D'Backs Sign Snyder To Extension

Wonder what this means for Montero's future with Arz?

So which pitcher will the Red Sox now trade to the desert for Miguel Montero? Wasn't Josh Byrnes around when most of them were drafted? I'm sure he knows them well. Too bad the old regime isn't still there. I sort of liked the Fossum/Lyon package for Curt Schilling back in 2003.

Montero's youth is an asset, that much is clear. Aside from being young/controllable/affordable, what does he offer the Sox? In pretty limited play-time he's shown just about average offensive AND defensive ability.

Granted, it's a very small sample size, but an OPS+ in the low 80's doesn't exactly have me frothing at the mouth to get the kid on the Sox.

http://www2.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/players/Miguel_Montero/

heres a little scouting report on montero. hes a more notable offensive catcher, no salty but hes not bad either. defensive behind the dish is meh but hes average for his position and projects a career there, no moves to first base

Interesting move by 'Zona and probably a smart one.

Snyder's nothing special with the stick, but he calls a hell of a good game, pitchers seem to love him, and he's a very good defensive backstop. Catcher is a weird position; really the only one at which defense is considered as important- and perhaps MORE important- than offense, which is, I suppose, why the D'backs have seemingly chosen him over Montero.

Montero could easily eclipse Snyder at the bat, given the chance, and I think the Sox would be wise to take a shot on him (though Bowden seems a steep price for a kid coming off a down year). He's got legit power and raked throughout the minors. I think people forget how highly regarded he was in the eyes of some scouts/prospect watchers. Defensively he won't kill you, but he's nothing special. His development has been slowed as a result of Snyder's success- being blocked will do that- but his upside is still fairly high and there's a chance he might develop into at least an average regular; perhaps even a bit above, given his athleticism. This may be too kind, but I was thinking a young Ramon Hernandez might be a solid comp. Any thoughts? The right match could be tough, given the level of hype surrounding many of Boston's prospects (much of it deserved, but let's remember they're prospects), but something like Hunter Jones and Will Middlebrooks might get it done. A talented young reliever who's big league ready and a promising low-level middle infielder who could be very good but who's going to take some time. Just a thought.