Let's talk catchers

[Dojji]

Well what's your alternative a700? Go with a two rookie catching tandem of Vazquez-Butler until Swihart is ready? The org has already demonstrated several times in the past it is quite uncomfortable running two inexperienced catchers out there. And if we're going to bring in "a veteran catcher" (read: a guy who can't hit, has slowed down in the field, and is just there to mentor the young starter) it might as well be Ross as anyone. Edited December 12, 2014 by Dojji

[a700hitter]

Well what's your alternative a700? Go with a two rookie catching tandem of Vazquez-Butler until Swihart is ready? The org has already demonstrated several times in the past it is quite uncomfortable running two inexperienced catchers out there. And if we're going to bring in "a veteran catcher" (read: a guy who can't hit, has slowed down in the field, and is just there to mentor the young starter) it might as well be Ross as anyone.

Vasquez is young and eager. Let him catch the bulk of the games. There are plenty of other under 40 catchers that can handle 40 games behind the plate and hit more than Ross's .196 over his 2 seasons with the Red Sox. That will not be a tough find. His only hook was being Lester's personal catcher. Lester is gone. Theo can have Ross too.

[Dojji]

None of the guys you could bring in cheap are any better than Ross.

[sk7326]

A fossil that needs to be buried and visit other fossils.

 

If Vasquez is your 120 start guy and Swihart is genuinely not ready ... you got to fill the 40 with somebody. Better a good receiver who can help the staff than a no-catch guy. A two young guy jobshare is not an optimal use of resources here.

[mvp 78]

FA catchers:

 

J.P. Arencibia (29)

John Baker (34)

John Buck (34)

Ryan Doumit (34)

Brett Hayes (31)

Nick Hundley (31)

Gerald Laird (35)

Wil Nieves (36)

Jordan Pacheco (29)

A.J. Pierzynski (38)

David Ross (38)

Geovany Soto (32)

[a700hitter]

None of the guys you could bring in cheap are any better than Ross.

A lot of them will hit more than .196 over 2 seasons. He is a broken down warhorse. It's time to put him out to pasture.

[a700hitter]

FA catchers:

 

J.P. Arencibia (29)

John Baker (34)

John Buck (34)

Ryan Doumit (34)

Brett Hayes (31)

Nick Hundley (31)

Gerald Laird (35)

Wil Nieves (36)

Jordan Pacheco (29)

A.J. Pierzynski (38)

David Ross (38)

Geovany Soto (32)

There are a few veterans in the minors for teams as insurance. Ross is not Johnny Bench. He is easily upgradeable.

[sk7326]

FA catchers:

 

J.P. Arencibia (29)

John Baker (34)

John Buck (34)

Ryan Doumit (34)

Brett Hayes (31)

Nick Hundley (31)

Gerald Laird (35)

Wil Nieves (36)

Jordan Pacheco (29)

A.J. Pierzynski (38)

David Ross (38)

Geovany Soto (32)

 

Almost all of them are inferior receivers to Ross. Now, a guy like Soto or Laird makes sense if you are not thinking Vasquez is an everyday guy. But for the limited job quals, it's fine. If this were a starting gig I'd have a different pov.

[dupree]

I just see a need for a switch or LHH catcher as a big need to even out the roster. I hope Swihart is not as far away from the majors as reports suggest. A one year option to back up Vaz until Swihart is ready to take the helm is a definite need.

[Spudboy]

Well what's your alternative a700? Go with a two rookie catching tandem of Vazquez-Butler until Swihart is ready? The org has already demonstrated several times in the past it is quite uncomfortable running two inexperienced catchers out there. And if we're going to bring in "a veteran catcher" (read: a guy who can't hit, has slowed down in the field, and is just there to mentor the young starter) it might as well be Ross as anyone.

 

Amen Dojji. Is there a team in MLB that actually counts on their back up catcher to produce runs? If so, they are the exception and they are lucky.

 

I like Ross to come back on a one year deal. He's cheap, good defensively, runs into one occasionally, and has the resume to help young catchers evolve. Oh, and he fits in this locker room quite well.

[a700hitter]

Amen Dojji. Is there a team in MLB that actually counts on their back up catcher to produce runs? If so, they are the exception and they are lucky.

 

I like Ross to come back on a one year deal. He's cheap, good defensively, runs into one occasionally, and has the resume to help young catchers evolve. Oh, and he fits in this locker room quite well.

If he fits the locker room so well, make him a coach. The guy can barely limp through 40 games and he hit .180 something last year. Not acceptable.

[sk7326]

I just see a need for a switch or LHH catcher as a big need to even out the roster. I hope Swihart is not as far away from the majors as reports suggest. A one year option to back up Vaz until Swihart is ready to take the helm is a definite need.

