The Cardinals have agreed to a minor league contract to bring catcher Francisco Pena back to the organization, tweets Mark Saxon of The Athletic. Although Pena won’t be immediately added to the 40-man roster, Saxon suggests that Pena is being re-signed to serve as Yadier Molina’s backup in 2019.
Pena, 29, logged a career-high 142 plate appearances with the Cardinals in 2018 while Molina missed time due to injury, though he hit just .203/.239/.271 in that time. He’s generally turned in strong pitch-framing marks and caught-stealing percentages throughout the upper minors, but Pena struggled at the Major League level in both regards this past season — particularly when it came to controlling the running game (1-for-15 in throwing out base thieves).
Pena has demonstrated some power at the Triple-A level, where he’s a career .252/.296/.452 hitter with 59 home runs in 1376 plate appearances. For the Cards, it’s possible that they find a more experienced option at a palatable rate as the offseason progresses, but it seems that for the time being, the plan will be for Pena to function as the backup in place of the recently traded Carson Kelly.
Eventually, it stands to reason that well-regarded catching prospect Andrew Knizner will surface in the Majors as a backup to Molina. With Kelly traded, Knizner is now the heir-apparent to Molina, who is signed through the 2020 season. However, Knizner is entering just his age 24 season and has only 61 plate appearances at the Triple-A level, so the Cards understandably will get him some more minor league development time before giving him his first look in the Majors.
Nice move, maybe STL will take a flier on Vogt and let him try to earn a chance for the back up spot
Agree, did an adequate job while yadi was down from being hit where it hurts.
Ouch
I quite enjoy these minor league signings always fun to keep track and see who ends up breaking camp with the big league team for the regular season
Not everyone does well with a role as limited as being Yadi’s backup; Pena has been good, and I’m glad to see him back in the fold.
I like this move as well. I am eager to see kitzner though.
No brainer here, Pena did good job as backup last year…
How exactly did he do a good job last year? He hit terribly, struggled in pitch framing, and had a horrendous time trying to throw out basestealers. That leaves blocking as the only thing he actually did decently.
Now, it’s a minor league contract, he’s not expected to get much playing time even if he makes the team, while his defense should rebound at least partially, so it’s not a bad signing. However, the Cardinals certainly could’ve done a lot better.
They haven’t limited themselves by doing this. They could still do better. Don’t be so fatalistic. It doesn’t suit you.
Good deal – he did good enough when MO was down .
Agree totally with the above comments and was kinda expecting this signing. Thought about Vogt too but how often could he be used, cause it is doubtful the Cards could consider 3 catchers.
Someone needs to pick up Nick Hundley. Best back up option available.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see SF resign him especially if Buster can’t catch for the opening month.
Giants won’t bring him back pinstripes17, they already have Aramis Garcia and Cameron Rupp to battle for Buster’s backup.
I was hoping the Cardinals would look at him, but Pena is a reliable backup.
He was a decent backup last season, not great, but decent. I really hope Knizner comes to spring training and just rakes and Shildt has no choice but to put him on the 40 man and give him playing time.
I know when Waino rehabbed in Double AA in Springfield, he compared Knizner to Yadi saying this kid was going to be a great replacement for Molina.
Cardinals should have resigned Joe Kelley
They probably tried but he wasn’t interested in a rebuild situation.
no need to rush knizer up let him get regular playing time in aaa then maybe bring him up in 20 with mo on the roster no one is going to get much playing time playing behind him
Maybe they could loan Pena to the Blues- he can stop pretty much everything back there-lol… seriously though good signing.
Lol…we all need a guy who can fill the Gatorade. Lol. Never know what could happen though
That was me in high school
Did you not read the part about the .203 avg, poor pitch framing and 1-15 vs base Steelers? Thank go the Mets cut him early on.
I remember when Kansas City signed this to a major league contract as a 7 year minor league vet with no major league experience and he did not even get 1 AB. Finally got 7 ABs the next year.
Well maybe he learned a thing or 2 from Molina and be framer and throw a couple more guys out. He does have some power but if he was barreling up to knock out he likely hit .150. lol
I mean it’s the backup catcher. Cards haven’t place a premium on catching depth since they signed Laird to a 1 year deal in 2011. They did trade for AJ but that was when it was thought that Molina wouldn’t be 100% after busted up his thumb.
Lol exactly right…this was a no Brainer…they will worry about a backup if Molina gets hurt…but till then it’s no worries because Molina is a beast