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Athletics Considering Free-Agent Catchers

By Connor Byrne | February 11, 2020 at 7:13pm CDT

The Athletics used a slew of catchers in 2019, but almost all of them are now out of the organization. Josh Phegley, Chris Herrmann, Nick Hundley, Beau Taylor and Dustin Garneau are gone. Sean Murphy’s the lone member of last season’s group still remaining, and the promising 25-year-old figures to get the most playing time among Athletics catchers in the upcoming campaign. There’s no battle-tested backup on the roster, but the A’s are monitoring the free-agent market for backstops, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

There’s at least some chance that Russell Martin, a longtime Dodger, will remain in California. Oakland “checked in with” him earlier in the offseason, Slusser writes. Should the team wind up signing Martin, the 36-year-old would make for quite a mentor for Murphy.

Martin, who debuted in 2006, has been one of the game’s most successful catchers in recent memory on the field and a well-regarded locker room presence off it. While Martin’s production has tailed off in the past couple seasons, he still turned in 1.2 fWAR with a .220/.337/.330 line in 249 plate appearances last year. Behind the plate, Martin threw out just 18 percent of would-be base stealers, though Baseball Prospectus did assign him above-average marks for his overall work as a defender.

Martin’s likely the most appealing catcher left in a free-agent market that has shrunk to almost nothing at his position. Fellow ex-star Jonathan Lucroy, a former Athletic, is also out there. He has engaged in “conversations with a few teams,” per Slusser, though it’s unclear if the A’s are among them.

Of course, Oakland could just decide to stick with in-house choices at catcher, where it has two options besides Murphy on its 40-man roster. The club acquired Austin Allen, who’s penciled in as its backup, from the Padres in December. The Athletics also have Jonah Heim, a 24-year-old who raked in Triple-A ball in 2019. Additionally, they picked up veteran Carlos Perez earlier this winter, though he’s not on their 40-man.

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Oakland Athletics Jonathan Lucroy Russell Martin

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View Comments (18)

Comments

  1. dynamite drop in monty

    2 years ago

    Oh my god that’s Sal Fasano’s music!

    Reply
  2. DarkSide830

    2 years ago

    yall can have Knapp

    Reply
    • dynamite drop in monty

      2 years ago

      How unfortunate for the Knapps

      Reply
      • Connor Byrne

        2 years ago

        Good job with “The ‘Burbs'” reference.

        Reply
        • dynamite drop in monty

          2 years ago

          High five, Byrnesey

  3. TrumpCard

    2 years ago

    Peter Griffin

    Reply
  4. Phiilies2020

    2 years ago

    Russel Martin seems like a logical fit there. I really, really like Oakland’s roster.

    Reply
  5. jeb39999

    2 years ago

    Call the Cubs

    Reply
  6. No one likes tomatos

    2 years ago

    I think that they should call up the rangers and trade luzardo for Mathis

    Reply
  7. OCTraveler

    2 years ago

    Dodgers trade Austin Barnes and Joc Pedersen to the A’s for JB Wendleken & Austin Beck – A’s get a catcher who might crack their lineup and an everyday OF/DH – Dodgers dump salary and get bullpen hep and a prospect

    Reply
    • rule-5-draft-dodger

      2 years ago

      That sounds reasonable.

      Reply
    • Strike Four

      2 years ago

      Actually-fair, but Beck is Beane’s “Trout he didnt skip on” being that he drafted him way higher than everyone expected because he was so paranoid to skip Trout again, then on top of that Beck is a work in progress who’s actually improving every year, so he’s not getting moved no matter what.

      Pinder, Wendelken and either Logan Davidson or Luis Barrera might work. A’s could definitely use those two, and on top of that both Pederson is a Bay Area local and Barnes is a Socal dude, both are two groups heavily-represented on the A’s.

      Reply
  8. afannaz

    2 years ago

    It always amazes me how Billy Beane finds little value in the catching position; the player who directs these young pitchers and guides the infield with his high baseball IQ. And, then there is another important up-the-middle position, 2B that BB has left unfilled til now we’re down to no good players left to acquire there either. Catcher and 2B are both important positions that have thus far been ignored. BB does this every year with at least one or two positions, while the clock on the A’s winning window ticks away. Do we really think he’s going to extend all these great players who will be out of sight expensive to re-sign/extend? Come on Beane has almost never extended players, except for K.Davis, and we know that he can’t play the field, and how that turned out so far. SMH at BB!

    Reply
    • Strike Four

      2 years ago

      While I agree Beane has in the past tried to shoehorn LF/1B types into the position (Vogt) Murphy is probably going to be the best (or close) catcher in baseball.

      Reply
  9. Rsox

    2 years ago

    Lucroy reunion?.

    Russell Martin wouldnt be a terrible signing.

    Lots of possible options will be available at the end of spring training so plenty of time to add before opening day.

    Reply
  10. vikowams

    2 years ago

    None of the mention catchers bat LH. That is what the A’s are looking for

    Reply
    • mlb1225

      2 years ago

      I don’t think there are even any left handed batting catchers available right now.

      Reply
  11. Mick1956

    2 years ago

    Looks like Reece McGuire will be free

    Reply

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