8:44PM: Ryan LaMarre has also been released after exercising his own opt-out clause, Topkin reports (Twitter link). The outfielder has hit .236/.286/.338 over 246 PA in five Major League seasons, with the bulk (180 PA) of that playing time coming with the Twins and White Sox in 2018. LaMarre inked a minors deal with Tampa after being let go by Minnesota last fall.
5:54PM: Catcher Chris Herrmann has requested his release from the Rays after enacting the opt-out clause in his minor league deal with the club, the Tampa Bay Times’ Marc Topkin reports (Twitter link). Herrmann signed the club back in January.
Mike Zunino is slated to be the Rays’ starting catcher, with Michael Perez in line for backup duty and Kevan Smith and Ronaldo Hernandez also part of the 60-man player pool. It is clear that Herrmann didn’t like his chances of moving up the depth chart, and will now seek out a better opportunity elsewhere. Speculatively, the Pirates and Giants stand out as obvious potential landing spots — the Bucs just lost Luke Maile to a season-ending finger injury, while Buster Posey‘s decision to sit out the 2020 season has left San Francisco without a starting catcher.
Though Herrmann has at times flashed some hitting potential over his eight MLB seasons, he has been a below-average offensive producer overall, with a career .205/.282/.344 slash line and 25 home runs over 992 career plate appearances. The bulk of that playing time came with the Twins and Diamondbacks from 2012-17, though Herrmann hit well in 87 PA with the Mariners in 2018 before suffering through an injury-plagued 2019 campaign in Oakland. Herrmann’s ability to play first base and both corner outfield spots gives him more of a versatile resume than your average backup catcher, which could help his chances of catching on with a new team.
Mariners could use Hermann as their taxi squad catcher
Hermann may join the Giants!!
Herrmann should be a lock to sign with the Pirates. He’s cheap and versatile; right up their alley! They can offer him a major league contract too.
LaMarre is such a nice guy and hard worker. Career minor leaguer who has fought his way onto MLB rosters for a few months here and there. I wish him all the best but at age 30 and with a spotty MLB resume, I’m not sure he’ll be able to find an MLB job this season. I would love to see him prove me wrong.
It’ll be interesting to see if guys like this end up getting picked up by other teams without a minor league season happening. I would have thought that (at least guys like LaMarre – maybe Hermann is in a different category being a C) but LaMarre… if he made a team’s 60-man ‘roster’ I’d have thought he’d stay put. Because he’s not the kind of player who’s going to instantly sign with a team and make their opening day roster – at least I don’t think he is… so without a minor league season going on… what other/better options will really be out there for him? Or maybe he’s just decided if he isn’t going to be in the majors/have a good shot of it… then he’s just not going to play this season with all that’s going on… and I don’t necessarily blame him if that’s his mindset. Just not sure what other opportunities guys like him are going to have out there with no minor league games to prove themselves.
I understand what you’re saying, but I doubt LaMarre would’ve seen any playing time in Tampa whatsoever. Their outfield runs deep with Keirmaier, Meadows, Margot, Renfroe, Arozarena, and Martinez. Thus, it’s unrealistic to think LaMarre would crack the lineup in Florida. Instead, he’s probably hoping to join a team like Pittsburgh, which is severely lacking in outfield depth