The White Sox have released veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy from his minor league contract, reports FanSided’s Robert Murray (via Twitter). The decision leaves Zack Collins and Yermin Mercedes as backup catching options still in camp. The Sox have already optioned Seby Zavala, and Yasmani Grandal is of course slated to serve as the primary catcher again in 2021. The Athletic’s James Fegan tweets that Lucroy asked for his release after being informed that he would not crack the Opening Day roster.
Lucroy, 34, appeared in 14 games with the Sox during Spring Training but only tallied 23 trips to the plate. It’s a small sample of work, but he hit well in that time, going 6-for-18 with a double and drawing five walks against just one strikeout. He’d long looked like a very plausible backup option behind Grandal, but it seems the Sox will instead turn things over to younger, in-house alternatives.
Keeping Lucroy would’ve required opening another 40-man roster spot. They’ll already need to do so for Andrew Vaughn at the very least — assuming he makes the club, as expected — and could need to do so for Jake Lamb, depending on the terms of the agreement he reached with the South Siders earlier this morning. Eloy Jimenez can be moved to the 60-day IL to create one such opening, but the Sox may not be keen on finding ways to open too many additional spots.
Lucroy was arguably MLB’s premier catcher at one point, but that was back in 2016 and his subsequent decline has been precipitous, to say the least. Since Opening Day 2017, Lucroy has posted a combined .248/.315/.305 batting line that clocks in at 24 percent worse than league-average production by measure of both OPS+ and wRC+. His once-vaunted framing numbers have tumbled as well, as has his ability to catch opposing base thieves. Lucroy appeared in just one big league game last year, with the Red Sox, and did not tally a plate appearance.
This is just silly. He should have been the backup.
He’s old and bad.
Good. If Grandal were to miss significant time this year, they can bring in a veteran to back up Collins. Mercedes is more of a DH only/emergency catcher.
if they dont want to start Vaughn in ghe Majors i can see all three making it to cycle between the C and DH spots.
I could see the Yankees try to grab him. Their experienced catching depth isn’t great and if Sanchez gets hurt (or sucks again), they’ll be in real trouble.
Sign him to a minor league deal with a June 1 opt out.
Not that he did much first time on the north side, but Cubs are in a similar spot. With Romine injured, Higgins is the only (not really) viable option to spell Contreras. Those, at some point, lifetime backup catchers always find a place to go.
He just asked for his release from a minor league deal, so I don’t see the fit with the Yankees that you are suggesting
*Zack Collins has entered chat*
This has brewers resigning all over it…..
I would dust my jersey off to see him back with the Brewers.
The Brewers are happy with Narvaez and Pina, plus they have Nottingham, who is out of options, on the IL, so there is no room for Lucroy.
I agree, I still would dust my jersey off to see him come back.
Lucroy was one of my all-time favorite Brewers…a great player while he was here and a genuinely good guy. Plus he got the Brewers the main player they used to acquire Yelich! He inexplicably just fell apart after the trade however, and it’s been hard to watch him struggle so badly after being such a big piece of the Brewers success during the period he was here. Best of luck to whatever the future holds for him…I still wear my Lucroy jersey with pride!
This is all about the roster spot and not seeing a big drop off between LuCroy vs. Collins or Mercedes.
Have you witnessed either Collins or Mercedes play the actual catching position?
There is a monumental drop off when it comes to Lucroy vs. those two.
@ JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidtl
I came to the conclusion years ago that at least 95% of the posters here don’t watch the games – and if they do, don’t understand what’s going on on the field.
Most watch the highlights – maybe some playoff games – and base their opinions on that. It’s understandable as there are only so many hours in the day, and most posters never really played the sport other than on a computer (which is a problem MLB is having in attracting fans to the sport). Consequently many opinions are based on what they remember or what they read……the same as with most things in America today. They believe that statistics and video present the truth. Context and an understanding of the subject matter are not needed.
