Article: REPORT: Twins To Sign Jason Castro

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I get that he is better defensively then Zuke, but the problem with the starting pitching is outside of Santana and Berrios there aren't really any guys who can be anything more than backend filler at this stage. Pitch framing doesn't help when dudes are hitting the cover off the ball against you.

 

I just really don't like the 3 years aspect.

looking at who was available 3 years seems reasonable. If there was another early free agency catcher and if Wilson Ramos weren't injured, then maybe you could make a case for offering Castro a 2 year 17 mil deal and he might take it, but the market is what it is and you always overpay in FA. They needed to, frankly.

 

Revamping a roster happens one move at a time

[jimmer]

 

I won't pretend to be smarter than anyone here, but not a single person has mentioned Catro's ability to call a game. Catchers are the quarterback, the point guard, the guy that needs to know what everyone's responsibility is AND know how to attack each batter. Mental aptitude or pitch calling isn't measured in WAR. So we need to stop using that as the baseline measure. He caught the 2015 Cy Young award winner. I'd like to think how preparation had something to do with that.

There's too many intangibles that you can't measure with catchers that provide value. I want a catcher than can put our pitchers in a better position, prior to the pitch during the pitch and then after the pitch. If he provides value with the bat, even better.

Our pitching staff needs someone that makes them better and I want to believe the framing skills and his bat vsRHP are not the only reason for 24 million deal.

And some people raved about how good Suzuki was at calling games and working with pitchers to help our staff as we gave him an extension.

 

We'll see how it goes.  It's an improvement.  

[TheLeviathan]

 

Ramos would have been a much better choice imo

 

I'd rather not invest that much in someone so consistently hurt.

[King]

 

Trying this again:

 

We got him for a good price.  He's an improvement.  I wonder how much.  We'll find out.

Over Murphy/Garver/Centeno, a big one!

 

Ramos would have been a much better choice imo

 

He's the better player. But it's really hard to say. MLBTR Free Agent Predictions had Ramos getting 4yr/50mil. He hit well in 2016 supported by a high BABIP, and was utterly terrible at the plate in 2015. Likely he is somewhere in the middle of those two peaks. On top of this his ACL popped at the end of the season. And we don't know other factors, like if he didn't want to sign here.

Edited November 23, 2016 by King

[DJSim22]

 

I won't pretend to be smarter than anyone here, but not a single person has mentioned Catro's ability to call a game. Catchers are the quarterback, the point guard, the guy that needs to know what everyone's responsibility is AND know how to attack each batter. Mental aptitude or pitch calling isn't measured in WAR. So we need to stop using that as the baseline measure. He caught the 2015 Cy Young award winner. I'd like to think how preparation had something to do with that.

There's too many intangibles that you can't measure with catchers that provide value. I want a catcher than can put our pitchers in a better position, prior to the pitch during the pitch and then after the pitch. If he provides value with the bat, even better.

Our pitching staff needs someone that makes them better and I want to believe the framing skills and his bat vsRHP are not the only reason for 24 million deal.

 

Best post thus far in the thread by a mile.  Far more important than perceived "framing".

[wsnydes]

I'd rather not invest that much in someone so consistently hurt.

And multiple issues with the same knee. Edited November 23, 2016 by wsnydes

[Kwak]

The Twins needed a Catcher--and apparently signed (for a juicy premium!) a good one who would actually sign with a xxxx-59 win team. This is a win--not big win--but a win. We, as fans, must try to "keep it real" in our expectations.

[jimmer]

 

 He caught the 2015 Cy Young award winner. I'd like to think how preparation had something to do with that.

 

In 2015, Castro caught 17 of Kuechel's games, ERA of 2.26. Conger caught 16, ERA of 2.67.  Pretty darn close to the same.

 

And Castro caught Kuechel this year too, right? 16 games, 99 innings, ERA over 5.00. 9 games with Gattis catching his ERA was about half of what it was with Castro.  Why was Kuechel so much better with Gattis?

 

I'm just messing, though.  Your post was very good and makes good points.

Edited November 23, 2016 by jimmer

[jimmer]

 

The Twins needed a Catcher--and apparently signed (for a juicy premium!) a good one who would actually sign with a xxxx-59 win team. This is a win--not big win--but a win. We, as fans, must try to "keep it real" in our expectations.

yes, this.

[nicksaviking]

Ramos would have been a much better choice imo

So you sign a catcher in the 2016-17 off season who probably won't catch until 2018, if ever?

[DaveW]

So you sign a catcher in the 2016-17 off season who probably won't catch until 2018, if ever?

Ramos will catch in 2017

[spinowner]

 

They need to fix the catching no doubt, but they need to be aiming much higher than Jason Castro.
 

