With backup Max Stassi sidelined for six weeks after hamate bone surgery, Astros manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart) that the team is looking at catchers outside the organization. While Hinch said he’s comfortable with minor leaguers Roberto Pena or Tyler Heineman as the backup to start the season, it only makes sense that Houston would explore the market for experienced help. The team’s hopes that Evan Gattis could be an option behind the plate have been scuttled by Gattis’ hernia surgery, which could keep him out of Spring Training action altogether.
The Astros recently had a scout watching Tigers backup Bryan Holaday, McTaggart reports. Holaday is out of options and is stuck behind James McCann and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, though there’s at least a chance Detroit will keep all three catchers since the club likes Holaday quite a bit. Houston has also reportedly shown interest in Blue Jays minor league backstop A.J. Jimenez, another out of options player.
Beyond those two, McTaggart lists some of the other potential candidates who could be acquired or available on the waiver wire as Spring Training rolls on. Possible targets include J.P. Arencibia, Carlos Corporan, Tim Federowicz, Ryan Hanigan, Austin Romine and the odd men out of the Rangers’ backup competition between Chris Gimenez, Michael McKenry and Bobby Wilson. I’d also cite the Padres and Rays as teams who could be open to moving a catcher.
Instead of potentially trading Hanigan I’d like to see the Red Sox look to trade Christian Vazquez and try to get a better prospect(s) out of the Astros. How about Vazquez for Francis Martes? Red Sox add pitching depth and the Astros get a catcher with Yadier upside if he gets healthy and improves his hitting a bit. Vazquez is never going to play that much with Swihart commanding the starting catcher position anyway. Win/Win deal IMO.
You compare Vazquez to the best catcher of this generation, and one of the best defensive catchers ever.
On top of that, why would the Astros give up their best pitching prospect for an all-glove catcher (keep in mind they need a backup..) who is returning from an injury that diminishes his best tool (defense), and on top of that is a below average hitter since 2012. Oh, and by the way, Vazquez hasn’t played baseball outside a handful of ST and winterball games in over a year.
While the Vasquez/Molina comparison is very premature Molina is not close to the best catcher of this generation.
I doubt very seriously the Astros are going to give up there #1 SP/#3 Organizational (#41 MLB Overall) prospect who is a potential front of the rotation starter for an average catcher used only as a backup.
He’s delusional. He throws these absurd proposals around all the time. Last week he wanted to send Vasquez to Texas for Gallo and Mazara
LOL Another troll comment. Got to love how persistent you are with your ridiculous trade proposals and crazy post. Lets try to swindle every team out of there top prospects so we can unload our garbage LOL
Vasquez isnt garbage though…..
Good defense wise but a 250 hitter with zero pop is not a good prospect. He is a replacement level prospect at this point until he can prove he can stay healthy and develop his bat in the a MLB back up. .Just cause he did great in A and AAA does not make hip a great prospect any more.
He isnt a prospect. He is a serviceable mlb catcher, he might not be a star but he certainly can develop into a solid starter. Right now even without improving his hitting he is a top tier backup or 3rd division starter, assuming he regains all arm strength post tommy john. Catcher is the weakest hitting position, u dont have to hit a ton there. Im sure uve never seen martes pitch but his delivery is violent and very hard to repeat so while he has frontline potential there is still a chance he ends up in the bullpen. With where the astros are on tge win curve it wouldnt bs a bad trade, especially if they dont think they can retain castro long term.
When has he proven to be a serviceable MLB catcher? In the Majors, Vazquez has a career .617 OPS and 70 wRC+. Since the beginning of the 2014 season he has been outhit by minor league free agents Jordan Pacheco, J.P. Arrencibia and Carlos Corporan. Add in the fact that he is coming off of TJS and I might agree that he isn’t a prospect, but he also isn’t a proven MLB anything.
55 MLB games under his belt and has not played in a year and a half. That is not a serviceable mlb catcher by far. Until he can prove to hit major league pitching and regain his arm strength that was his only plus then he is not a everyday or top tier back up no matter how much you have love for him.
