The Marlins are hoping to find a trade partner for catcher Jorge Alfaro before tomorrow evening’s non-tender deadline, reports Craig Mish of SportsGrid (on Twitter). The Padres are among the teams expressing interest in the 28-year-old backstop, reports Jon Morosi of MLB.com (via Twitter).
That Alfaro is on the trade block is hardly a shock. He’s long been mentioned as a potential non-tender candidate, and Miami landed Jacob Stallings from the Pirates this afternoon to supplant him behind the dish. It’d register as a surprise if Alfaro were still on the Marlins’ roster 24 hours from now, as he seems likely to be non-tendered if not traded.
With Alfaro likely to otherwise be cut loose for nothing, it makes sense for general manager Kim Ng and her staff to see if they can bring back anything of value. The right-handed hitting backstop is a former top prospect who has flashed an intriguing blend of power and arm strength at times, but his combination of huge strikeout totals and well below-average walk rates have yet kept him from settling in as an above-average regular.
As Morosi notes, Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller was a key figure in the Rangers’ scouting department when Texas signed Alfaro as an amateur out of Colombia back in 2010. Preller has shown an affinity for bringing in former Rangers, but Alfaro would be a bit of a curious fit on paper. San Diego already has a capable #1 catcher in Austin Nola, and Víctor Caratini is on hand as a serviceable back-up. Top prospect Luis Campusano, meanwhile, has already appeared in the majors and is coming off a strong season with Triple-A El Paso.
Were the Padres or anyone else to swing a trade for Alfaro, they’d be able to control him through the end of 2023 via arbitration. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him to bring in a 2022 salary in the $2.7MM range if tendered a contract.
Kinda late on the news
Shocking… not
Brian Cashman about to go dumpster diving for a deal
Alfaros pretty good. It isn’t dumpster diving. Watch him regularly you’ll see
The Pirates had zero catchers on their 40 man roster and still weren’t interested. Who wants a .590 OPS player with sub-par defense?
Absolutely shocking…that I call this absolutely shocking.
Maybe we can trade him for another non-tender candidate in Gary Sanchez.
Why would the Marlins want to pay Sanchez’s salary?
Bc headlines wins ‘ships Broooo!
Look at the LolMets
Mjm117 more like LolJankees.
Gary Sanchez has more career WAR than Wilson Contreras. If that doesn’t prove WAR is a scam I don’t know what does.
Well he doesn’t have more war than Willson by bWar but fWAR gives Sanchez the edge…
Anyone know the discrepancy here?
I know they weight different factors differently but can’t give you the particulars.
tstats – How they weigh pitching vs. defense, maybe number of years of park factor data. I think they agreed on their definition of replacement level several years ago.
Sanchez fWAR is 12.8, Contreras fWAR is 12.0.
Sanchez bWAR is 11.7, Contreras bWAR is 16.9.
Each version has flaws, and anyone who uses WAR as anything other than a rough estimate is giving it too much credit, but it’s still a good tool.
Misleading stat.
That mostly came from pre-2018 Sanchez. Since then, he has been meh at the plate and of course bad behind the plate.
The stat isn’t misleading. It is what it is. It’s cumulative for the player’s career.
It can be misinterpreted, as can any number. It would be similar to saying a player was no longer a home run hitter but his career total is over 300. What he once accomplished may not represent what he currently is, but he still hit those homers once upon a time.
100% this.
Miguel Cabrera has more career WAR than Carlos Correa. But Correa is better right now. Clearly WAR is flawed! Or wait maybe comparing two entire careers isn’t the same thing as comparing recent seasons…
If you all want good stuff for showing how much garbage a stat WAR is, just look at Juan Lagares’ highest individual season WAR and go look at Miguel Cabrera’s career and see how many of Miggy’s seasons were lower than Lagares’ highest WAR season…and compare the whole body of work. I think that’ll do it. If you want to pile it on, go compare Jason Heyward’s seasonal WAR numbers to many of the real studs in the game.
That doesn’t prove anything about WAR being garbage. It just proves that you give little value to defense and baserunning. Therefore, you’re comment about comparing “the whole body of work” is complete BS.
Any player can have one strong season like Lagares’.
@BeansforJesus
Sorry, but defensive stats have been known to be a work in progress that has never been accepted over the eyeball test. Even the creators of the advanced stats have admitted this.
If defensive stats is your defense for Lagares having a season with a higher WAR than what would cover multiple individual seasons by Miguel Cabrera shows how WAR is garbage. There is no season that Lagares was more valuable than Miggy Cabrera – if Miggy played for more than a month. Miggy wins a team more games in two weeks than Lagares wins a team in a whole season.
It’s limited, but it isn’t completely illogical so that it’s easy to disregard. Why even release the stat if it shouldn’t be considered at all?
Also, who has ever said it has never been accepted over the eyeball test? Was that you that said it then just attributed it to the entire collective of “baseball people”? Sounds like that’s the case.