@Samuel—and to add to that—over 99% of the poster have no idea how GMs work and why the sign players to minor league contracts, waive players, designate them for assignment–then sign them back, etc.
To your point of opinions base on what they remember—in addition to that, what was most recent…..and not in the context of variable data over time.
Furthermore, because someone writes something and it’s visible others take it as truth and perception becomes reality in people’s minds far too often.
On point
I haven’t watched Mercedes catch but I’ve watched Collins. The flack he gets is ridiculous. This will be a great opportunity for him to get even better and learn from one of the best.
I was expecting the Sox to do the usual Sox thing and keep the old washed up guy, but they surprised me.
I remember watching Collins catch during his 2019 call up… He was really being treated with kid gloves looking into the dugout for every single pitch call… this in stark contrast to watching James McCann’s rhythm and harmony with the pitching staff…. I haven’t noticed anything grotesquely awful in the way of his defense, arm, or framing…. maybe I’m wrong, but I think the concern is for his experience in calling the game at MLB level?
Why is it ridiculous? There are very few scouts who see Collins’ defensive ability as something you want behind the plate for the long term. He’s essentially, like a lot of the White Sox offensive depth, a glorified DH moonlighting as a fielder.
Is there improvement? Yes. Is it substantial enough to give Collins 40-50 games behind the dish? I don’t believe so.
You can disagree. It seems that White Sox fans love to disagree with any perception of their team that doesn’t end in them winning 19 consecutive World Series, but your opinion isn’t the consensus by any means.
Lol. Uh, ok. No Sox fan I actually know in person assumes they are guaranteed multiple rings. We’re all just happy that our team looks ready to compete, and we’re excited to start the season.
Luckily the team agrees with me regarding the catcher position. You’re welcome to go build a consensus with whomever you please regarding the amazing skillset of the great Jonathan “DFA” Lucroy. I just think it’s time to give the younger catchers a chance.
I’m not suggesting Jonathan Lucroy is this incredible talent at catcher anymore. I AM suggesting he’s significantly better at the position than Zack “1B/DH” Collins.
I’m also suggesting that a contending team like the Chicago White Sox should err on the side of employing people who can actually play their position instead of running along with young guys who can’t.
I don’t think they can afford 50 games of Zack Collins at catcher, frankly. And if they go more than about 20, you should hope the Wild Card opponent isn’t very good.
Collins is the backup. He has to sink or swim as far as whether he can handle catching at the highest level. If he’s not up to par, then they know and pivot to a defensive alternative. Many share your view that he may not stick, but he’s improving at a position which is weak around baseball.
Hey how will Collins get better without real MLB experience? Let him learn from mistakes this team can afford.
Collins and Mercedes aren’t good catchers, but White Sox fans probably won’t really see it, because the team has tolerated weak catchers who hit well since 2005 . And they don’t value framing or defense if a catcher can’t hit (see Tyler Flowers).
But yeah. If the option is Lucroy, just go with the two of them to begin the season. They both looked passable this Spring.
Collins has looked better this Spring, especially in framing, but he really isn’t that great behind the plate. He may have worked on his craft enough to get as serviceable as Kevan Smith, who is another big catcher. But like Smith, he doesn’t move well, and he doesn’t have a great arm for holding the running game.
Mercedes looked much better this spring, and he does have a solid throwing arm. But his blocking isn’t great, and his framing gets sloppy.
But yes. After this Spring, both of them look like they can not embarrass themselves behind the plate, a la Smith and Narvaez, who both were also barely passable behind the plate.
Since they have Grandal, however, you can probably live with that in a backup role if they both hit. So sure, just go with them and hope Grandal stays healthy.
Lucroy wasn’t good enough to justify not giving them a shot.
I think they can afford to take April, see if Vaughn and Collins belong, and take it from there.
LaRussa is already surprising. I assumed he would take the old-guy veteran catcher but he made the right call.