He showed his above average defense and rated as an elite framer. Yadier molina had a wrc+ of 65 his first 200 mlb games…. again defense and framing are what matter at this position, plus he has offensive potential, he walked more than he struck out as 23 year old in aa ala wilson contreras. A 9% bb rate and 17%k rate is solid and bodes well for him moving forward. Again his defensive package is elite, he prorated 30 framing runs, that translates to roughly 2 war alone, add in above average blocker and game caller. If you have a counterargument to facts then sure provide. But if my catcher is elite defensively ill let him learn to hit ala yadi. Not saying he will ever be yadi good hitting, but his defense provides the floor of a starter.
Okay, I see how this works. If “your Red Sox” will give up Vazquez for Martes, let’s see what “my Blue Jays” can do instead of trading A.J. Jimenez.
How about future all-star (just like Vazquez) Max Pentecost for A.J. Reed. We do need some middle infielders after all.
(Sarcastic post).
That hardly seems like enough for the Red Sox to trade Vazquez. I figure it’d take Bregman, Martes, and Moran to pry him loose.
You have to comment every single time…
Comparing Vasquez to Yadi is hilarious.
Both Vasquez and swihart are very average.
They probably could have Carlos Ruiz, who atleast has upside, in exchange for them taking like 1/3 his salary. Chooch was a 3.3 WAR catcher in 2014.
Ruiz is done. There is certainly no 3 war upside left in him.
and his fwar overrates him as it ignores his bad framing
Maybe my O’s can give them Wieters for Correa, Springer, and their top prospect. Seems like a win/win
ha.
Even funnier Vaszuez for Martes! Did I stumble upon a comedy forum???
I could see the Rays dealing Rivera for a pen arm. Rivera would be a great backup and Rays have Conger/Casali L/R duo.
Former Giants backup catcher Hector Sanchez might be another possibility. He’s in the White Sox camp as a non-roster invitee. Sanchez would be a long-shot to make the White Sox opening day roster short of a late spring injury to either Alex Avila or Dioner Navarro. The Mariners recently claimed Rob Brantly off waivers from the White Sox, making Sanchez third on the team’s MLB catching depth chart.
Maybe the Phillies could send them chooch for the rest of houstons farm system, seems like a fair trade (sarcasm don’t tear me apart)
bigpapi4everbigpapi4ever already had the comment of the day award given to him.
He seems to get that a lot
Indians should really try to kick the tires here & package R.Perez/E.Gonzalez/T.Naquin & 2 other pitching prospects for Springer/Fiers. Chisenhall is NOT an everyday player (Having an awful ST, & reason why M. Byrd signed). Chisenhall is best suited as a bench piece capable of playing RF/LF/1B/DH/PH (been our best PH last 2 seasons). Fifth starting options look terrible this spring As well C.Anderson/T.J House/Tomlin are better suited for the pen (House especially coming off an injury & Indians have NO reliable LHP relievers). Fiers out of options ( 3 years of control) could be availble because Astros can’t send him down & might want to go with Asher Wojciechowski as 5th starter, at 27 makes no sense to option him. Naquin who is on fire this spring ( no.9 Indians prospect could slot in RF for Springer). E. Gonzalez (no.12 Indians prospect) is a primary SS capable of playing IF/OF. Indians have A. Moore/A. Recker in camp with MLB experience. Also many catchers out of options will be exposed soon to waivers A.J Jimenez/Cleavinger/R. Rivera/R. Brantley the Indians could claim. Making R. Perez available, a backup catcher w/ 5 years of control could appeal to the Astros. The Indians have a deep pool of pitching prospects Cleavinger/Morimando/Plutko that could appeal to the Astros as well. Watching the Indians ST games they need to do something drastic, Springer/Fiers would make them a contender. I don’t care what the pundits/analysts say, Indians are NOT a contender right now RF/CF/5th SP/LHP relief is the reason why. Springer solves RF, Fiers solves the 5th SP. CF/LHP relief can be solved for the Indians at MLB trade deadline.
the astros are definitely not looking to trade springer/fiers for prospects, that’s in the past and we are trying to win now. asher wojo basically isn’t even a thought for the 5th starter since we have nearly 100 better pitchers. why would they ever think about giving wojo the 5th spot over someone like fiers who has had MLB success
I hope this is an Indian fan hoping it will never snow in Cleveland again?! To even begin to thing of a Springer trade it would start with the name Carlos Carrasco. Now I don’t have a clue what kind of moving pieces it would take, but I do know they sure didn’t come to an agreement this summer. So your Springer/Fiers for you rejects are never going to fly!
am i the only one that cant stand when people say “my orioles” or “my red sox” or “my (insert team here)?
why do people talk like this…?
