Twins Catcher Situation

[Saxon]

Please provide your assessment of the catching team at the major (Gimenez, Castro, Garver) and AAA level (Paulino, Recker) and how that can change with September call ups and how you expect it to change during the offseason and Spring Training. 

[goulik]

My Predictions:

Barring more injuries, Who you see is who you will get for the remainder of the season at Catcher.

 

Next summer, Castro will be the full time catcher and Garver the back up being mentored. Gimenez will be gone via free agency.

[drjim]

I think they'll sign a veteran backup and start Garver in the minors next year.

 

It is possible they will plan on Garver in the majors, but then would need to sign a veteran catcher for AAA on a minor league deal.

 

I would personally go with the first plan, maximize talent in the org, give Garver more reps at AAA. Still have him available if there is an injury.

[Mr. Brooks]

I think they'll sign a veteran backup and start Garver in the minors next year.

 

It is possible they will plan on Garver in the majors, but then would need to sign a veteran catcher for AAA on a minor league deal.

 

I would personally go with the first plan, maximize talent in the org, give Garver more reps at AAA. Still have him available if there is an injury.

Mitch Garver will turn 27 in 4 months.

If he needs another year at AAA then he's just not a MLB caliber player, he's milb roster filler.

 

If you think he's that, then that's fair, but if he has any kind of future in mlb then he doesn't need any more AAA seasoning, IMO of course.

[yarnivek1972]

Garver is almost 27, true enough.  But he just lacks experience as a pro catcher.  I mentioned elsewhere that JR Murphy (who is actually a couple months YOUNGER than Garver) has almost 5300 innings caught at the MiLB and MLB levels whereas Garver has 2700.  I don't think anyone holds any illusions that Garver is a future defensive whiz behind the plate.  I think he's competent now and will likely only get better with experience.

 

But yes, an experienced "plan B" is a MUST.  Recker is more than qualified.

[drjim]

Mitch Garver will turn 27 in 4 months.

If he needs another year at AAA then he's just not a MLB caliber player, he's milb roster filler.

 

If you think he's that, then that's fair, but if he has any kind of future in mlb then he doesn't need any more AAA seasoning, IMO of course.

I don't think this is true, rules are different for catchers. And catchers with options are valuable.

 

I don't think he has enough glove to be a sure thing catcher right now, I would hope more reps might get there. In the meantime, he is an acceptable 3rd catcher.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Mitch Garver will turn 27 in 4 months.
If he needs another year at AAA then he's just not a MLB caliber player, he's milb roster filler.

If you think he's that, then that's fair, but if he has any kind of future in mlb then he doesn't need any more AAA seasoning, IMO of course.

Garver should not return to the minors. If he needs work catching, there's an entire offseason to work on that.

[Verite]

Weird question, but is Recker the guy with a body shaped like a woman's?   

[Monkeypaws]

Garver had a shaky game a while back, but he's been pretty solid given the shaky ground he is on. Getting another backup catcher is madness. Garver's bat is beyond most of those types and his defense is at the least acceptable. 

 

Didn't back-up extraordinaire Giminez have a game with 4 passed balls not so long ago?

 

I don't know if CG's 9 passed balls lead the league, but Garver is better than that, even if CG has the potential to be a playoff monster.

[yarnivek1972]

 

Garver had a shaky game a while back, but he's been pretty solid given the shaky ground he is on. Getting another backup catcher is madness. Garver's bat is beyond most of those types and his defense is at the least acceptable. 

 

Didn't back-up extraordinaire Giminez have a game with 4 passed balls not so long ago?

 

I don't know if CG's 9 passed balls lead the league, but Garver is better than that, even if CG has the potential to be a playoff monster.

 

IMO, Castro's concussion changed the equation.  While having one doesn't put him at greater risk for another, all the data shows that each successive one makes the symptoms worse and more difficult from which to recover.

 

Frankly, I think it would be irresponsible to not bring up Recker under the circumstances.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

IMO, Castro's concussion changed the equation. While having one doesn't put him at greater risk for another, all the data shows that each successive one makes the symptoms worse and more difficult from which to recover.

 

Frankly, I think it would be irresponsible to not bring up Recker under the circumstances.

the concussion might be an issue. It's hard to tell. I hadnt really considered a 2018 thing, but now that you bring it up, it might be an impetus to sign a free agent backup catcher in the offseason.

 

I don't think they need a 3rd catcher however. Let's see what Garver can do. You still have CG to fall back on. Recker is on the 40 and can be active in the post season in a pinch.

[yarnivek1972]

 

the concussion might be an issue. It's hard to tell. I hadnt really considered a 2018 thing, but now that you bring it up, it might be an impetus to sign a free agent backup catcher in the offseason.

I don't think they need a 3rd catcher however. Let's see what Garver can do. You still have CG to fall back on. Recker is on the 40 and can be active in the post season in a pinch.

Recker isn't currently on the 40 man.

 

I'm not opposed to letting Garver play.  I'm just saying that  Castro's concussion and Garver's extreme inexperience makes not having another experienced catcher around a bad idea.  

[drjim]

Should have acquired Erik Kratz when they had the chance.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Recker isn't currently on the 40 man.

 

I'm not opposed to letting Garver play. I'm just saying that Castro's concussion and Garver's extreme inexperience makes not having another experienced catcher around a bad idea.

espn is wrong.... huh....

 

Well then it doesn't make sense to add him back now. He's ineligible for post season

[yarnivek1972]

espn is wrong.... huh....

 

Well then it doesn't make sense to add him back now. He's ineligible for post season

It's really not postseason that concerns me. It's the next 4 weeks. Right now they have two catchers. One has caught exactly 2 full MLB games. The other has already established a new career high in innings caught in a season this year. Concerning is an understatement.

[gman]

Besides catcher, the Twins have worked Garver at left field, first base and DH in the minor. They never seemed overly concerned at mazimizing his catching innings as they would with a projected future starter at catcher.  So he's either a brilliant catcher or not a starter prospect. I am going with a flexible backup catcher with a good bat. 

 As far as Castro and concussion issues, we have experience with that. We know what it did to Mauer's career and Castro has not been in that class as a hitter.

I would expect Gimenez to catch most of the games in September.  Garver has an opportunity to pick up playing time and prove he deserves to be in the majors in 2018..