Mercedes has a damn quick release behind the plate and accurate. Have you not seen him play this spring? In one game this spring he gunned down 3 would be base stealers. I have been fortunate to get to watch quite a few games and of those he has not allowed a base stealer to swipe any bags. What’s wrong with that? From what I saw he had great energy/excitement being the receiver for the pitchers and can provide some thump with the bat. Assuming they have Mercedes and Collins share the BUC and DH role since they’re LH/RH.
He can throw out runners, but he is a reach catcher.
He frames well if the pitcher throws it where he expects, but he doesn’t move his body if the ball is off target. He just reaches for the ball, which makes framing impossible, and will eventually lead to passed balls and wild pitches, because it’s not proper blocking technique.
Collins does this as well. But because he is huge, he can get away with it on balls that are not in the dirt, and even some that are.
But they really do remind me of lesser versions of Narvaez and Smith. Narvaez could throw guys out, but lacked technique, and Smith was big enough to cover the plate, but couldn’t throw anyone out. And bother were fringe blockers.
But A.J. and Piazza were pretty mediocre catchers, so if they hit, it washes out. They have no other options, so it is what it is, and I hope for the best.
I’ve watched them all during Spring Training this year, and I did not see anything close to a monumental drop off. Collins looked fine at framing. Mercedes looked great at throwing out base stealers. Neither embarrassed themselves. Lucroy was not noticeably better.
I’m sure Lucroy used to better and Collins/Mercedes used to be worse. But that doesn’t mean that’s the current state of affairs.
And I still wouldn’t want Mercedes as my primary back up catcher, but as an emergency 3rd catcher who can make management more comfortable with having both Grandal and Collins in the starting lineup together, I’m cool with it.
Nothing against Lucroy, who is a fine veteran catcher, but Collins & Mercedes won’t make the needed improvements without getting good major league experience. I’m happy the Sox are pivoting towards players who could become parts of the future of the team. For what it’s worth, I have watched every spring game and after seeing Mercedes as a DH-in-the-making, his arm has impressed me greatly. He’s thrown out a ton of base stealers. I know that’s not something that comes up a ton, but it is good to see he’s got more than 1 tool.
Yeh that is my point, but you made it in depth.
who knows if the 2016 WS would have ended up differently if Lucroy would have accepted that trade to Cleveland. What I do know is Lucroy hasn’t been to one though. Sorry dude.
Rick Hahn certainly has a lot of pride in the starting offensive players he’s developed, and he should. But he is walking a tightrope when it comes to team depth.
Unless he’s expecting Yasmani Grandal to catch 150+ games in 2021, running with a roster where Zack Collins is your key catching backup seems rather careless.
1. There is a shortage of decent Catchers in MLB.
2.. Of all the comments above, at this time none of them addresses how Lucroy played in Spring Training.
He’s been bouncing around quite a bit the last number of years. It’s not likely he can make a minimum $500k-plus for 6-7 months work in another line of work.
Guy may well be washed up, but can’t blame him for trying.
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Yes, the Sox roster is top heavy……as well as it’s style of play primarily being to hit long balls to win games. Since they’ve been doing that under Kenny Williams since Ozzie was sacked (and Ozzie fought him tooth and nail to get players that could do something other then “rake”), one has to believe that this is what the people in authority want…..because if not, they would change it.
Where have you been? The entire league has been relying on HRs and slugging to win games.
@Samuel — I feel like you haven’t been watching the games or at least not paying attention to the White Sox. While they have a lot of guys who can hit home runs, that’s not all those guys can do, and they have a bunch of other guys who aren’t sluggers.
Grandal can hit HRs, but a lot of his value comes from his defense and his patient approach at the plate with a lot of walks/high OBP. Collins looks to have a similar offensive profile.
Tim Anderson can hit HRs, but he’s been one of the league leaders in batting average in recent years, with speed, who is a great leadoff hitter and a team leader.