Basically because they are trolls.
They are just trolls. But if you have nothing else to do for a hour reading some of there comments is entertaining..
Federowicz for a 2-in-100 guy from Astros extended spring training?
Would Astros accept pirates backup Stewart for their # 41 mlb overall? What else would be needed?
Stewart for Peacock? That’s actually a pretty good question? Maybe a B-C type prospect to make it a little sweeter?
All interesting but I think you guys are forgetting someone who is a good cheap option who can be brought in on a minor league deal by the name of Taylor Teagarden, I know he was linked to PEDs but that is in the past and can fill in for the time that Stassie misses and possibly longer I see him as a good option. What do you guys think?
Taylor Teagarden anyone? He would be a good fill in option while Stassie is out and possibly even for longer his PED issue is in the past and he can be brought in for cheap and on a minors deal
Hank Conger would be useful now.
I’m guessing they’ll hold Conger but could make Rivera available…
Don’t think bigpapi4ever is intentionally be in a troll. However, he is one of the biggest homers I’ve ever seen and his misunderstanding of baseball and trade values is incredible
You think he is just that dumb? I dont know about that. His name is known world wide on these threads tho LOL He is the biggest troll I have ever seen. In any case he has every one convinced of the same thing. No one thinks he is smart.
It came out in his comments a few days ago that he’s only 16. I think everyone should cut him a bit of slack..
I totally agree with yourfacedude. People are being entirely too harsh on bigpapi4ever. He is an (overly) enthusiastic Red Sox fan, but I am glad to see a teenager spending time with baseball rather than drugs, video games or gangbanging. Let’s not be so harsh, but remember how we were at that age. I know I was told a couple of times I was overly enthusiastic when I was in my teens and early 20’s. as a big Yadi fan I chuckled at his comparing his prospect with someone who is going to be a strong H of f candidate, but I didn’t see an offensive intent. Let’s all just be glad when the umps start saying “Play Ball” for real in 2 weeks.
Then he should not be acting like he is the book of knowledge when it come to MLB and he needs to learn what is reasonable and what is fantasy land. People tell him all the time in nice ways and yet he ignores them. I dont feel bad for him that everyone thinks he is a troll.
The Hank Conger trade for cash now makes no sense. He’s worth a re-acquisition.
The angels hosed the stros of tropeano and Perez who is looking like a decent starting catcher for Conger
Although its unlikely the Tigers organization cares what I think, I still want them to know that I want them to keep McCann and Holiday and trade Saltalamaccia.
Austin Romine is out of options with the Yankees. He is a decent receiver and has a little pop in his bat. Might be an option for Houston.
Christian Vasquez is good, people underrate just how important catcher defense is, you can be a bad hitter an elite defender, and be extremely good. That being said no reason for Astros to really want to pay premium prospects for a guy coming off TJ and when they seemingly just want a stop-gap backup.
Keep your eye on Giants who will be shopping Andrew Susac.
I think they should sign Taylor Teagarden or trade for Arincibia or sign him once he is most likely waived since he is behind Ruiz Rupp and Alforo would fill his spot in the depth chart so I think that either one of those options would be fine fill ins till Stassie returns or even for the rest of the season of Stassie turns out to be a bust. I am still confused why the traded Conger for only for cash, I mean they gave up a fair amount for him, so why did they trade him for nothing, the only reason behind them trading him for that is if there were some disagreement between him and the organization which I don’t think there was, so I think they botched that deal and it is coming back to bite them in the butt right now.
The trade was one lopsided deal. NiTro and Perez for Conger was a real head shaker for Astro fans. The only way it made a little since was that Luhnow was banking on Conger’s recieving skills and his bat. Conger wasn’t that cheap salary wise, so when his weak arm was taken advantage on during the season, I am sure Luhnow decided he didn’t want to be exploited 2 years in a row. Sometimes you just cut your losses. Yes it sure does look lie the Angels have a fine backstop in Perez.
Bryan Holaday looks rather attractive in this comparison. He’s under control until 2020, is strong defensively and hits better than Romine.