Finding a catcher is the Tigers’ No. 1 priority this offseason, according to general manager Al Avila, who also named first base, corner outfield, the rotation and perhaps the middle infield as other areas of interest for the rebuilding club (via Chris McCosky of the Detroit News). Behind the plate, the belief is that Jason Castro – one of the best catchers remaining on the open market – is at the top of the Tigers’ list, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports. The defensively adept Castro is coming off a quality all-around season as a member of one of the Tigers’ division rivals, the Twins, with whom he batted .232/.332/.435 and swatted 13 home runs over 275 plate appearances. Thanks in part to his 2019 showing, MLBTR forecasts a two-year, $10MM payday in free agency for Castro, 32. On paper, he’d be a marked upgrade over the catcher trio of Grayson Greiner–John Hicks–Jake Rogers trio the Tigers mostly relied on last season.
More from the Motor City…
- Utilityman Niko Goodrum, likely the Tigers’ most valuable position player of 2019, has drawn quite a bit of trade interest from elsewhere, Avila revealed (link via McCosky). It’s unclear, though, how open the Tigers are to trading the 27-year-old switch-hitter, who’s the in-house favorite to start at shortstop for them next season. Goodrum saw time at short and six other positions in 2019, when he slashed .248/.322/.421 with 12 home runs, a dozen steals and 1.9 fWAR in 472 trips to the plate. He’s not eligible to reach arbitration until after next season.
- Detroit may not have a more obvious trade chip than 28-year-old left-hander Matthew Boyd, who’s been the subject of rumors for several months. Boyd’s still arbitration-eligible for another three years, though, and as of now, the Tigers aren’t “actively” looking to deal him, McCosky tweets. At the same time, the Tigers haven’t initiated extension talks with Boyd. However, Boyd’s agent, Scott Boras, has plenty of other matters to focus on at the moment.
- The Tigers are among those who have shown interest in Japanese free-agent outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, but it doesn’t appear he’ll end up wind up in Detroit. Avila suggested Monday that the Tigers are unlikely to make a serious run at Tsutsugo.
Avila destroys me every year with his stupid choices
The tigers need a 1b so Miggy can DH D.Smith and Familia (he does better in the AL) for Boyd.
I’d keep Boyd over those two. The Tigers can do better. Even keeping Boyd would be better.
Tigers have no need for a washed up prospect and a veteran reliever
Dom Smith is about as far away from washed up as you can get. Just look at his recent numbers.
Unbelievable they are trying to hire a catcher with future all star Jake Rogers just being called up. They have a ton of holes in that roster. The future of catcher is not one of them.
They need get better arms and not waste a top prospect like that catching worst arms in mlb. He would be the Tigers next player of long list to become perrineial all star if he left. I think he’s going to blow up!
Great in futures game, afl all star game, top framer in minors last 3 years by tru media. Top minor league in bWAR last 3 years. Top 15 Katoh player. Crazy times in Detroit! Build some arms and other positions . They have no prospects with those credentials so I don’t know why they’re going after a catcher!!
And Rogers proved he is not yet ready for prime time and Greiner not much more than a AAA catcher either. They let McCann go last year (justified given his performance in 2018) and figured they could just go with Hicks and Greiner. That did not work out. So makes sense to get a veteran catcher right now as a bridge to Rogers and even to mentor Rogers. Castro would be a good fit for that role.. My only question is why would Castro sign in Detroit? He likely should get offers from teams that are at least pretending to compete. Tigers would have to overpay for him to come to Detroit. That has not been the Tigers MO as of late.
Except Rogers is better than castro defensively and Castro can’t hit. Let’s see what our top prospect has before we tear him apart. Tigers let all the other positions have years to prove themselves and they’ weren’t half the prospect status Rogers is,
Rogers only been up 1 month catching worst pen in mlb history which is impossible to do.
Let’s let him show out. Don’t over react, stay the course. This is our one prospect in last 20 years that actually had the credentials and skins on the wall. Give him a chance now and get out the way.
If you ask me. They need to worry about positions where they don’t have the prospects to fill. Start filling those holes first.
