Trade Market For Catchers
Last summer, catchers Steve Clevenger and Drew Butera were traded in July, while Kurt Suzuki and John Buck were dealt in August. The Orioles, Blue Jays, and Dodgers could consider adding a starting catcher, while clubs such as the Royals and Giants could seek a backup. Here’s a look at this summer’s trade market for catchers. The roles listed below could differ based on the acquiring team.
Starters
Miguel Montero (Diamondbacks), Carlos Ruiz (Phillies), Kurt Suzuki (Twins), Jason Castro (Astros), Welington Castillo (Cubs), Wilin Rosario (Rockies), Yasmani Grandal (Padres), A.J. Pierzynski (Red Sox)
- Montero, 30, has been the most productive of the group. He’s having a resurgent campaign after a lost 2013, and at the trade deadline he’ll have roughly $43MM left on his contract through 2017. However, the D’Backs are not looking to dump salary, and aim to contend in 2015. To that end, trading Montero doesn’t make sense, but GM Kevin Towers is known as the Gunslinger for a reason.
- The Phillies made a three-year commitment to Ruiz last offseason, so he’s not the most likely candidate to be dealt. Plus, he’s currently on the seven-day concussion DL.
- Suzuki, a free agent after the season, seems a reasonable trade candidate. He’s having his best season in years and will be owed less than a million bucks by the deadline. The Twins could look to extend him instead, though.
- Castro’s performance has taken a tumble since his breakout 2013 season. Certainly the Astros would consider trading the 27-year-old, who is under team control through 2016 as an arbitration eligible player. However, the club will probably be disinclined to sell low.
- Castillo is a speculative name here, in that the Cubs would likely at least listen. He’s 27 years old and under team control through 2017, and the Cubs don’t have much catching in their farm system. But if they manage to acquire a better “Catcher of the Future” candidate in another trade, moving Castillo becomes more palatable.
- Would the Rockies trade Rosario? They made an offer to Ruiz in the offseason, suggesting they weren’t thrilled with Rosario’s defensive chops. Rosario, just 25, is under team control through 2017. He hit 49 home runs from 2012-13.
- Grandal is a player who could be considered more by a non-contending team, if the Padres decide to cut bait with the former top prospect.
- At 6.5 games out, the Red Sox are currently on the bubble of contention. The meager return they could get for Pierzynski may not be worth shaking up their catching situation, with the veteran having the worst offensive season of his career.
Backups
Robinson Chirinos (Rangers), Ryan Hanigan (Rays), Rene Rivera (Padres), Carlos Corporan (Astros), Chris Gimenez (Rangers), John Ryan Murphy (Yankees), Austin Romine (Yankees), Tony Sanchez (Pirates), David Ross (Red Sox), J.P. Arencibia (Rangers), John Baker (Cubs), Jose Molina (Rays), Geovany Soto (Rangers), Gerald Laird (Braves)
It should be noted that Soto is currently on the 60-day DL, recovering from March knee surgery. This group presents a wide range of options, with a few players who are able to play regularly as well as some young players who have yet to establish themselves. Hanigan would be the most complicated one to move, with nearly $12MM coming to him through 2016.
Trade Deadline Rumors: Headley, Sandoval, D’backs, Marlins, Quintana
Former Orioles and Mets GM Frank Cashen has passed away at the age of 91. As Baseball America’s Vince Lara-Cinisomo writes, Cashen played an important role in composing Baltimore’s outstanding teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s before wheeling and dealing to put together the Mets’ 1986 World Series-winning roster. MLBTR sends its condolences to Cashen’s family and friends around the game.
Here are the latest rumblings as we turn the page to July …
- The Yankees are regularly scouting Padres third baseman Chase Headley, tweets Jon Morosi of FOX Sports. Should they pursue the struggling veteran, New York could have competition from a division rival, as it was recently reported that the Blue Jays are also interested in Headley. Yankees GM Brian Cashman said today that he is preparing to act aggressively in upgrading the club’s roster, as Jorge Castillo of the Star-Ledger reports. Nevertheless, Cashman did not sound inclined to pay a heavy surcharge to make acquisitions well in advance of the deadline.
- Of course, whether or not he is dealt, all signs point to Headley hitting the open market following this season, where he will be joined by Giants third bagger Pablo Sandoval. At present, there are no ongoing extension talks between San Francisco and Sandoval, tweets Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish. Of course, GM Brian Sabean locked up two prominent free agents-to-be (Hunter Pence and Tim Lincecum) at the last minute last year.
- The Diamondbacks are looking to set their club up for 2015 rather than launching a full rebuild, reports MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert. GM Kevin Towers indicated that the club hopes to shed some salary, but will focus on achieving a useful return. “We’re not payroll dumping, we’re looking to get good players back,” he said. “It would be nice to be able to save some payroll and get good players back. I know how [managing partner Ken Kendrick] and [CEO Derrick Hall] are and they are always going to lean towards getting the better players instead of trying to save money.” Towers said that the market is still developing, with just “a couple of clubs that are trying to get in front of people.”
- The Marlins are surveying the market with an eye on landing an established starting pitcher, writes MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro. Miami would also like to add an experienced veteran middle infielder in the wake of Rafael Furcal‘s injury.
- White Sox hurler Jose Quintana could become what Doug Fister was in 2011, opines Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Quintana has little trade hype, but like Fister, says Morosi, he could wind up getting traded and help his new team win its division. Of course, with Chicago now looking a threat to field a young and talented team in coming seasons, it is doubtful that the 25-year-old lefty (who is under club control through 2018) will come cheap.
Zach Links contributed to this post.