9:46pm: The Twins are “still engaged” on Castro, per Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. It’s not clear, though, whether Minnesota has put three years on the table for the veteran backstop.
4:23pm: Free-agent catcher Jason Castro has received three-year offers from multiple clubs, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). A team willing to push its offer to four years could ultimately be the team to lock a deal into place, he notes, adding that many clubs are viewing Nick Hundley as a “Plan B” to Castro. The exception there, it seems, is the Orioles, who view Hundley as their top target, one source tells Rosenthal. BaltimoreBaseball.com’s Dan Connolly reported the Orioles’ interest in Hundley earlier today.
A fourth year for Castro would exceed even aggressive projections for the premium pitch-framer’s market, but the 29-year-old has reportedly been drawing interest from at least five teams for more than a week now. The Twins, Braves and Rays are the most oft-mentioned collection of suitors, though Rosenthal did note earlier today that the Angels have checked in on Castro recently (Twitter links). However, the Halos don’t consider an upgrade at catcher to be a top priority at this time, according to Rosenthal, which makes the fit unlikely. He adds that they’re instead looking for help at second base as well as a left-handed-hitting reserve outfielder and a pitcher that can both start and relieve in 2017.
The Rays are known to have made Castro an offer, but it’s not clear if they’ve submitted one of the three-year proposals on which the Stanford product is sitting. In addition to the teams mentioned thus far, the White Sox have been listed as a speculative fit for Castro, although they might be an unlikely fit to be adding relatively expensive veterans after GM Rick Hahn indicated earlier this winter that he could be open to selling veteran pieces as well.
Castro is coming off a season in which he batted just .210/.307/.377 with 11 homers, but he’s regarded as an excellent defender/framer and does have an All-Star season under his belt. It’s been three years since he slashed a highly impressive .276/.350/.485 with 18 homers back in 2013, though, and he’s also struck out in nearly 31 percent of his plate appearances since that time. Castro is a quality bat against right-handed pitching, however (.247/.328/.424 in his career), and paired with his glovework, that’s been enough to generate some interest early in the offseason. What isn’t certain is exactly how many teams are willing to go even to the three-year threshold; to this point the only teams that have been repeatedly linked to him are Minnesota, Tampa Bay and Atlanta, and Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times downplayed the Rays’ ability to go to three years at all, let alone win a bidding war, over the weekend.
Does that mean Wieters is a plan C for most teams? I know he’s coming off a bad year, but I’ve heard nothing on his market.
I wish he would return to the Orioles. That would make me happy.
Also, you are right, no one has been talking about him at least publicly.
Weiters is pretty solid offensively. Not sure of his defense, but I believe he would be a good addition to an NL looking for offense. Maybe he is asking for too much money.
Teams like the Twins don’t want to pay for decent-to-good hitter at a premium position, they want a solid defender occupying the big half of a platoon.
Catro isn’t a differenc maker, but he is one of the best at framing and is a good defensive catcher, that would fit the Rays the best.
Sorry, but having watched him for his entire MLB career, I have to strongly disagree with your statement about him being a good defensive catcher. He is a great pitch framer, but that is all. He was I believe 3rd in past balls this year and he has the arm of a high school softball player. He is well below average as a receiver and it’s absolutely maddening to watch him attempt to tag out a runner on a play at the plate. He will stand 3 feet in front of the plate and try to lunge backwards to make the tag instead of being a true catcher and blocking the plate.
Mix his well below average defense with deplorable offense and he is nothing more than a very over-hyped pitch framer. Kudos to him for being this years worst contract given out though (yes I’m predicting that). It won’t be as ludacris as the Jason Heyward deal, but anyone giving this guy more then $3 mil a year will regret it by next August.
Ludicrous??? I seem to remember the Cubs won the World Series. That’s the goal. Therefore Heywards contract well worth the rings
Lol
*clears throat* boy
CHC won the WS despite JHey, not because of him. Go ahead and put a value on his rain delay passionate speech to motivate the team and his plus-defense. As a Braves fan, he’s one of the most aggravating players to root for, having all the tools to put up incredible numbers, yet he’s always an aggravated injury or prolonged slump-excuse away from great expectations. Hopefully you get the best of him so he can opt out and rid you of the rest of that mammoth deal.