Future International League all star? I don’t care if Rogers is Pudge in his prime defensively, if you can’t hit even a little in the bigs, you’re probably destined to being a backup/AAA depth guy who gets traded for cash when someone’s real C gets hurt
Lol you’re acting like jake Rogers is the savior for the tigers, and has been the only glimmer of hope for them. The dude hit below .200 and honestly underperformed defensively. And not quite sure what you mean by him being our one prospect in the last 20 years that had credentials. You realize we have mize and Manning right now, and castellanos and verlander in the past. Not sure how much you really understand this organization
this move would allow him to have more time in aa and aaa to develop as he is not ready to be in the big leagues today
Guru must not have watched Jake Rogers beyond his first five MLB games. Unfortunately the dude was a train wreck.
.481 OPS over 128 PA
Even though it’s within the division, everyone wins with a Boyd for Rosario trade.
Twins would never do that
You guys had a catcher he’s playing for the White Sox.
Then he slumped big time down the stretch and the White Sox decided to give a 4 year deal to his replacement
“Slumped down the stretch”
Aka had one really bad month
One really bad month in line with his really bad career***
It’s not the slump that did him in. It’s the fact that his impressive start to the year was, by pretty much every metric, a mirage.
Part-time next year, too.
There’s only one reason that Det would go after a veteran C: They intend on calling up at least a couple of their SP prospects early this year and perhaps out of ST if they’re even close to earning a spot. Otherwise, it makes no sense unless MLB is pressuring them to at least show some pretense about fielding a legitimate Major League team.
Rogers has caught all of them for last two years with multiple no hitters being called.
Catching a NH doesn’t qualify a guy as a big lg catcher. There are HS C that can do that.
Rogers actually came out on fire hitting, 4 hr’s in 10 days, broke record….then Lloyd got ahold of him. Ha
You are going to blame Lloyd for his hitting in Triple A also? The guy can’t hit. He’ll be a great defensive catcher, but he needs more seasoning in the minors. Once he proves he can hit Triple A pitching, then bring him up.
you do realize rogers hit .845 ops last year in minors?
Go get Myers from SD and get two solid prospects as well. If SD pays half his salary. we are gold. Send them Buck to sweeten the pot.
I would be fine with signing Castro, although it will likely take 2/16 to get him to Detroit… Tigers should be in on getting Wil Myers + Prospects from San Diego. Keep Goodrum, trade Boyd after his monster first half in 2020 (No way that you can k 12/9 and still allow that many homers over a multi season sample) and I am sad that they arent pursuing Tsutsugo further – seemed like a nice fit on the roster…
The cardinals should think about putting together a package for Boyd. Cards need a lefty and aren’t willing to buy one, but rather trade for one.
Carlson?
Bader is Jacob Jones 2.0, pass there.
Tyler O’Neil and an arm?
They can probably do better from SD or Philly
Good luck getting a better package from Philly. They have about 1 position player prospect that is anywhere close to being big league ready. That is Alec Bohm. Boyd isn’t fetching that.
O’Neill, Arozarena and Justin Williams for Matt Boyd.
That gives the Tigers 3 potential OF options. None necessarily guaranteed studs but they’re better choices than what Detroit has now.
I’m happy to hear the Tigers aren’t actively shopping Boyd. I love Matt for this team and as their leader. Niko’s another one I really like. I would like them to select Roberto Ramos in the Rule V. I might be in the minority, but I don’t think Jake Rogers is the answer behind the dish. Hopefully he turns it around. Maybe Langeliers?
Omar Narvaez was “ the guy” that should have been pursued to platoon with Rogers, but AA was asleep at the wheel. Flores should be the one guy he now targets, looking toward the “future”.
Omar Narvaez was the catcher we should have traded for. Wilmer Flores is the one guy they should acquire to start giving this club a legitimate roster.
Castro might be open to a 1 year deal with the Tigers. He would start for the Tigers and build some value. He’d also probably be traded near the deadline to a contender.
If he signs with a contender, he’d probably sit on the bench for a while. 1 year, he might get 8 mil.
Rogers and Greiner need some AAA experience. They could work with Mize and Manning and some other prospects, getting used to them. They might learn how to stop swinging at pitches out of the zone.
They’re not going to sign a Castro or Chirinos just to flip him; they need someone to handle a young staff for at least two yrs and I wouldn’t be surprised if they outbid everyone and give Chirinos three yrs.. He has his ring, so he’d probably sacrifice playing on a lousy team the rest of his career in exchange for $$$.