Sept. 17: Lavarnway cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A Columbus, per the transactions log at MiLB.com.
Sept. 14: The Indians have designated catcher Ryan Lavarnway for assignment and reinstated fellow backstop Roberto Perez from the injured list, per a club announcement. They’ve also added righty J.C. Mejia as their 29th man for today’s doubleheader against the Twins.
The veteran Lavarnway, 34, appeared in nine games with Cleveland and went 7-for-28 with a pair of walks in 30 plate appearances. Once a fairly well-regarded prospect in the Red Sox system, Lavarnway has settled in as the consummate journeyman backup catcher. He’s spent time in the Majors in 10 of the past 11 seasons — 2016 being the exception — but has never topped 46 games or 167 plate appearances. In 486 trips to the plate at the MLB level, Lavarnway has batted .217/.272/.345.
The Indians were Lavarnway’s eight Major League team and his seventh in the past seven years. He’s had a strong season with Cleveland’s top minor league affiliate in Columbus, batting .278/.339/.583 in 166 plate appearances. He’s a career .272/.362/.438 hitter in parts of 10 Triple-A seasons. Lavarnway will now either be placed on outright waivers or release waivers.
Not a good day for former Red Sox catching prospects.
Never is. Anyone remember Tom Maggard, their catching prospect from the early 70’s? Died from a bee sting.
Why did they draft Maggard when they had drafted Fisk the year before? Don’t get that.
Blake?
Yup, now I’m waiting for the article on Steve Lomasney.
It feels like Ryan Lavarnway is 47 years old.
A team per year until he plays for them all, he’s only be 56 if my math is right.
He must be a strong defensive catcher if he is the “consummate backup catcher”
Varny can rake – get that man a job!!
Yes, there’s plenty of demand for raking leaves this time of year!
Small correction: Lavarnway only had one walk, not a pair.
Always a place for a Ham and Egger backup catcher. Good luck in your future!
I honestly think that he deserved more of a shot to play. I see him on the St Lpuis Cardinals next year.
I know he’s a journeyman,but I think he’s better than Perez at this point. Perez is great defensively,but come on, Are we going to go into 22 with two catchers who can’t even hit 200. At least Hedges comes up with a key hit once in a while,but Perez is getting worse by the minute. He’s not getting any younger either. It’s time to say adios.
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Perez has come up with clutch hits over the years as well. He came into the season in great shape and then suffered one weird injury after the next. I hope to see a strong rebound next year, and also hope to see one of those 2 moved in the off-season to free up some salary. Paying a light hitting good glover millions is one thing but to also pay that much to a backup is too much. If anything this season has shown you can grab a backup catcher and if need be and survive.
Perez is actually quite a good hitter for a catcher when you take out the month of this season he was attempting to hit with a broken finger in his hand (April 13 – the time he finally went on the IL for it). Cleveland has done this thing with a few players recently – Jordan Luplow, Eddie Rosario, and Bobby Bradley have all tried to “play through” injuries this year and have looked generally terrible while doing so. I don’t understand how a supposedly smart front office keeps making this exact same mistake – guys who are hurt can’t produce! It’s hard enough to hit major league pitching healthy!
Zimmer’s career totally stalled due to injuries and how he and the organization were on a standoff over the recovery. Hopefully what we’re seeing out of him now is here to stay and he takes the LF job full time next season.