Exploring The Lower Tier Of Free Agent Catchers

It sounds as though the Twins are legitimately interested in acquiring an impact starter at the position. They are known to have interest in Jason Castro, and it would be no surprise if they at least reached out to the reps of Wilson Ramos and Matt Wieters.

However, even if they're very serious about going after these players, it may be a trivial pursuit. If the trio of Ramos, Wieters and Castro are all steadfastly interested in playing for contending teams, they'll probably have that opportunity. Plenty of quality teams have needs at catcher, and will be ready to pony up the required dollars to place a winning bid.

This would leave the Twins – who undoubtedly need to at least add SOMEONE at catcher – in a position to peruse the remaining ranks. With this segment, Minnesota might actually be at a relative advantage. Established contenders wouldn't look at the majority of these players as candidates for regular playing time, but the Twins can afford to feed reps to a marginal talent while they try to turn around John Ryan Murphy and develop Mitch Garver.

In our Offseason Handbook free agency rankings, the next name we have listed after the aforementioned top three is Kurt Suzuki. Of course, it is pretty well established at this point that both sides are ready to move on. Suzuki is also the only other player in the group who seems likely to receive a multi-year deal, so going with a lesser option would mean less risk and more future flexibility.

If they're not going to be able to land a true difference-maker, then the Twins should focus on targets with upside who fit for particular reasons. With this in mind, here's a look at three names I would consider pursuing:

Alex Avila

Former Team: White Sox

Age: 30 | B/T: L/R

2016 Stats: 57 G, .213/.359/.373, 7 HR, 11 RBI, 19 R

Why He Makes Sense

Avila batted only .213 this year but still got on base at an above-average clip. In 2015 his ugly .191 average came along with a respectable .339 OBP. This has been a consistent trend for the lefty-swinging backstop because he draws enough walks to keep getting on base even when his bat sags. His platoon splits make him a very logical complement to Murphy or Garver, who both swing from the right side.

Why He Doesn't

He has played only 124 games combined over the past two years due to injuries and uninspiring play. Opponents ran all over him this season, stealing 25 bases on 32 attempts in just 52 starts behind the plate. StatCorner ranked him as the 10th-worst pitch framer in baseball. And as arguably the best free agent catcher beyond Ramos, Wieters, Castro and Suzuki, he might be in for an overpay.

Chris Iannetta

Former Team: Mariners

Age: 33 | B/T: R/R

2016 Stats: 94 G, .210/.303/.329, 7 HR, 24 RBI

Why He Makes Sense

If experience is a primary concern for the Twins – and it may be given the shortcomings of Murphy and Garver in that area – Iannetta looks like a logical and inexpensive plug. He has accrued more than 7,500 career innings behind the plate and is reputed to be a solid defender. He owns a .743 career OPS, which is 60 points higher than the average AL backstop posted this season.

Why He Doesn't

While his career numbers are fairly impressive, Iannetta hasn't hit much over the past two years, accumulating a .198/.298/.332 slash line with the Angels and Mariners. He might not have much left in the tank offensively and he is particularly rough against right-handed pitching.

Geovany Soto

Former Team: Angels

Age: 34 | B/T: R/R

2016 Stats: 26 G, .269/.321/.487, 4 HR, 9 RBI

Why He Makes Sense

He's coming off another injury-riddled campaign, which has sadly become par for the course, but when Soto is on the field he hits. The former Rookie of the Year owns a .767 career OPS and has put up a .240/.313/.431 line over the past four years despite being limited to 567 total plate appearances. He's not a bad gamble on a low-money guarantee or minor-league deal, and may be enticed by the opportunity to take over Minnesota's starting gig if he can get healthy.

Why He Doesn't

The Twins are seeking some level of assurance behind the plate, and Soto hardly provides it. He was limited to 26 games this year by ailments affecting his thumb and both knees. Hardly ideal for a catcher in his mid-30s. The aging veteran hasn't played 100 games in a season since 2011.

Do any of these names catch your eye? How about the rest of the crop, which includes such names as Drew Butera, Jeff Mathis, A.J. Ellis, Ryan Hanigan, Dioner Navarro, Nick Hundley and Jarrod Saltalamacchia? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Remember, you can download the 2017 Offseason Handbook for free (or donation) and get a full in-depth breakdown of all the free agents at this position, and others!