There's not much above Castro in free agency, and trading for a top-flight catcher at this stage of rebuilding would hurt more than help. I think they aimed about right.

[wsnydes]

Ramos will catch in 2017

Probably, but at the earliest he'd be back would be June, more likely July or August. A lost season in likelihood. No guarantees of what you'll get either.

[tobi0040]

I really like this signing. I think we get an upgrade at C that will help our staff. Not a huge commitment. Not blocking anyone. It looks like we are valuing defense and believing in platooning.

[spinowner]

 

Ramos would have been a much better choice imo

I disagree. A 29 year old catcher with a serious knee injury? Pass.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Coming into the off-season everyone is concerned with the pitching staff. Too many ignored the weakness the Twins have at the catcher position.

 

The Twins have addressed this in a way that should help the pitching staff.

 

That looks like a win to me. 

[DaveW]

I disagree. A 29 year old catcher with a serious knee injury? Pass.

I guess time will tell. But as usual I will be proven right

[jimmer]

 

Coming into the off-season everyone is concerned with the pitching staff. Too many ignored the weakness the Twins have at the catcher position.

 

The Twins have addressed this in a way that should help the pitching staff.

 

That looks like a win to me. 

Now they need to address the 29th ranked team defense :-)

[Brock Beauchamp]

An unspectacular move but the kind of prudent, smart move a team with a trash fire for a pitching staff needs going forward.

[nicksaviking]

Ramos will catch in 2017

Maybe a little, but I doubt much. He's looking for a short term deal anyway to rebuild his value. If he gets a one year deal what good does that do the Twins? If it's two years then it means he and his agent almost certainly know he won't be catching next year and want the second year to rebuild value.

[jctwins]

 

For a team that is clearly rebuilding is this smart to sign a catcher for this type of money over 3 years?  Wouldn't you think Mitch Garver should be ready to take over in 2018 at least if not sooner?

 

At the end of this deal is about as soon as you can expect this team to be competitive, so it's really just filling a gap until they know what they have overall. Then you extend him or go get someone that really matters.

[Mr. Brooks]

This will make him the #7 most highly paid catcher in the league. Is he at that level?

 

His WAR ranks 23rd at the position. This is a 0.5 improvement over Suzuki.

 

Of course, WAR does not measure pitch framing which appears to be the justification for this move. He is ranked #5 for pitch framing, right below the Braves catcher. How well did the Braves do last year?

It's not really fair to compare guys who have hit the open market vs. guys still under team control, regarding salary.

If you can develop talent, your reward is getting underpriced production.

When you fail to develop and have to go to FA, you pay a premium.

[Mr. Brooks]

Ramos would have been a much better choice imo

Ramos might not be able to catch again.

You complain about our surplus of DH/1B types and then want us to get a catcher who might be limited to DH/1B?

[Mr. Brooks]

Best post thus far in the thread by a mile. Far more important than perceived "framing".

Yeah I don't buy this.

"Calling a game" is the kind of non fact based thinking that Falvey specifically mentioned fixing, thankfully.

Suzuki was lauded for his mythical talent at calling a game, we all saw how useful that was.

[Mr. Brooks]

The Twins needed a Catcher--and apparently signed (for a juicy premium!) a good one who would actually sign with a xxxx-59 win team. This is a win--not big win--but a win. We, as fans, must try to "keep it real" in our expectations.

Sorry if I'm getting you mixed up with someone else Kwak, but weren't you making declarative statements that Castro would not sign here?

[benji21]

This is a nice signing. I mean for those complaining about the price, you gotta stop living in like five years ago. ~8 mill a year is peanuts for teams today. If he were to be dreadful, it's not like that is a huge millstone.

Also, people saying, yeah but we're not ready to contend. Spare us. You have to walk before you run. This is how you build. Draft, free agency, trade, etc. Can't have all youngsters.

[Rosterman]

You always have to remember that there are 27 outs in a game and some players have to do those, often more than a couple a game. It's CAN THEY be productive on working counts, advancing a runner, or putting a ball in play when needed, besides making you strong in other areas (defense, framing, etc.).

[wavedog]

Late to the party here but I think the signing is great!  This fits a need and our pitching staff needs the help - time will tell how much.    

[Baseball Bat]

My Twins Daily Blueprint had the Twins singing Castro for 3 years $25 million so naturally I like the move. I'm not trying to brag (yes I am). Derek Falvey I'm available so give me a call, looks like we are on the same page here (before none of my other predictions come true please).

[KirbyDome89]

 

The Twins needed a Catcher--and apparently signed (for a juicy premium!) a good one who would actually sign with a xxxx-59 win team. This is a win--not big win--but a win. We, as fans, must try to "keep it real" in our expectations.

Points for the Chappelle Show reference...