Abreu can hit HRs, but he also hits for decent average, is a run producer, and is also a team leader.
Luis Robert can hit HRs, but his gold glove defense and speed on the basepaths are just as important.
Moncada can hit HRs, but if he can regain his 2019 form (which I think he can), he should be a solid all-around hitter and above-average defensive 3rd baseman.
Adams Eaton and Engel can hit a HR every now and then, but they are mostly contact hitters with speed and defense.
Madrigal is another contact hitter with speed and defense, and he can’t even hit HRs.
Vaughn is expected to hit some HRs, but he is also expected to hit for average and take a lot of walks. He’s probably not going to be a great defensive outfielder, but he’d be fine at 1B.
Even Eloy who projected to be the most prolific homerun hitter on the team also hit for average.
YES! Great comment! I think the speed element of the team is overlooked. Anderson, Eaton, Engel, Robert, Madrigal, Garcia, (and Hamilton, if he cracks the roster)… this team has a lot of speed, which translates to legging out more infield singles than the average team, plus steals and taking that extra base when going first-to-third or first-to-home. This team hits homers, but they are not a home-run-or-bust team,
This works in tandem with putting the ball in play. HRs and Ks do not put the ball in play, as much as casual fans love them.
Actually I would adjust this theory – Sox have acquired players who PUT THE BALL IN PLAY. Eg, Madrigal and Anderson, who are more likely to hit a line drive than strike out. Sluggers syrike out a lot, as they are mostly “guess” hitters. Sox seem to favor “slap” or “reflex” hitters who do not strike out and do not walk. So OBP suffers due to lack of BB, but the games are exciting due to the inevitable likelihood of errors in defensive play. It is similar to teams in the NBA who use ‘motion’ offense, more opportunities for the opponent to make a mistake.
What does “key catching backup” mean? You mean the backup catcher?
If Grandal gets hurt they can call up Seby Zavala. Collins deserves his shot, and giving the backup catching duties to a guy like Lucroy was an even worse idea.
I honestly don’t know why Zavala is still on the 40-man roster. He is an average defensive catcher who can’t hit. That literally describes just about every AAAA catcher in the league.
Only reason I think he stays on 40 is because Lucroy opted out and they need a catcher in AAA. But I also wouldn’t be shocked if they waive him, and try to bring him back once he clears waivers.
There really is no reason to have 4 catchers on the 40 man roster, especially if three are on the 26.
Should not the Indians pick him up and replace Austin Hedges, who has struck out an astounding 18 times in 32 spring ABs ? The dude is striking out over 50% of the time!
Unfortunately Hedges’ profile is exactly what CLE prefers – all glove and no stick at C. What they really need to do is start thinking about who will take over when Perez departs, and we all know that can’t be Hedges.
If Lucroy was a free agent 1 year earlier he would have got at least 80 million
He picked the absolute worst time to bomb.
Sometimes being a small market team keeps you from making dumb decisions.
This is a surprise in light of Jonathan Lucroy’s fine spring and the knowledge that Tony La Russa has generally preferred veterans as roster backups. The notion that the White Sox are very real contenders for both an AL Central Title and representing the league in the World Series this year makes this even more surprising.
That said, it’s certainly good news for Zack Collins who also had a terrific spring both offensively and defensively. The Lucroy release also give Yermin Mercedes a solid shot at becoming the White Sox #3 catcher along with becoming a platoon option with Collins at DH assuming Andrew Vaughn is the team’s primary LF in 2021.
@Aaron Sapoznik
I was about to type something similar. I was under the impression Lucroy pretty much had the backup C job sealed. Shows what the “experts” know. I wonder if Collins ST impressed TLR enough to change his mind.
I’m fine with Collins being the backup C/DH. We might as well see how good or bad he is with finally get a legit shot in MLB. Better to find out now while there’s still plenty of time to replace him before Grandal’s contract ends in a few years. And if he takes full advantage of the situation and becomes the player we all hoped he would be, it will take a little bit of the sting from losing Eloy for most/all year.
