The latest from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com…
- Kyle Lohse is seen as very likely to leave the Cardinals when he hits free agency this winter, Heyman reports. One general manager said C.J. Wilson is better than Lohse, implying that a five-year, $77.5MM contract will be out of reach for the Cardinals right-hander. A three-year contract in the $40MM range seems more realistic for Lohse, who turns 34 next month.
- Three general managers suggested Russell Martin will have to settle for a one-year contract this coming offseason, Heyman reports. The Yankees made Martin a three-year contract offer in the $20MM range this spring, but Martin turned it down. Instead, the general managers told Heyman, Martin will probably end up with a one-year contract, perhaps in the $7.5MM range. A multiyear deal remains possible given the lack of alternatives for teams seeking catching help.
I hope Boston is paying attention to this if they had any intention of offering him a multi year deal. Salty is only a notch better than Martin. Any kind of (LT) offer to Salty (should they make it) should not be more than 3Y and average 7-8m tops.
Salty and Martin type catchers would have been backups 10 years ago, shows how poor the catching market is right now.
Doesn’t help that people like Harper, and now possibly jesus montero getting moved for next year. Alot of teams are moving the good hitters off of catcher to get them to the majors faster.
People were saying Montero should have been moved off of catcher and watched a few Mariner games and agree.. he cannot move behind HP. They were/still are saying the same about Lavarnway, but Lava has actually looked pretty good to me in the last month behind the dish, blocking balls and even with what staff Boston has.
Getting nominated best defensive catcher in the IL should have meant something, but still there are detractors to his game.
If only he can get going with his offense. I wonder if in a rebuilding year if the sox would trade salty and go with him as the everday catcher. Salty isn’t very good with the bat. Sure he hits home runs, but 120 K in 350 AB is truly spectacular.
If someone needs a catcher they just sign Martin, even his bad years are as good as Salty.
Boston doesn’t have any catchers close anymore would be the problem after they gave away federowicz to LA last year. I would like to see Lavarnway given the “keys” as the C. he is going to hit, a guy does not rake each and every season (3Y) at the miLB and do this bad for just 1 month as what type of a player he is, he will hit some at the very least and Lavarnway won’t swing at everything in the dirt and in his eyeballs either like salty does, he knows the K Zone as he has shown throughout his miLB career.
If they are going to rebuild, find another Shoppach style backup and let Lava start is what would like to see. they have Swihart, Weems and maybe even Rodriquez a few years away if if does not work out. Lava can’t doany worse than Salty and his .280 OBP
I fully expect him to hit, I just am interested to what extent boston will go to rebuild. Doubt salty is going to want to sit on the bench at this point in his career. Although they were pretty patient I remember when Pedroia first came up, he was slow to get going. I just don’t see a big market for salty.
Salty is better offensively at this point in his career but IMO Martin is a better Catcher. Martin being a former all star helps him. He has a track record. Salty really only has his former top prospect status as his track record. That said they are correct in saying Martin will have to accept a one year deal if he wants to re-establish any type of value. He should’ve signed when he had the chance.
Russell Martin’s OPS the last two years is higher than it was the last two previous years. He should get a multi-year deal.
I doubt he gets $7.5M. Thats more than the Yankees offered AAV before his terrible season. I say more down towards 4-5M with other better catchers available.
Did a GM even have to suggest that Lohse is inferior to Wilson? Who would argue otherwise. Without speaking to a GM I feel confident in mentioning that Kershaw, Verlander, Weaver, and Hernandez are also better than Lohse, implying that his next deal won’t be as good as any of theirs.