The Rays have been without injured catcher Mike Zunino for three weeks, but he could return as early as Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Zunino went to the 10-day IL on May 9 with a left quad strain.
Injuries, not just to Zunino, have victimized Rays catchers this year. Zunino headed to the shelf just four days after an oblique strain sent fellow backstop Michael Perez to the IL. When the club lost Zunino, it promoted Anthony Bemboom as his replacement, but the latter wound up on the IL on May 15 with a knee sprain.
With only struggling minor league Nick Ciuffo to turn to as a healthy 40-man option, the banged-up Rays had to scour the trade market for help earlier this month. They acquired former Mets starter Travis d’Arnaud from the Dodgers on the 10th and landed journeyman Erik Kratz in a deal with the Giants on the 16th. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, those two haven’t offered much help so far. D’Arnaud and Kratz have combined for seven hits (five singles, two doubles), 17 strikes and three walks in 52 plate appearances, essentially making them automatic outs.
Aside from Perez – who’s still dealing with “discomfort,” per Topkin – no Rays backstop has done much at the plate this season. That includes Zunino, though the ex-Mariner’s .220/.260/.407 line in 96 PA would be welcome for the Rays compared to what they’ve gotten from d’Arnaud and Kratz.
It seems likely the return of Zunino will lead to the end of Kratz’s time on the Rays’ 40-man roster. The 38-year-old’s out of minor league options and has been behind d’Arnaud in Tampa Bay’s pecking order.
Mariners would probably send them Jose Lobaton cheap. Or they could probably get Yan Gomes for a good 8th inning RP.
Loboton or Nola from Seattle for ptbl or just one of the Rays non top 30 organization prospects seems fair.
Mike Z according to the article is about to return. So keep Travis as the backup until Perez is healthy.
Catchers, easiest path to the majors and the IL.
Requiring offensive production from the catcher is a big mistake, I think. Call a good game, throw out runners, and don’t let pitches get past you. That’s all I ask. The position is too demanding physically for a bat you’re gonna need 150 games a year.
That’s how I’ve always felt about backup catchers. That’s also the reason a guy like Kratz keeps finding work. He’s never hit much at all (although he has decent power numbers, his average is usually terrible). But his reputation is that pitchers absolutely love pitching to him, he’s gotten good pitch framing numbers, and he’s a solid clubhouse guy.
Like the Diaz trade, the Rays acquired him because he makes hard contact. The only problem is that he rarely hits the ball and needs to stay on the field. Hoping this could be a good bounce back for the former 3rd overall pick
No, the Rays did not pick him up for his bat, it was for his work behind the plate. Getting any production with the bat is just an added bonus.
Zunino is a fairly valuable C. He throws out a good share of guys stealing he is an excellent pitch framer and blocks the ball well. He has had runs where he hits the ball well and you think this is the guy we want. They always end after awhile and you have to say we have him for his D. I was sad to see him go one of my favorite players. Enjoy him for his D and any OFF he gives you is a bonus. We have a OFF minded C and miss Z behind the plate. An avg bat doesn’t make up for below avg in all aspects of the duties he has behind the plate.