Most Sox fans were under that impression along with virtually every beat writer who had projected Jonathan Lucroy as the White Sox primary backup to Yasmani Grandal. Many of those same ‘insiders’ also had Zack Collins claiming an opening day roster spot as the #3 catcher, a lefty DH option and yet another backup to Jose Abreu at 1B.
I don’t believe this move had anything to do with Lucroy disappointing this spring. In fact, he has more resembled the catcher he was a few years ago and there are many reasons for that as explained in this article: theathletic.com/2376333/2021/02/09/chicago-white-s…. A subscription is required for this article but I did summarize its key points in an earlier post on this site.
There is no question that Collins earned a spot on the White Sox opening day roster with his improved hitting approach AND his defense. He also has ample experience with many of the younger White Sox pitchers who he caught regularly while rising through their farm system.
As a Miami resident, Collins also has a strong relationship with Grandal dating back to his days as a high school senior when he was about to enter the University of Miami where the veteran All-Star had been a star catcher. They have continued this relationship during many offseasons as winter work-out partners. Since Grandal joined the White Sox as a free agent ahead of the 2020 season their relationship has intensified.
The other player in the equation is Yermin Mercedes who has also impressed this spring. Sox fans are well aware of Mercedes hitting prowess since he joined the organization as a minor league Rule 5 free agent from the Orioles back in December of 2017. He has done nothing but rake at the dish in terms of both BA and SLG. Mercedes defense was always his concern and he has shown enough this spring to at least receive consideration as the team’s #3 catcher. Like Collins, Mercedes is also a strong candidate to pick up DH PA’s, especially if Andrew Vaughn remains the White Sox primary left-fielder in the wake of the Eloy Jimenez injury.
Bottom line: The release of Lucroy had more to do with the emergence of both Collins and Mercedes as viable backups behind the plate along with the fact that both were on the White Sox 40-man roster. Each have options remaining and could have been sent down to the team’s alternate site but the front office still faced the dilemma of having to add some spring NRI’s to their reserve roster before promoting them to the active list. These NRI’s included Vaughn, Lucroy, Billy Hamilton and now potentially Jake Lamb. It was becoming more difficult to open the necessary roster spots to accommodate potential additions who needed them. Collins and Mercedes have made the White Sox choice a bit easier with quality camps. Both deserve to be on the opening day active roster.
I don’t think it’s surprising at all. Rolling with Lucroy was a risk, and a dumb risk. If Grandal gets hurt, can you count on Lucroy to catch most of the games? No, so it makes more sense to let one of the younger catchers break camp with the team and build a rapport with the pitchers in case the worst happens. Lucroy himself might even get hurt; he’s old and has a history of injury.
Why are people talking about Lucroy like he’s Pudge Rodriguez? He can’t throw out runners, he can’t field, he can’t hit. He’s old and bad.
@CalcetinesBlancos
I was surprised more because it sounded like a done deal with Lucroy as the backup. I was never crazy about Lucroy being the backup, unless he were to be able to somehow tap into his past success for one year. Otherwise all he was to the team is comfort for the pitching staff, which in and of itself is fine, but you’re hoping for your backup C to bring more to the table than that.
I’m absolutely fine with Collins as the backup C/DH. It’s about time they actually gave him a legit shot in MLB.
If not now, when? He’ll get a start or two a week behind the plate, he’ll learn from a legit MLB catcher how to handle the position, and we’ll also get to see what his bat does via what I assume will be a mix of C/DH/1B at-bats. I’m so glad they decided to work some more youth into the team.
Giving the backup catcher job to a guy who isn’t a catcher is something you’d expect out of the Tigers or Orioles. Not a team trying to contend for a WS title.
So you believe that if Grandal went down, you would be able to count on Jonathan Lucroy playing regularly as the starting catcher? This is an honest question.
