensive catcher, when we actually have one who can't hit, fewer ballplayers become more of a punching bag.

 

Personally, I think the Twins will avoid Wieters altogether but have strong dialogue about Lucroy.  Under the hypothetical situation where the Twins get neither and are rebuffed from trading for another team's young catcher and only shop for their next backstop here at C-Mart, the discount catcher retailer, who makes you weep the least?

 

 

[Winston Smith]

How about world champ Drew Butera? 

[nicksaviking]

I'm sad to say, but Butera still has an arb year left and surely KC will not let such an important cog get away.

[Willihammer]

In another thread someone mentioned the extra base component of catcher defense (SB-CS+PB+WP). Out of curiosity I went ahead and tallied the leaders for 2015 (min 400 IP) and then scaled to a /9 inning basis. Obviously this is a rough guideline and maybe meaningless depending on how you think about wild pitches. There's a surprising amount of variation though. FA's in yellow:
 

http://imgur.com/gallery/mRAogtJ

[Cory Engelhardt]

What would it take for the Twins to acquire Mike Zunino? I know he has been BAD offensively, but he is good defensively no? He is young (25 in March 2016) and even with the contact issues he has power. Would an Arcia trade, along with other parts, be enough, or am I dreaming. If he can learn some tips to help with contact/less striking out from Brunansky, he could be solid. I don't know if he'll be a star, but he could potentially be cheaper to acquire than Lucroy would be, right?

 

Maybe Arcia and Polanco. Is that too much?

[Thrylos]

 

Other catching free agents include Alex Avila, Carlos Corporan, Jeff Mathis and Brayan Pena, but none of these guys have shown the ability to swing a bat in years, if ever, and as much as fans want a defensive catcher, when we actually have one who can't hit, fewer ballplayers become more of a punching bag.

 

Hold onto your horses

 

Brayan Pena hit .295/.347/.353 in 98 games against RHPs last season, which is better than decent.   I'd take that every day as the guy who is facing righties in a platoon with Pinto (hopefully) or Suzuki.

[HitInAPinch]

I'm a little curious about Alex Avila and Brayan Pena.  Avila decline I believe was due to a concussion and some other injuries.  He was pretty decent for awhile and still only 28.  Pena could provide some offense.

 

 

[Dantes929]

 

How about world champ Drew Butera? 

For several years I saw posters whine about how no decent playoff team would ever have Punto or Butera on their 40 man much less see any playing time.    I always thought they were contributors and that fans had an inflated sense of what other teams had as backups.    Anyway, I would love to see an upgrade at catcher but did not really sense that other teams ran wild on Suzuki even though he didn't throw out that many guys.   I didn't think he framed pitches well but he was certainly tough and a good leader.   He didn't hit well but he seemed to do well in clutch situations.   All in all, I would like to see an upgrade but I don't think he really cost us as much as some think.

[Shane Wahl]

 

What would it take for the Twins to acquire Mike Zunino? I know he has been BAD offensively, but he is good defensively no? He is young (25 in March 2016) and even with the contact issues he has power. Would an Arcia trade, along with other parts, be enough, or am I dreaming. If he can learn some tips to help with contact/less striking out from Brunansky, he could be solid. I don't know if he'll be a star, but he could potentially be cheaper to acquire than Lucroy would be, right?

 

Maybe Arcia and Polanco. Is that too much?

 

Three years ago I claimed that Kevin Plawecki would be a better MLB catcher than Mike Zunino. 2016 is going to cement this as true. I would see what the Mets might want for Plawecki. I have to imagine it would involve Polanco.

[Shane Wahl]

I actually like Soto here.

[Major League Ready]

 

Hold onto your horses

 

Brayan Pena hit .295/.347/.353 in 98 games against RHPs last season, which is better than decent.   I'd take that every day as the guy who is facing righties in a platoon with Pinto (hopefully) or Suzuki.

I think you are on to something here.  Soto would be alright too.

[DocBauer]

Agreed on Soto. I still rank AJ number 1 for various reasons. But I really like Soto as my second option. Experience, defensive chops, and an OK bat with real bpuncback potential IMHO

[stringer bell]

It might be just me, but I couldn't live with Soto's throws back to the mound.

