Veteran catcher Jeff Mathis hopes to play in what would be a 17th Major League season next year, tweets T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. The 37-year-old Mathis is wrapping up a two-year deal with the Rangers right now, and Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram explored the reasons that Texas might look into bringing Mathis back despite his lack of production at the plate.
Mathis hasn’t hit a lick in Texas, nor was he really expected to. The Rangers signed him to a two-year, $6.25MM deal on the heels of a .207/.274/.297 showing at the plate in two seasons with the Diamondbacks. He’s gone on to put together an even less-palatable .160/.215/.244 output in 297 plate appearances as a Ranger. Mathis was signed entirely for his glove and the experience that he can bestow upon younger catchers and pitchers alike.
He hasn’t matched the defensive and framing numbers he put forth in his D-backs run this time around, but Mathis is still generally regarded as a defensive savant and, as Wilson writes, is the preferred receiver for right-handers Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. Wilson adds that Jose Trevino — the likely starter in 2021 with Sam Huff expected to open in Double-A or Triple-A — “loves” Mathis and has learned quite a bit under his tutelage. Manager Chris Woodward called Mathis’ knowledge and mentorship “invaluable.”
The question for the Rangers, of course, is whether they’ll aim a bit higher in looking for catching help this winter. The free-agent market will have defensively sound alternatives who can offer more at the plate than Mathis. Granted, J.T. Realmuto probably isn’t heading to Arlington, but the Rangers could look at quality defenders like Jason Castro or Mike Zunino who offer more ability with the bat.
That said, the Rangers are already leaning toward a youth movement and taking a longer-term focus. That mentality comes with a payroll reduction and lowered expectations in the win column. It’s tougher to entice free agents to sign with a team when the president of baseball operations is on the record having recently called 2022 and beyond “probably the more likely window for us” while plainly acknowledging that the team’s payroll will decrease. Mathis, on the other hand, has already expressed a willingness to discuss a return in a similarly limited role for the 2021 season, Sullivan notes.
There’s no guarantee that Mathis will be back with the Rangers or any other club next season. He hasn’t hit better than .200 in a season since 2017, and his perennially high strikeout rate has spiked to a career-worst 35.8 percent with the Rangers. The lack of offensive value is glaring, even if clubs still love the glove and the intangibles he can bring to a young team. But Mathis sounds like a man who plans to be a baseball lifer one way or another, telling Wilson, “Baseball’s all I know” and expressing interest in one day becoming a coach.
If offers as a player don’t materialize this winter, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Rangers or any number of other clubs express interest in bringing Mathis aboard in a coaching or player development capacity. He’s played with the Angels, Blue Jays, Marlins, D-backs and Rangers across nearly two decades in the big leagues, making countless connections along the way that are now scattered throughout an even wider slate of organizations.
His career is hanging by a thread… we can only hope that MLB front offices watch Foolish Baseball.
I think the pitchers he bats against are also hoping this.
Must have a great agent.
Out of the Angels top prospects in the 2000s, this guy has outlasted them all.
I know no one cares… but has anyone noticed how well Jake McGee is doing for the Dodgers? I would have put it in an appropriate thread, but there never seems to be one. Even the chats are non existent any more.
Oh well, go back to sleep.
I know he won’t take a MiLB deal but I’d love to see him in Gwinnett helping some of the Braves young pitchers.
Nearly 3000 plate apperances. A career average under the mendoza line (.195) and an OPS of .553. I don’t point these out to denigrate him but to highlight how good the other aspects of his game must be to accomplish this and to continue to receive playing time. If he wants it, I can’t imagine him not becoming a coach or manager.
Your right he would be a good coach
Does great pitch framing make you a good coach?
Nope but the ability to teach and be well respected by others does
Thank you
Nope but being a good teammate and leader can make you a good manager. You are implying that his sole contribution is pitch framing which is incorrect. If all he could do was pitch frame well he would not have had as long of a career as he has had, with his offensive limitations
https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2020/09/17/rangers-c-jeff-mathis-leadership-will-serve-him-well-whether-there-is-another-mlb-roster-in-his-future-or-not/
Nerd
*Crying laughing emoji* ya got owned
Don’t we all
What a legend.
Foolish Baseball legend
He’s a nice commodity, and I know he helps young pitchers, but that is the only reason I put up with his bat. Last year I didn’t hate his hitting, but the only reason for that is because I expected absolutely nothing from him, so one hit was way over expectations lol.
Watch the video baseball Foolish Baseball made on him if you want to see more about his interesting career.
Texas can trade us Lynne for Zach Collins.
why would texas want collins lmao
Throw in Robert and maybe they bite.
Probably doesn’t want to become a coach because of the paycut. Honestly don’t really want him back regardless of his knowledge – Jose Trevino isn’t the long term solution at C so why waste a spot on Mathis to mentor him. As for the pitchers – gibson has been awful and lynn shouldn’t be a ranger in 2021 so that becomes a moot point. For a team that just said they are committed to young players, it doesn’t seem like it fits the vision for him to be back.
I love seeing a guy hit under 200 and play 17 years lol.
How many years does he last on the ballot until he’s inducted into the hall of fame?
I also am hoping to play in 2021.
He’s kind of the archetype for a backup catcher. Hasn’t been a bad gig for him as he’s made a little over $21 mil in his career.
How much would he really cost? I would think a million maybe. So, price isn’t really the issue. It’s just a case of if the Rangers or any team actually wants his bat in the lineup.
Is he hopeful for a retirement tour?
17 years of MLB money , plus the pension for a 0.4 career WAR ! Career average below what he weighs !! He’s my hero.
Mathis would be a good pickup for a team with a young pitching staff. He’s never offered anything offensively but has hung around for a reason
I don’t know about Mathias but I’d trade Ofor for any bodies bat boy!