The Cubs have signed catcher Luis Torrens to a minor league deal, per Ángel Daniel Conde T of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League’s Navegantes del Magallanes. Torrens will receive an invitation to major league Spring Training.
Torrens, 27 in May, has seen scattered playing time in the big leagues since 2017, suiting up for the Padres and Mariners. His longest stretch of playing time in the majors came with Seattle in 2021, when he got into 108 games and hit 15 home runs. His .243/.299/.431 batting line resulted in a 101 wRC+, indicating he was just above average at the plate, though the average catcher usually comes in around 90 or so. Last year, he slipped to a line of .225/.283/.298 and a wRC+ of 72.
Since he’s generally considered to be a bat-first catcher, Torrens needs to hit to be valuable to a team. Defensive Runs Saved has given him a -22 grade for his career so far while both FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus consider him a subpar framer. Since he was having a down year at the plate in 2022, he was outrighted off the roster in August. He finished the season on the roster after getting selected again in September, but he was then non-tendered in November.
For the Cubs, they have three catchers on their 40-man roster, with Tucker Barnhart and Yan Gomes slated to the share the time with the big league club. Prospect Miguel Amaya is also on the roster but he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021. He returned last year but was limited to just 40 minor league games and has yet to reach Triple-A. Torrens will give the club some non-roster depth should an injury arise before Amaya is ready to make the jump. Torrens is out of options and won’t be able to be easily sent back to the minors if he gets onto the roster.
I know some won’t miss him in Seattle, but I loved his clubhouse presence. He was inconsistent as a bat and struggled defensively, but he had an infectious, positive attitude and seemed like a great guy. Obviously not a reason to re-sign the man, but I have only good thoughts about Torrens.
I wish him the best of luck in Chicago and I hope he can figure out consistency offensively and/or improve defensively. He has the potential to do either or both, and likely just needs one to click a bit more to eventually receive a big league role. I think he can do it and I hope he does.
Good for depth in case of an injury
A team could certainly have worth depth options than Torrens. Good signing.
I would think one should be wishing him luck in Des Moines, the s , are silent. If he is in Chicago somebody in Chicago is hurt for a while.
AAA insurance at Iowa. Bat-first catcher who hit well in 2021 but was awful last season with the Mariners.
Completely lost his XBH power for whatever reason.
So he pretty much takes Higgins’ spot in Iowa, except he doesn’t have the positional flexibility. I don’t think Erick Castillo is still with the organization as the #3 Iowa catcher, so even if Amaya also starts at Iowa they should be fine.
They signed Dom Nunez too to go to Iowa.
He played 2B in a game last season and didn’t look half bad. M’s just didn’t allow him to be versatile.
Here in Venezuela he also had to play 2B because his team lost various infielders to injury. He wasn’t that bad at 2B. His bat is not as good as 2021 though
I’d bet that they will try him out at a couple of spots here and there. Maybe the right side of the infield, maybe some left field.
Always liked Torrens; seemed to come up with clutch hits. Great team player and attitude. I hope he performs for the Cubbies.
The Iowa Cubs 2023 catching platoon:
Luis Torres (RHB) and Dom Nunez (LHB)
This is a pretty good depth signing. Amaya should start in AA. He needs prove he can stay healthy work on being a consistent catcher.
I remember when he began with the Yankees. As a catcher, he excelled at getting on base. Then he blew out his knee, returned with that same on base skills and after the Padres plucked him from A in the RuleV draft and kept him on the 25 man roster for an entire season. Did it hurt his development? Who knows for sure?
P.J. Higgins replacement at Iowa
He doesn’t have options remaining so he has to stay on the active roster or be DFA.
Only if they need to bring him to Majors. He’s not on the 40 man yet.
Great C insurance in AAA
Very Good Fielding Catcher last year.
This guy always seemed to come up with a clutch hit for the mariners. If he makes the roster, you’ll enjoy him in Chicago.