The Red Sox have made contact with Bengie Molina, but aren't ready to move on him yet, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. With Jason Varitek and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hitting a combined .179/.246/.241 in 123 plate appearances this season, Molina could grow more appealing to the Sox in the near future.
We heard last month that Boston was eyeing catching help and that Molina was on the team's list of possibilities. Although Ivan Rodriguez and Chris Snyder were also on that list, Rosenthal says the Sox are "cool" on Pudge, and the Pirates are more inclined to move Ryan Doumit than Snyder.
Jeff Mathis, who received high praise from Varitek, could be available as well. However, as Rosenthal points out, while Mathis is a strong defensive backstop, his .199/.262/.311 career slash line wouldn't help the Sox.
Wait a couple of months and Ramon Hernandez will probably be available.
Wait a couple of months and they won’t need to replace that .179/.246/.241 line because they will be out of contention.
He’s probably available now if the offer is right.
I don’t think so. IMO you would really have to blow the Reds away at any point in the season for Hernandez. They have a pretty good thing going with Hanigan and Hernandez, wouldn’t make much sense to get rid of one when you are contending this year.
They have the best catching prospect in baseball sitting in AAA with a .900 OPS. I’m not talking a Jesus Montero type of catcher that obviously wont play catcher once he makes it to hte majors. Mesoraco is a good defender, and a very good bat.
I was thinking he was still a little further away. Last I had heard they had some concerns about his game calling and he was having troubles with some past balls. I figured he would be in the minors until September to work on those things since their not desperate for catching help. But, I don’t follow the Reds system that closely. Perhaps he has improved on those things and will be called up soon.
He’s not perfect, but those concerns are a little bit over blown mainly because they already have 2 catchers. If they didnt have Hernandez or Hanigan, Mes would definitely be in the majors right now. Like I said it really depends on the offer. They are probably happy with Hernandez and Hanny.
It’s not the catching thats the reason they might be out of contention. It’s a bunch of key players all underperforming at the same time.
Actually, the sad part is that Mathis’ line WOULD help them.
nope
Very true.
Chris Iannetta would be a interesting option, allthough he’s likely not available at this point in time his power and OBP would be an upgrade.
They’ve been interested in him and trying to get him for about 3 years now.
literally every catcher mentioned in this post sucks. if you’re keeping the bar set that low, you may as well keep what you have
a defense-first catcher, michael mckenry is hitting .308/.426/.513 in pawtucket. he’s not going to do that anywhere else, but could he be worse than what they have right now? doubt it. if they feel they have to make a move, move him up
I think they are just concerned salty will be claimed and they would be left without a, and i say this loosely, viable option if Varitek or catcher #2 goes down with a injury.
salty has an option left iirc
The Cubs just released Max Ramirez, maybe the Sox should take another look. Can’t be worse than what they’ve got now.
The sox might not need any new catcher. It kinda seems like salty is hitting a little better and it looks like his throws down are better too
He seems to be throwing a little more accurately. And, though still bad, his at bats are looking less pathetic. I still have faith in the kid. This is all just in his head, I think if he finds confidence he’ll be fine.
Someone needs to convince him that swinging for the fences on every pitch is not the way to improve your hitting. Once that happens, he’ll be fine.
I would rather wait a couple of months until John Baker is fully recovered from his TJ surgery over any of those mentioned. At least he can hit and is not on the far side of 35 like Molina.
Marlins already have Buck and Boston will keep Tek anyway, why have 2 catchers almost 40 on the roster..Recipe for disaster.
It will be Doumit or Bengie probably and neither will do any more than what they have right now. They had a catcher who could hit and let him go. I am sure Detroit appreciates it.
Doumit can hit he is less than stellar with the glove. Bengie is just the opposite. Honestly they are probably only going to be able to upgrade one or the other (i.e. hitting or fielding).
Great Post!
Can’t blame it all on the catcher…Lots of players not up to par…Great post.
That is true. Once they get rolling, having a very offensive inabled catcher will be no concern at all.
Doumit hit grand slam last week to win game against San Diego, and he hit a 3 run homer today’s win against Houston. Not too many teams seem to be running against him (from what I am seeing this year)…. Pirates pitchers have a new coach that is stressing holding the runners & it is making Doumit look much better defensively. The catching tandem of Snyder and Doumit is a big reason why Pirates are at .500 this late in the season (Its been 9 years). I am one long suffering Pirates fan hoping that neither Doumit, nor Snyder, wears a Boston uniform, unless of course, Boston “gives up the farm”.
Gives up the farm your joking right? Pls, neither is that good to give up the farm, I would be surprised if they got a top 10 prospect.
