MARCH 24: Oakland has officially announced the signing of Vogt to a one-year deal. The team already had a pair of vacancies on the 40-man roster, so no additional move was necessary. Vogt will earn $850K guaranteed, plus a $100K bonus for 60 days on the active roster and a $150K assignment bonus if traded, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
MARCH 23: The A’s and catcher Stephen Vogt are in agreement on a major league contract, pending a physical, reports Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). Vogt is a client of All Bases Covered Sports Management.
It’s a return to the organization for Vogt, who had his best seasons with the A’s. The lefty-hitting backstop played in Oakland between 2013-17, hitting .255/.316/.416 over that stretch. That’s exactly league average offense, by measure of wRC+, but Vogt had a couple above-average seasons during that run. He combined to hit 27 homers with a .268/.333/.438 line in 798 plate appearances from 2014-15.
The amiable Vogt became a fan favorite during his four-plus seasons in Oakland, which included back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2015-16. His production tailed off at the end of his run there, though, as he was off to just a .217/.287/.357 start through 54 games in 2017. The A’s placed him on waivers, where he was scooped up by the Brewers. He popped eight homers in a reserve capacity with Milwaukee that year, but he missed basically all of the following season due to a shoulder strain.
Vogt rebounded from the injury in 2019. He returned to the Bay Area with the Giants and hit .263/.314/.490 in 280 trips to the plate. The past two years, on the other hand, have been a significant struggle. Vogt hit .188/.274/.319 in 102 games split between the D-Backs and Braves. He finished last season on the injured list with hip inflammation, preventing him from partaking in Atlanta’s run to a World Series title.
At 37 and coming off back-to-back down seasons, Vogt fell towards the back of this winter’s free agent catching class. He’ll return to a familiar environment where he’s beloved by a sizable portion of the fanbase, providing skipper Mark Kotsay both a valuable clubhouse presence and a bat-first depth option at catcher. Sean Murphy is obviously in line for the bulk of the playing time behind the dish, with the out-of-options Austin Allen the only other backstop on the 40-man roster. Oakland will have to break camp with the 28-year-old Allen or designate him for assignment, but the arrival of Vogt could put his time in the organization in jeopardy.
It’s not entirely out of the question Murphy changes uniforms in the coming weeks. The A’s have kicked off an organizational reboot this winter, flipping Chris Bassitt, Matt Olson and Matt Chapman in an effort to cut costs. Signing Vogt to what’s assuredly a low-cost deal won’t have any impact on the front office’s thinking on Murphy, who is controllable through 2025 and not yet arbitration-eligible. That makes Murphy a long shot to be dealt, but if the A’s did flip him before Opening Day, Vogt and Allen would figure to pick up the lion’s share of playing time. Oakland did acquire top catching prospect Shea Langeliers from the Braves in the Olson deal, giving them another promising long-term option at the position.
The A’s payroll-cutting efforts have trickled over into free agency, where the club has done essentially nothing this winter. Once finalized, Vogt’s deal will be the A’s first (and quite possibly only) major league contract of the offseason. They’d been the only team not to have signed a player to a big league deal. Vogt will get them on the board, but that’s probably only a minor consolation for a fanbase that has seen a few highly-regarded players shipped off since the lockout ended.
Lol.
This signing is a preamble for sending Murphy to the Yanks.
Yeah makes sense. I think Murphy for Voit should get it done.
So 3-way huh?
That’s what she said?
Yankees already traded Voit…..
stop with that nonsense lol Yanks fans kept saying Olson would be traded to NYY and it never happened.
That was just mean!
Just as a little aside about trading for Murphy – Baseball Trade Values puts him at 65.2, Olson was about 45. The only way the Yankees could realistically meet that kind of price with less than 4 players is by sending Volpe (Volpe is at 59, they would still need to add a second piece by their metric). A package centered around Dominguez and Peraza would get you to about 45 – what Olson was valued at and roughly went for.
For the record, I was never really serious about going after him unless it was for peanuts. His offence is regressing and he doesn’t have a very long track record. Obviously, his defense seems solid. Clearly, the Yanks have a need but I’d much rather go after a Contreras with a high salary and only one year remaining on his deal costing not too many prospects.
I thought you might have been kind of sarcastic, but also I wanted to get a rough ballpark on what Murphy’s value is. I did a few of these exercises for Olson’s value (when looking at the Guardians trading for him), and was very surprised how close the values came for the eventual Olson trade.
Also super surprised Murphy is so much more “expensive”
Premium position and years of control, Colonel. But still a bit surprising.
I am guessing that he will work with the young pitchers, and maybe is being prepped for a managing/coaching gig as they grow up.
Apparently Terry Steinbach wasn’t available
His agent is the best one in baseball to be able to get him a guaranteed deal
he is but $$$ and the A’s… you know.
2022 Oakland Athletics World Champions!
What you don’t know is they called Ray Fosse’s Agent first. “This guy’s dead” (to quote Major League, lol)
They tried Bob Fosse but he was dancing
I BELIEVE
that just brought back a rush of memories, great times! i believe in stephen vogt!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azTGrocYlu4
New first basemen!! LOL
Great for him, but cmon guys. Moneyball at work.
Where the hell is Randy Hundly when you need him?
Giving Stephen a Vogt of confidence, I see.
He can’t play absentee, can he?
Congrats a’s fans (both of you), your team finally spent some cash on a free agent!!!
Thanks for reminding me why the mute button exists, although your trolling this same low IQ, moronic comment you make on every single A’s post goes back like 10+ years now and they still haven’t banned you, which is true insanity.
A’s have no titles since 1989, so stop wasting your time, its not even a good troll. We already are having a miserable time out here, we dont need dummies punching down.