Miggy can’t run or defend, so when another player can do both of those things they will inevitably get the credit. It’s weird you can’t detract the same credit from Miggy for his lack of skill in two important aspects of the game.
The eyeball test is better than any defensive stats? That sure would depend on whose eyeballs.
Also, Miggy’s last five seasons have been pretty much useless.
Most of you analytics guys dismiss the eyeball test.
As for Miggy’s deficiencies, I don’t dismiss them. The reality is that Miggy’s bat is so dominant that the impact of that and the accompanying lineup effect with other guys seeing better pitches as a result, outweighs anything that a guy like Lagares does.
You add Lagares on your team, you’re not winning more games than your team roster already is capable of. You add Miggy to your team and you’re winning more games – a whole lot of games. That’s what exposes WAR as being garbage when evaluating a player’s value.
@gbs42
You know that I’m clearly talking about the bulk of Miggy’s career versus Lagares biggest year. BTW, Lagares has been more useless than Miggy the same last few years.
As for eyeball test, it’s obvious that I’m referring to people who actually know enough baseball to give an eyeball test. Sorry that you analytics guys watch baseball with your database in order to think that you know what’s happening like the eyeball test guys do.
Sorry that you think you know so much about me or any other “analytics guys.” Everyone on this site is a baseball fan, with lots of different perspectives. Trying to tear anyone down for not thinking WAR is garbage is ridiculous.
You’re comparing the bulk of a career vs one players career year. Your argument is so off the rails it’s not funny anymore.
I’m not disregarding the “eyeball test”. But, what makes you the authority on this test? I like you put people in the analytics/eyeball test bucket like people can’t appreciate both. That’s a very simplistic approach that probably doesn’t have any possible problems.
But whatever dude, I’m not convincing you otherwise. Have a good one.
Good luck
Not a great catcher, strikes out way too much. Still, somebody needs a backup I’m sure. A little surprised he wasn’t simply included in the Stallings deal.
Probably because the Pirates figured they can have him for free if the Marlins can’t trade him before they have to non-tender him.
Orioles make sense too.
The Pirates would have been responsible for his arbitration salary is the likely reason why he wasn’t.
Why pay him 2.7 million when you can probably get him at or around league minimum? The lure of a starting position and opportunity to regain earning power lyes with the Pirates. Who else can offer a starting position?
Inb4 Preller trades them someone from the top 30
They can get creative with this one. Maybe package him and Sixto Sanchez for J.T. Realmuto…
Uh, no. We’re happy with Sixto.
@MarlinsFanBase No worries. That was definitely a joke based on the original trade.
Too many health concerns.
For Sixto that is.
Now who would want to do something like that? :/ Lol!
He looks like a fit for the Giants. Bart is not a sure thing.
Does Preller HAVE to be linked to every player he drafted or signed while with the Rangers????
It’s like any player that was ever on the Yankees, regardless of which team he now plays for is at some point referred to, usually in the heading, as “the ex-Yankee”.
@Yankee Clipper. Exactly. Ex-yankee chad Curtis is a child predator, ex-yankee John wettland is a child predator, ex-yankee Chuck knoblauch is an abuser, ex-yankee Jim leyritz is a murderer.
When youre a former employee of a major corporation (possibly the biggest in sports), your errors gets exacerbated and are remembered much longer than other orgs. But at least they didn’t have facial hair when they did their crimes.
Leyritz didn’t murder anyone, goof! He was acquitted! You gotta wear a helmet…
@scudz. Riiiiiight. Just like how OJ didn’t murder anyone.
I’ll certainly wear a helmet if I ever find myself in a car with Jim Leyritz.
@FinkleSteinSh*tkid, short answer is “Yes.” It’s not just players either. He seems to hire more than his share of ex-Rangers baseball personnel too.
I’d trade Seager, Semien, Gray and Jon Daniels for AJ Preller
Have to throw in a PTBNL
Cardinals backup to Yadi
They have the Pirates number, right?
Cubs have two catchers on their 40 man roster and one of them just had TJ. That’s assuming Cubs management is awake and cares
Fonzjr13 hey Guardians are you going to make a move?
After dumping Perez, this actually makes sense
It would go against a lot of what they usually do. They tend to prefer defensive specialists at catcher, which Alfaro is not. They traded Francisco Mejia when he was a top prospect because they didn’t like his defense, and they cut Eric Haase loose for Sandy Leon’s defensive prowess. They considered Austin Hedges the “tipping point” that convinced them to trade Clevinger.
Further,for hitters they’ve been prioritizing high contact hitters. That was the idea behind both Eddie Rosario and Cesar Hernandez, and with a lot of the guys they’ve drafted/signed in their minors. That’s why Bobby Bradley was held back so long (high K rate, they held him back for Jake Bauers!). That’s why they aren’t protecting Oscar Gonzalez or Will Benson and instead focusing on Kwan and Palacios. Alfaro isn’t that.
Phillies clearly won that trade. Always in favor of trading prospects for legit players. Esp since the Phillies don’t know how to draft or develop players.