Ditto to what you said, except for being a Braves fan. Side note, I’ve been to a Braves game in Atlanta and it is the very best atmosphere of all the 11 stadiums I’ve seen a game in. Great fans, great atmosphere and great stadium.
I guess you’ve never seen high-school age girls play softball?
And idk where you been the past few years but you can’t block the plate anymore
You can’t block the plate if you are not in the process of receiving the throw. I was referring to a bang-bang play at the plate where he is receiving the ball, at which time he could block the plate.
No, I do not hang out at high school softball games so I assume your comment means that they can bring the heat. I apologize. I will change my comment to say that he throws like a little Nancy millennial in skinny jeans with all their feelings.
I don’t really agree with anything you’re saying but you should be proud of the last line of your post.
Are you sure about that rule? I didn’t think you could block the plate at all anymore. No more collisions at home plate. All catchers are now 3 feet in front of the plate and have to reach back to tag the runner.
You are correct. Catcher can block the plate after he is in possession of the ball. He can’t be blocking the plate though until after he is in possession meaning he has to receive the ball 3 feet in front of the plate which is why you are catchers lunging back across the plate to tag the runner.
He is correct on the rule. Catcher can block the plate if a) he is in possession of the ball, or b) if the throw to the plate takes him into the path of the runner. It’s been that way since they established the rule. This is why the blocking the plate rule rarely results in an overturned out call.
We shall agree to disagree, except on the little nancies!
In practicality it means that unless the base coach has been drinking since breakfast or the runner is an idiot, he’s going to be safe. Plays at the plate by their very nature are supposed to be close and catchers basically can’t set up to make a close play, so they get out of the way and then feebly dive after the runner when they get the ball
My mistake!
Past balls lol
You know, the ones not from the future 🙂
Ohhh that makes sense now
So true about Heyward? Let’s remember we are only one year into that deal. He has plenty of time to turn it around and had a very, very, very poor offensive year during the season they won the World Series. There are plenty of players that have had bad years or didn’t live up to that big contract…..Jon Lester year one of the Cub deal comes to mind…..he seemed to have a pretty good second year. Greinke? Price?
He never should’ve been given a ridiculous deal like that in the first place. He’s a career .262 hitter who has exactly one season with over 18 HRs (27), and one season with more than 80 RBIs (82). His OBP is decent, nowhere close to great and his slugging is closer to average than good. Paying a guy that kind of money should net consistent 30HR, 100+ RBIs, and an OPS north of .800 (which he doesn’t offer). His total offensive package is about average and he’s paid like a superstar.
Yes, he is strong defensively but he isn’t Jim Edmonds good. I don’t blame him for signing the contract, im just saying the Cubs are insane to give it to him. At that price they were absolutely only competing with theirselves.
if his total offensive package is about average how come he was 20% better than average for his career before this year?
What “statistic” is the metric of “20% above average” based on? Even if you can provide a valuable and credible statistic, being 20% above average is still an argument in my favor that the guy was never worth the contract given.
If 20% above average gets you that kind of money then I guess Mike Trout’s next contract will be for $1 billion over 6 years.
^^^^
OPS dumbass, basically the overlord of offensive sabermetrics
Oh no, he called me a name! If I was a millennial like he most likely is, I would throw a major hissy fit and demand that I get my way and get a public apology.
Back on topic though, look up the stats if you are going to quote them. Heyward’s absolute best OPS was in 2012 where he was exactly 50th in all of MLB. He didn’t even finish in the top 140 the following year. Please enlighten me on how his OPS puts him in some special light over the length of his average career??
Who are some centerfielders in today’s game that are Jim Edmonds good?
Bradley Junior?
Trout?
Pillar?
Adam Jones?
Just curious, i’m a huge fan of Jim Edmonds
I don’t think anyone will ever live up to Jim Edmonds in today’s game. He is one of the very best all around players I’ve ever seen. I watched the Cardinals whenever I could, just to see him play.
He certainly was not scared to run into a wall
He wasn’t scared of anything. Tough, smart, and a consummate professional. He my 3rd favorite player of the last 30 years behind Biggio and Bagwell. Obviously I’m a hometown homer for the other two.