Wow you sure are touchy! I guess it’s rough being a fan of the triple a’s … I “bet” they’d be better off in Vegas. Good luck enjoying the season with all of your fellow a’s fans (he’s out there somewhere).
C’mon man. If you’re gonna troll, at least be witty
That’s great, I’m all for it! He can be a great mentor for Austin Allen. Murphy can bring back q haul since he has so much control left. Even before the firesale I thought it made sense to move Manaea, Murphy, and Bassitt, I was just hoping they would keep Olson, Montas, and Laureano and build around them
Austin Allen is trash, Shea Langeliers is the future C who Vogt will be mentoring.
That’s right I forgot that Langeliers is close to MLB-ready (for some reason I was thinking he was A/AA)
You are probably right, but Langliers is not on the 40 man roster. Think the A’s are thinking about moving Allen?
I listen to an episode of Locked On A’s who mentioned that Murphy has the highest trade value on the team because of the years remaining, so I’m sure he will be dealt soon. Since Allen is MLB-ready and absolutely crushed it in AAA, I’m guessing he will be paired with Vogt until Langeliers is ready
“MLB Ready” Allen was used as backup some of last year. He sucked both at and behind the plate.
he had all of eight ABs and one ended with a HR. what are you on about?
What about Soderstrom?
Soderstrom will probably end up in LF/1B from what I’ve read because of C deficiencies. He’s lauded for his incredible bat, which is that much better IF he can in fact stick behind the plate.
But, his offensive potential is also so good that you wouldn’t want to take away from it by taxing him at a physically demanding position he’s not really suited well for.
this just means they aren’t actually giving Allen a shot, which is stupid but this is the A’s after all.
Every A’s post has the “(both of you)” joke, that got old back in 2005
Back to the 95 loss A’s. Feels nostalgic.
Yep. The black jerseys should be back soon too.
Somebody fixing to get traded.
I wonder what this means for Sean Murphy. Did the A’s sign Vogt to a Major League contract to tutor Austin Allen? If they had signed Vogt to a minor league contract, I would think it was a depth move. Hm.
The signed him because they are desperate for a ML catcher to back up Murphy. Plain and simple.
Asdrubal Cabrerra next in line.
Allen is out of options, is he the one going? Might be able to carry 3 catchers the first month with expanded rosters but after that seems an impossibility.
Happy for Vogt. Filled in for ATL in a time of duress at catcher. Great clubhouse guy & valuable for teaching the younger players.
So I guess they believe in Stephen Vogt again.
The A’s must be fielding offers for their starting catcher Sean Murphy.
Vogt provides a veteran depth piece to share and mentor one or both
of the young A’s catchers including Shea Langeliers just acquired from
the Braves in the Olson deal.
1B/DH time share with Eric Thames against righties most likely for Vogt
Vogt rocks my socks
Are they going to deal Murphy or is this just some added depth since the league is allowing 28 man rosters in April?
Re-sign Bob Kearneys moustache
You guys all read too far into this. Vogt is basically another resource for Kotsay if anything. Maybe a DH off the bench. He will end up playing 20 games at C.
Under 2 yrs Stephen to get 10yrs in on the MLB pension plan!Good luck to a good guy who who plays the game with heart.
A 37 year old catcher. What are they thinking? Certainly a minor league catcher who needs experience would be a better choice.
I was thinking the same thing. I can only imagine that they got him for the league minimum or very close to and that they’d rather have their minor leaguers develop properly and not be forced into a situation they’re not ready for
They want him as an informal catcher coach that turns formal when he retires. Smart, good personality. Very likely a future A’s manager.
Yes, definitely that too.
I see this as more of a qualified depth move rather than clear preparation for an impending Murphy trade. They are asking so much for Murphy that very few teams, if any, will actually give up what it will take to land Murphy. I doubt anyone will want to route his farm system that much.
Murphy is currently the 9th best overall Catcher in MLB, & one of the top 3 defenders at C. I just don’t think teams will spend the prospect capital for him.
Nonetheless, this move provides depth, but in the unlikely event some team does decide to pull the trigger on a Murphy trade, Oakland doesn’t have to concern themselves with who takes primary duties at C, because they have him (Vogt), a veteran catcher, already in place & familiar with the pitching staff.
Yes, I was just kidding and I agree the price of Murphy would likely be way too high for me to stomach. Contreras is the better play and much cheaper due to only one year of control. Get it done Cash!
Familiar with an overhauled pitching staff as a team, or a whole new team since the last time he played for them? Tell us oh wise one…
Well this makes sense. Not
Murphy will need a backup so the A’s had to spend some money.
Now we’re competing!
The A’s are determined to have the most catchers on a team in the league!
Time to get excited A’s fans!
When the A’s move to Las Vegas, they will have better attendance and more money for players.
Sure, but they have way more money than the pittance that they spend on payroll right now. The owners are cheap. No two ways about it.
Hatteberg 2.0
So they brought him in to play first base?
Good catcher, in Vogt. Like others have said maybe a platoon situation at 1B/DH.
I heard Jerry Grote was available too!
Hahaha. I see what you did there Pernell…..referring to his age? Ha.
Eh it’s a One year deal. .
This signing reminds me of when my Padres signed AJ Ellis (also then 37) in 2018 to a one year deal. (And now Assistant GM of the Padres). Like Ellis- Vogt is the “Old Truck Who Won’t Quit” Ellis brought the Veteran presence that Vogt will bring to a rebuilding A’s squad. Good signing.
For the record the A’s are NOT relocating to Vegas..it won’t happen, nor should it!
Could Reddick and Scutero be next?
Love Vogt! Happy he’s playing one more year.
Bernie Sanders just introduced a bill to revoke MLB’s antitrust exemption
that would allow teams like the A’s to move
where ever they want like Santa Clara County San Jose, CA