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Trade Market: Catchers

We've covered the free agent market by position, but that only tells part of the story.  With the GM Meetings just 11 days away, it's time to analyze the trade market.  We'll start with catchers. 

• Kelly Shoppach, Indians.  Lou Marson, acquired in the Cliff Lee trade with the Phillies, could be handed the Indians' starting job in 2010.  Shoppach is a non-tender candidate after hitting .214/.335/.399 in 327 plate appearances this year.  The Indians may prefer not to pay him $2MM+ next year, so they could shop him around.  Shoppach, 30 in April, slugged .517 in 2008.
• John Buck, Royals.  Buck, 30, is another non-tender candidate.  He hit .247/.299/.484 for the Royals in 202 plate appearances, and is due a raise on his $2.9MM salary through arbitration.
• Brayan Pena, Royals.  The Royals have never seemed all that enamored of Pena, who turns 28 in January.  He hit .273/.318/.442 in 183 plate appearances and is not yet eligible for arbitration.
• Ryan Doumit, Pirates.  Doumit, 29 in April, slipped to .250/.299/.414 this year in 304 plate appearances.  A broken bone in his wrist was a big factor.  Doumit is guaranteed $9.15MM over the next two seasons on an extension signed in December of '08.  He was benched at one point in August over a helmet-throwing incident.
• Chris Snyder, Diamondbacks.  Like Doumit, Snyder was signed to an extension after an impressive '08.  This year he was plagued with a back injury that culminated in September surgery.  Snyder lost the starting job to Miguel Montero and has $11.25MM remaining on his contract for the next two seasons.
• J.R. Towles, Astros.  Towles began the 2008 season as the Astros starting catcher; he was 24 at the time and was coming off a fine stint in Double A.  Several injuries and 224 big league plate appearances later, Towles has lost the team's "catcher of the future" title to Jason Castro.
• Click here for our look at the free agent market for catchers.

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