Cubs catcher Tony Wolters has cleared waivers and been assigned outright to Triple-A Iowa, per his transactions log at MLB.com. Chicago designated the 28-year-old for assignment earlier this week when they selected the contract of fellow backstop P.J. Higgins.
Having already been outrighted earlier this season, Wolters had the right to elect free agency after passing through waivers unclaimed. However, he’s decided to accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Iowa, where he’s listed on the active roster.
Wolters spent his entire MLB career prior to this season with the Rockies, working as Colorado’s primary catcher for a good portion of the 2016-20 seasons. The Rockies non-tendered him last November and he later hooked on with the Pirates on a minor league deal. After failing to crack Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster, Wolters opted out and signed with the Cubs, where he’s picked up 30 MLB plate appearances so far in 2021.
The left-handed hitting Wolters has never made much of an impact at the plate. He’s generally regarded as a solid receiver and leader of a pitching staff, though, and he has cut down an impressive 30.7% of attempted base stealers at the big league level. Wolters will give the Cubs a quality defensive option as high minors depth.
I bet the White Sox wished they had signed Wolters instead of Grandal. They would have saved $72 Million. Or signed James McCann.
You got that right Dogbone. Grandal is a nothing. He gets one hit a week. But I don’t know how because he never swings the bat. And he stinks behind the plate. A terrible signing. Sox are getting nothing from the highest paid player on the team.
Grandal leads the league in walks, has an OPS+ of 114. Most teams would love production like that from their catcher. He’s streaky but will hit eventually. James McCann and Tony Wolters aren’t close to being on his level. Those two guys have OPS+ of 47 and `19, respectively. Do you realize how bad that is? Ask Mets fans how they like McCann’s defense.
Hey CeyHey- I read that article about Mel Hall the other day, not sure if u saw my post but dang that thing is insanely crazy!!! That guy was a huge predator. I wish Chris Hansen would’ve interviewed him on To Catch A Predator lol
bravesninersnation, I didn’t see your response. Long article. I’m glad you took the time to read it. Creepy stuff. Sad on a number of levels. A lot of people apparently looked the other way.
@ceyhey. I’m not sure how often you get to watch W Sox games. But I would bet, not much if you don’t understand how bad Grandal has got defensively. His pitchers can’t throw waste pitches in the dirt nor off the plate to his right side. And I don’t care what Grandal OPS is, if it’s based on walks. That is not sustainable.
At least they could release Wolters, I guarantee Reinsdorf won’t release Grandal due to his salary.
Dogbone still making comically naive/petty comments about the White Sox? Things must be going well for the Southsiders.
He still has a .337 wOBA, 119 wRC+ and .202 isolated slugging percentage. I doubt he keeps up a .122 BABIP the entire season.
Yup, things going really well for the southsiders this weekend aren’t they. I’m sure Tony will ‘lead’ them to the promised land – I hear that daily from Stone and young ‘boy wonder’.
@1225, I don’t quibble with the numbers. Problem is primarily his horrific defense. Grandal can’t be trusted behind the plate. Yesterday in a nationally televised game, Collins is catching and Grandal isn’t even in the lineup. Same thing was going on last year when McCann was catching ahead of Yasmani down the stretch in many of their more important games.
I was hoping for Lucroy but we got these 2 instead.
Lucroy? Seriously?
Yeah the Cubs have had all kinds of good catchers they will get rid of. Lucroy was one of them.
René Rivera and Alex Avila was excellent too. Growing up we had catchers like Rick Wilkins and Scott service and Todd hundley.
I like Wilson but I think she just needs a good seasoned veteran as his backup that can teach him a few things.
Someone to help calm him down too because there’s times out there that I think she gets a bit too excited.