No, this has nothing to do with Lucroy, and everything to do with how bad Collins and Mercedes are at catcher. It could be Tyler Flowers or someone else.
But yes, I think Lucroy would be a better option over 100+ games over Collins. Mostly because, unlike the White Sox (apparently), I think defense at the catcher position matters greatly. The other contending teams would agree with that idea as well.
Let me reverse that question: if Grandal went down, do you really want a contending team relying on Zack Collins to work with pitchers and make them better (like Grandal does)?
That would be a big responsibility to put on the shoulders of a guy with 11 career starts behind the dish, but yeah I would. I’d give him a chance to fail and see how he handled the added pressure before I’d consider making a change.
@JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidt — Have you actually been watching Collins and Mercedes play, or are you basing your evaluation of their catching abilities on their prospect reports?
And do all of the contenders have 2 good defensive catchers on their rosters? I don’t think so. Especially not in the American League.
Yankees seem to be rolling with Gary Sanchez as their primary catcher, so they don’t appear to think defense matters greatly.
Blue Jays have Alejandro Kirk making the team as the back-up catcher, and he is a bat-first catcher with poor defense.
The Rays will probably have Francisco Mejia as their back-up, another bat-first catcher.
Twins have Mitch Garver, who is not terrible defensively, but they have him more for his bat.
The Angels appear to be going with Kurt Suzuki as their back-up, who is a veteran who hasn’t been good defensively for years.
So, there’s a world of difference between “bat-first catchers” and guys who should absolutely, under zero circumstances be behind the plate.
I’ve watched a lot of Zack Collins. I watched him at Miami. I’ve watched him in Spring this year, in almost every game I could get televised. It’s not even fair to say he’s a “bad catcher”, because that implies the guy is a real catcher. The White Sox HAVE to start him at catcher because they’ve failed to develop any depth behind their starters.
The difference between the guys you mentioned and Collins? Those guys can at least play a passable catcher. I’m not sure many, if any, of the other 29 teams would be playing him there.
The White Sox wouldn’t normally, either. But again, they are doing it out of necessity. And that necessity will bite them when it matters most.
I think we have a consensus there is ‘nothing to see here’
Johnathon reminds me of Jake Taylor and what Lou Brown, Charlie Donovan , and Pepper Leach were saying about him when Jake was arriving at spring training. A lot of teams wish they could have the Jonathon Lucroy of 5 years ago right now.
Who the hell are these guys? This guy here is dead!
The Mets need a good backup catcher, Lucroy would be perfect
Thank god. I’m honestly shocked, but I’m thrilled.
@CalcentinesBlancos
That makes two of us.
I think Eloy going down forced the brass to think a little harder about some of these roster decisions and what would be best for the team over the next few seasons. Keeping Lucroy would be bad for both the present and future.
They have James McCann…
I think he makes a nice candidate to be backup for the Cubs. Tossing away Caratini was a bad move and Lucroy is certainly more comfortable with the role than Amaya who needs to play regularly. Romine is dinged up at this point. They signed a former farmhand that never hit. Certainly Lucroy offers more upside.
Mercedes is not a lock to make the team. I see Vaughn splitting time between left field and dh. Or the Sox pickup a left fielder and Vaughn stays full time dh as planned.
Like to see the Mets take a flyer on him
I’m generally the one arguing against signing washed up vets but the position of catcher is different. I think Lucroy would be an upgrade over Nido, who’s bat is basically unplayable.
Collins has earned his opportunity….. let’s see what he can do….. I don’t expect Mercedes to be on the roster…. Is it expected that they will carry 3 catchers?
I’d say it’s very unlikely, but not impossible. Really depends on if Tony LaRussa would want to burn a roster position simply on a power bat for pinch hitting opportunities. Mercedes started the Spring super hot, but has cooled off lately. I’m guessing he’s the starter at Triple-A most of the season. Definitely also a member of the taxi squad until the Minor League season starts too.