Realistically I don’t see how you don’t think either one is worth a good prospect. Right now they might be the two best catchers that could be available. With all the blocked prospects the Red Sox have now especially pitching prospects I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sox swung a deal with the Pirates that netted the Pirates a top 10 Red Sox prospect.
Looking at the Sox situation realistically, their 2011 team is extremely flawed. This is especially evident in a division with two of the best teams in baseball having teams that are vastly superior at this juncture of the season. How long do you expect them to be able to compete with either the Yanks or Rays with a .471 (after 34 games) winning percentage, especially playing with such major flaws? Epstein has some tough choices…. hope that Salty suddenly reverses course & becomes a major league catcher, scour the waiver wire, try to resurrect a retired catching talent, or trade for catching talent. This is near- desperation time in Beantown…. trade for an established catcher, or sign off the 2011 season. Don’t think that the price will be cheap… all GM’s are fully aware of Epstein’s dilemma and are holding all of the key cards right now.
How can you be so naive? Doumit is easily worth a top 10 prospect. Heck, at this rate possibly two if he keeps hitting at the level he’s been at lately..
How can you be so naive? Doumit is easily worth a top 10 prospect. Heck, at this rate possibly two if he keeps hitting at the level he’s been at lately..
If the Pirates are expecting a top 10 prospect from a organization like Boston’s, it probably explains why they still have him. Boston is better of with Salty than giving up a decent prospect for someone like this who is FAR overpaid (especially by Pirates standards) in 2011 and will be non tendered regardless next year with that 2012 7m option. You don’t pay backup catchers 7m, not even Boston does that, much less teams that habitually run teams with a 40m payroll.
As more pretenders fall out of the race, catchers will become available.
You don’t give up near as much for this type of catcher as 1 and a half years as they did for VMart, that is a joke. Esetein does not make very many foolish moves.
Veritek @ .125 BA and 1-15 in throwing out runners thus far better be careful that he isn’t “retired” for (1) causing disention in the ranks (indirectly trash mouthing Salty) and for failing to perform up to minimum major league standards… He should shut his yap, and enjoy the hours, days, weeks or months he has left on a major league roster. At 39, he has no future beyond here and now. Salty, on the other hand is only 24, and is at least hitting his weight, and improving his performance behind the plate. He can only get better….as he has 15 years to go to catch up with Jason.
Salty’s 26 and the only reason tek is still around is his ability to call a game.
How about a deal with Soto? I could see the Cubs looking into the Red Sox depth and try to pry Josh Reddick and Lars Anderson away.
Odds are it would cost more than Reddick and Lars, and the cubs dont have a decent long term replacement.
I agree their is no point in trading Soto if you are the Cubs. From the Red Sox perspective the amount it would take to get him is simply too much. He has a few years of team control left, he is relatively young and pretty solid all around.
Why would anyone give up anything of any value for any catcher not named McCann or Mauer? Salty was supposed to be the second coming of Ivan Rodriguez, Taylor Teagarden as well, and Max Ramirez has again been released. Catcher isn’t the problem for the Sox, it’s just easy to focus on because there isn’t a ton of money or years tied up in that position at the moment, or no heir apparent. Let the pitching gain some consistency with the two catchers you have, let the other bats start to warm up, and Sox fans hope that Crawford can snap outta his funk.
Crawford currently has an 8 game hitting streak during which he’s 12 of 31. His BA is still attrocious but he’s DEFINITELY starting to come around.
The Sox better not make 2 mistakes on this, first mistake was keeping Varitek 2 years ago, now you cant give up prospects, to keep an aging catcher.
Best thing to do is keep in house bring up the kids. Sox fans have to get it out of their heads the importance of “he calls a good game”.
You Pit fans crack me up thinking you should get The farm or even a top 10 prospect for the retreads. I’d rather overpay for the A’s catcher at least he has upward potential.
David Ross could be a solid option. Wouldn’t bet on his offense, but decent D and calls a good game.
But then I’d have to hate Suzuki and I really don’t want to hate him.
suzuki just signed an extension last summer. he’s not good enough for what they’d have to give up to get him
I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one.
The sox have already been there, done that with Ross.
If we made him available, I’m sure several teams would be interested. He’s not a guy that’s going to be traded though, simply because he gives us offense even when McCann is out of the lineup.
Apparently, cuz they made no attempt to keep him even as a backup!
You’d have to offer a lot for Ross. Braves would want Lowrie.
I think it’s possible, as Salty was a Braves prospect and well-regarded, I could see them thinking they could reclaim him, but you’d have to pay retail for him.
The Braves have a RH relief hole now, but it will be filled internally by August/Sept (Medlen and Moylan, plus Gearrin is shaping up), so they won’t deal there.