Not necessarily. Sixto can still become a No 1/2 starter.
Is Sixto related to Antonio Alfonseca?
Jorge Alfaro is a Pedro Severino type
Heh. I remember when some folks thought the Phillies were dumb for moving him.
Guardians?
The Indians…They could’ve used their other nickname “Tribe” but they picked an XFL team name. The Indianapolis Indians are probably next, even though their name means people from Indiana.
Your username and comment just screams New England PTA mom.
It’s from Dave Chappelle’s special BeansforJesus. Maybe you shouldn’t criticize usernames,Beansforjesus. I was criticizing the new team nickname, not the “Indians” nickname. I don’t think they should have changed the nickname at all.
That’s why you’re a New England PTA mom. Since you didn’t see a problem with the old name, no one should in your eyes.
Also, I know the origin of the your username. I didn’t know Dave Chappelle called his special BeansforJesus. Must be kismet we met in this forum.
I don’t believe in kismet, I believe in science. For the record, I don’t like the name “Indians” if it refers to Native or First peoples. In this instance it is a NICKNAME for a baseball team. What’s with the random critiquing and judging strangers? How about this for a username; toosmartforreligion- no spaces.
The NICKNAME is offensive to those people. Trying to get cute and say it refers to people from Indianapolis is just lazy. Do all people from Indianapolis look like Chief Wahoo and that’s why they decided on that mascot?
Sick religion diss. Because obviously a person with name “BeansforJesus” is a devote religious zealot.
That would be a great username! Because everyone knows people that say they are “too smart” for something are always crushing the genius end of the bell curve.
If you don’t understand my comments than stop replying. You are a classic online commenter. Twisting peoples words, exaggerate, generalize, hyperbolize. The good thing about being secular is you don’t have to be a genius to be a DEVOUT irreligious zealot. Just smart enough. Explain your username if you don’t want any confusion
My apologies, it should have been “devoted” but “devout” works, too. Good catch.
My username is based off of the name Jesus (hey-soos). You automatically assumed religion, which is understandable. I just didn’t want to correct you because you really went for it.
I didn’t change anything you said. You said Indianapolis Indians refers to the people from Indianapolis, which is a lie. Look at their logos in the past, they don’t look like typical Indianapolis residents to me.
Just say you want offensive team names and end this.
Yes, let’s end this in a positive way. I was wrong to assume your username meant religion. Bad on me. If team names have to change that’s ok with me.
Yet another failed, overrated Rangers prospect.
Reminds me of the entire prospect package we got for Hamels.
Hey Cubs. There is a backup catcher for you. Marlins cast-off should be in your wheel house. Trash collecting Jed get on the phone
Would be a nice backup for the Braves….
@Bravesfan: that’s not a funny joke. Besides, we already have a better backup.
Braves have enough back up catchers to field a basketball team.
Anyone else besides me, disappointed that Ozuna will be back in 2022?
Yes.
I had been thinking this while expecting alfaro to be nontendered until the pina signing. I like manny better.
could see a three team trade here based around sending Alfaro to TEX, Trevino to NYY, and an OF prospect to MIA. add prospects to even out – NYY gets a better defender at C than Sanchez, TEX gets a slightly more exciting option to look at while they wait for Huff, and MIA, presumably still looking for some controllable OF talent, gets that wish.
He’ll be a Met by morning, or an Angel.
He’s better than Tomas Nido, so…
I know a lot of people are hammering him but Alfaro still has the best arm in the majors behind the dish. If he can put it together that would be something.
Great arm and great power, but he does not know how to use either tool.
I think if he could put it together, that would really be something.
If he could put it together that would really be something.
It might be something if he put it together
Surprised Alfaro wasn’t included in the Stallings trade. Pirates still need a Catcher. Reds could use a backup if they keep Farmer at SS. Orioles need a Catcher til Rutschman is ready and then Rutschman will still need a backup
I think they will find a trade in time.
White Sox. Both Collins & Zavala have been disappointments. They can use a guy with a strong arm behind the plate backing up Grandal.
Rangers trade Leody Tavaras and Nick solak for Lewis Brinson and Jorge Alfaro
nevermind Tavaras worth is a lot more than Brinson… just Solak for Alfaro
Why would the Rangers want Alfaro when they have Huff coming? Also they already traded Alfaro once
If his defense is good the Yankees should take a chance on him
Preller loves making multiple moves at once. He’s probably trying to trade Campusano or Nola and then bring Alfaro in as a replacement.
Seems totally unnecessary and like he would just be making trades for the sake of making trades at that point but I guess we’ll find out
I think you could see Alfaro go to the Giants and they work with him to better his skills.
Trade him to the Yankees for Gary Sanchez
AJ “Chemistry Killer” Preller will bring him in to left field for the Padres.
Preller. Argh.
Fire Peller, he overpay,for players that not worth,Padres had 3 catchers in the 40 men roster,why he need another catcher.