[ken]

I think they should call the Padres and check on Derek Norris or Austin Hedges. SD has some bad contracts (not interested in Shields) and we might be able to flip Nolasco.  Maybe Hicks, Polanco & Nolasco for Norris and Upton. Without the money from LA for the Kemp contract, they might be looking to remove some contracts.

[Boom Boom]

Suzuki was a fine backstop for a rebuilding team, but not so much when the team turns out to be closer to contention than they anticipated.

 

I think it would be very bad if Suzuki's 2017 option vests, especially considering the Twins' policy of "if we're paying him starter money, then by god, he's going to start."

[Mike Sixel]

I would not be opposed to a platoon, when was the last time the Twins had one and used it?

 

I agree, Suzuki's option vesting could be bad.....

 

I guess it comes down to, are the TWins going to try to be serious contenders next year, or do they still think they are a year or two away?

[nicksaviking]

Looking at the numbers, I think Chris Iannetta is becoming my choice.  I'd go for Soto or Navarro also, but I never realized how good Iannetta has been at getting on base in his career.  Last year he wasn't hitting, but he's historically had a great walk rate and a career OBP of .351.  The Twins could really use someone at the bottom of the order that can work the count and get on base regularly, offensively I think that's their biggest issue right now.

[markos]

I think this is a great post. Thanks for sharing your research.

[DocBauer]

 

Hold onto your horses

 

Brayan Pena hit .295/.347/.353 in 98 games against RHPs last season, which is better than decent.   I'd take that every day as the guy who is facing righties in a platoon with Pinto (hopefully) or Suzuki.

Not saying you are wrong...and I haven't had time to look up career numbers against RHP, but a career .260 AVG .300 OB .651 OPS leave a lot to be desired. Puts me back in the mind of AJ or Soto again.

[Buford_T_Justice]

 

In another thread someone mentioned the extra base component of catcher defense (SB-CS+PB+WP). Out of curiosity I went ahead and tallied the leaders for 2015 (min 400 IP) and then scaled to a /9 inning basis. Obviously this is a rough guideline and maybe meaningless depending on how you think about wild pitches. There's a surprising amount of variation though. FA's in yellow:
 

http://imgur.com/gallery/mRAogtJ

 

Hey, it looks like the Ramos kid turned out pretty well!

And, yes, I'm sorry for bringing it up.

 

Given the tendency for catchers to get injured, we should also be looking at how a platoon partner looks like alongside someone who looks a lot like Stuart Turner. If we're truly out of the Fryer / Herrmann era, that is.

 

Soto looks good. AJ would spend too much of his time telling Mauer how much he loves to be the Twins catcher.

[DJL44]

I think Christian Bethancourt could be acquired without a huge cost. The Braves need a 3B now that Olivera is being moved to the outfield.

[Monkeypaws]

What do Molitor and Ryan think about Suzuki?

 

I think Molitor likes him. Apart from St. Peter's comment about AJ, is there any evidence the Twins are looking to upgrade at catcher?

 

 

I know on this website the answer is an unqualified yes they should upgrade.  

 

I may have missed some comments from the Twins FO along the way.

[nicksaviking]

It seems like every post season interview done by Ryan has included questions about catching.  Every time Ryan makes it clear that catcher will be strongly assessed at the same time trying not to blame Suzuki.

 

There's a great interview in the 2016 Offseason Handbook!

[adorduan]

 

Suzuki was a fine backstop for a rebuilding team, but not so much when the team turns out to be closer to contention than they anticipated.

I think it would be very bad if Suzuki's 2017 option vests, especially considering the Twins' policy of "if we're paying him starter money, then by god, he's going to start."

There is no way they will let Suzuki's option vest.  They will run Fryer, Hermann, whatever warm body they can find out there to make sure it doesn't happen.

[Thrylos]

 

What do Molitor and Ryan think about Suzuki?

 

I think Molitor likes him. Apart from St. Peter's comment about AJ, is there any evidence the Twins are looking to upgrade at catcher?

 

 

I know on this website the answer is an unqualified yes they should upgrade.  

 

I may have missed some comments from the Twins FO along the way.

 

 

 

Here is a link to a video of a recent interview with TR, plus certain quotes from it, including the Catcher situation.

[Monkeypaws]

Thanks for the info guys.

[Otwins]

Excellent post and comments - I think you have the correct list.  I doubt that it will be Weiters or Lucroy.