I think Mercedes will be on the Opening Day roster, at least to start the season.
Having a 3rd catcher will make management more comfortable with putting Grandal & Collins in the starting lineup together, which I think will be the plan against RHP. And Mercedes can sometimes DH and pinch hit when facing LHP.
Mercedes is also willing to play other positions. I obviously wouldn’t want him out in the field on a regular basis, but in an emergency he at least offers a little bit of flexibility in that regard.
That is a very good point. I imagine Grandal’s little knee injury at the start of Spring Training is totally healed, but if there is any lingering soreness, all the more reason to carry a 3rd catcher.
I remember Lucroy in a “home run derby” w/ an up and comer named Domingo Ayala. Lucroy got smoked……… wonder what ever happened to the Ayala kid. I know he had a cup of coffee w/ the Rockies.
Would rather have him as a back-up then Alex Jackson. Jackson scares me.
I was critical of not adding a vet catcher, but both Mercedes and Collins performed well enough this spring to give management the benefit of the doubt.
Eloy’s injury also makes offense a greater imperative, that that duo gives the team a potential platoon at DH while they wrap the experiment with Vaughn acting like a LFer.
So yes, I support and even expected this move.
Absolutely the two deserve a shot and now is the time. Why wait? Sink or swim and I give Larussa credit to have the nuts to do it. A young up-start team. Go Sox !
Lucroy was a good catcher and had success. Since his Milwaukee days, he has turned into a vagabond as his skills decline. Now this gives Mercedes (power bat off the bench) and Collins (needs more playing time) the opportunity they deserve. It’s a good move.
Seems Lucroy as well as Braun both fell off in production at the same time??. Whitesox are a very good team and are better off without him
Meanwhile, the Indians are paying Austin Hedges $3.28 million to back up Roberto Perez .
After today, Hedges has struck out 20 times in 35 at bats this spring ! Think about that stat.
Thanks Chris Antonetti.
@ OIC2021;
Interesting comment.
Earlier today a friend from Cleveland sent me an article by Jim Ingraham on 23 year-old Logan Allen making the team as a starting pitcher. Logan had come in the Bauer trade a couple of years ago. He pitched for their AAA club that year and was awful.
Allen explained how management called him in and started working with him on their system for developing effective pitchers. It took him some time to adjust, and he said that today he is a totally different pitcher. He finished ST with a 0.64 ERA and got the 5th starter job.
The article noted that the Indians had to trade all their starters from 2018, yet they continue to churn out new ones.
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The Indians (properly) put a high value on Catcher’s that understand their system of pitching and can help young pitchers get better within it.
I suggest that taking a young 4th round draft choice like Shane Bieber in 2016, having him up and pitching well in 2018, then winning the Cy after being dominant in 2020, is more important then a Catcher that hits .250 and doesn’t strike out a lot.
Any hitting a Catcher gives a team is a bonus.
Except Hedges gets no credit for developing Indians pitchers since he came over last year. Hedges bat or lack there of , is an abomination and his defensive skills are moot if he does nothing offensively. 20 strikeouts in 35 at bats ….ridiculous
And if Perez gets hurt – do they stop developing pitchers since no one else understands the complexities of the system?
I understand the move. At least they have other options if Collins needs to be sent down. I get Lucroy not wanting to go down to AAA also. He will get a call from another team looking for an average backup catcher for their roster. He can play first too and start for an injured player for a spell and not be a liability. In hindsight I realize the Sox were not beefing up the bench in order to give the rookies a chance out of the gate. I would imagine reinforcements will be obtained at the deadline or before if the team contends as expected.
Best non-trade the Indians ever got. Because the trade fell through we got Miller instead. Because of Miller, the 2016 was magical.
It is foolish and misleading to compare the offensive production of a catcher or shortstop to league average.
They should be compared only to the average production of other players at their position.