You have him above Griffey Junior?
Hard to say since Jr spent way too much time on the DL in his career. Griffey would’ve put up unreachable numbers had he stayed healthy, however his body failed him and he was relegated to below average corner outfield defense late in his career. Edmonds was wall-banging in CF at 40.
Adam Jones lol. He’s not good defensively, at least for a center fielder
Signed,
Jason Casto’s Mother.
D-backs could really use him. They’re spending $32MM/year on Greinke and have a bunch of young pitchers. It has to be questioned how much of the pitching issues were on Castillo?
If castro is great at framing im good if the braves sign him we need that and his defense behind the plate
His defense sucks but he is excellent at framing pitches. All in all, he’s a fringe starter that can’t hit his way out of a paper bag. He does block balls in the dirt fairly well, however the vast majority of his passed balls seem to go off of his glove (see my earlier comment about him being a below average receiver. He’s a good option for a catching platoon but I wouldn’t want him catching 130-140 games.
anybody think that the Braves get Castro for 3 yrs $21 million with an option for a 4th year ?
If they do I’d unfortunately have to say it’s a good price. He will most likely get 3/27 or 4/32 the way it’s looking. His offense has drastically decreased each year for 3 years now and I doubt it’s going to improve any. I’ve seen nearly every game so I don’t base my view on stats, but instead of seeing just how bad he is over-matched the majority of the time.
Three years $21M may be a good price but I sure hope the Braves pass on Castro. I’d rather gamble on Wilson Ramos, knee and all.
Back to Heyward for a moment, has to be the most frustrating player in the league to coach, he has the potential to be a HOF’r, great defense not good, very good arm, excellent base runner, IMO great baseball IQ and hustle, BUT, he appears to be as stubborn as a mule, as my long time deceased Grandfather would say. His batting stance, pre-swing needs to change, his mid-swing movement needs to change, his load and release timing needs to change. His approach at the plate is simply BAD! I can only imagine the effort his batting coaches and teammates have put in to help this man. IMO, humility is an asset not a weakness, he should find some and re-tool his plate approach, and soon. I’m rooting for the guy, always have.
i really don’t want him on the angels but i have a feeling eppler is one of the gms that really values pitch framing. doubt we sign him and hopefully we don’t though
I agree I would rather spend money on 2nd and pitching. Bandy and Perez I am fine with
That’s the weird thing about pitch framing: Not everyone believes in it, but those who do are enthusiastic acolytes.
IF you believe in the concept, then a catcher with those skills might get 10 balls called strikes that would otherwise be balls, which could have the effect of greatly reducing the pitch total for the pitcher (called S3 instead of B4, a two-strike count that gets ahead of the batter, etc). A catcher who can “fool” the umpire can reduce the strain on the staff.
I really wonder how much is the catcher, and how much is the umpire, regardless of who’s catching. The fluctuations in framing ability could simply be the luck of the draw in who was umping when it was their turn to catch. Its been shown that some umpires call a generous strike zone ( a pitcher’s ump), while other umps tend to end up with higher scoring games because they won’t give the corners , forcing the pitcher to throw it down the middle ( hitter’s ump ). Where are the detailed Ump Stats? Framing is such a subjective skill.
I don’t know why there is all this excitement over a catcher who is a career .230 hitter and hit .211 last year. Even if he is good defensively it makes no sense
The teams that lose out on him will then try to acquire Rene Rivera. Defensive catchers have worked out so well for Tampa. Its better to have an average catcher who can hit some than to have a “great pitch framer” who hits .210. I have to think the additional offense makes up for the small difference those theoretical “additional strikes” may make. (whose to say the ump wouldn’t have called the pitch the same regardless of the catcher).
You obviously don’t believe in the value of pitch framing, but I would still like to know who are these average catchers that can hit that the Rays should pursue? The Rays tried to forego defense for hitting at catcher last season when they let Rivera go and brought in Conger. That didn’t work either.
The defense a catcher brings is much more valuable than the offense
Apparently, Drew Butera drove up the market for catching this year.
I was shocked that he got that deal
I wasn’t– he signed back onto his home team, where he is more of a club house figure. No other team would have paid him that much