 

He just made it to AAA by the end of last season, so him taking over next season is not a reasonable ask. That said, AAA is no longer a developmental level. (industry-wide it is used more as a taxi squad than anything) So that he is starting there means that the team expects him to make a cup of coffee appearance in September (or at least that is the target). I do not expect Swihart to contribute significantly next year. Given the leap he made last season, it is POSSIBLE that he could though.

[Behindenemylines]

"I’m the guy who keeps writing the line, and I always qualify this by saying I’m not saying Blake Swihart will be this. But Blake Swihart has the closest thing to Buster Posey’s tools since Buster Posey,” Callis said.

 

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2014/07/jim-callis-red-sox-prospect-blake-swihart-has-buster-posey-like-tools/

 

This is why I don't want the Sox to trade him. Unless you could get Sale from the wrong Sox I would not move Swihart.

[seabeachfred]

FA catchers:

 

J.P. Arencibia (29)

John Baker (34)

John Buck (34)

Ryan Doumit (34)

Brett Hayes (31)

Nick Hundley (31)

Gerald Laird (35)

Wil Nieves (36)

Jordan Pacheco (29)

A.J. Pierzynski (38)

David Ross (38)

Geovany Soto (32)

 

Use your influence mvp and get us Nick Hundley. He's the guy I want next season as bac. Don't be surprised though if Blake Swihart is ready by mid-season. To me he is our best prospect because he combines good defensive ability behind the plate with hitting power and the ability to be put in another position if the team wants to keep Vaszuez behind the plate. If not, I think Blake eventually becomes our No. 1 by 2016. Good hitting catchers who can also play good defense is a real luxury. No way we trade this guy or my boy Mookie.

[mvp 78]

The ladies are crazy for JP. He should come here and have a dating show on NESN based around his hotness.

[Gringo]

Vasquez.

 

Vasquez.

 

Vasquez.

[mvp 78]

None of the guys you could bring in cheap are any better than Ross.

 

D'oh

[Spudboy]

D'oh

 

You couldn't resist, could you?

[Spudboy]

But the odd thing is that Hanigan is making over $4. mil/yr I believe. Whatever.

[mvp 78]

But the odd thing is that Hanigan is making over $4. mil/yr I believe. Whatever.

 

Ross had a 2/6.2M contract. Depends on what your definition of cheap is. Hanigan's contract is close enough to Ross' to me.

[dupree]

Hanigan for WMB is stupid in my opinion.

WMB is worth more, dumb trade on Bens part.

[User Name]

That's a joke post right?

[Spudboy]

I think that it was a good trade for both teams. Because I think that I am more familiar with the Sox, I'd say that our team made out well.

 

I believe that Hanigan costs a little more but we will be getting a guy who can play twice as many games as Ross if called upon to do so.

 

I think Swihart is a year away. Not sure, though. That means only Butler is in the system to call up.

[sk7326]

Hanigan for WMB is stupid in my opinion.

WMB is worth more, dumb trade on Bens part.

 

Or not - traded a guy who was not going to play for one who would. Middlebrooks could become an average 3B, I have not quit on him. But stardom for him is pretty much dead.

[Spudboy]

Lol. Okay. I guess I'm confused.

 

Cubs To Sign David Ross

By Jeff Todd [December 19, 2014 at 4:13pm CST]

 

The Cubs have agreed to a two-year, $5MM deal with catcher David Ross, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. Reports emerged earlier today suggesting that the veteran was headed to the Padres, but indications are that he is in fact set to join former teammate Jon Lester in Chicago.

 

Ross, a client of Sports One Athlete Management client, will add yet more veteran leadership behind the plate for the Cubs. He will slot in alongside the recently-acquired Miguel Montero, providing a right-handed-hitting complement. Chicago also added another former Red Sox backstop today in Ryan Lavarnway, who was added via waiver claim.

 

Before joining the Red Sox in 2013, Ross spent four years as the reserve option for the Braves. He slashed a robust .269/.353/.463, but never made more than 200 plate appearances in a given season. Ross has fallen back to a .650 OPS over the last two seasons in Boston, over 287 plate appearances. Defensively, Baseball Prospectus did not value Ross’s work very highly last year.

 

In the aggregate, then, there are plenty of questions about Ross’s abilities moving forward. But he does have a rather high established ceiling for a backup catcher, and obviously is one of the game’s most respected elder statesmen at this stage of his career.

Edited December 20, 2014 by Spudboy

[Behindenemylines]

Hanigan for WMB is stupid in my opinion.

WMB is worth more, dumb trade on Bens part.

 

WMB had no value right now to anyone. After two down seasons the trade BC made filled a need for the Sox. He got a lefty hitting catcher that is good handling pitchers, throwing out runners, and is good defensively. Because of the improved lineup the Sox don't need a lot of hitting from the catching position, but they do need someone who going to keep their pitchers in the game. WMB's potential at some point has to turn into production, and with the Panda now at 3B it wasn't going to be in Boston.

[Dojji]

D'oh

 

Not convinced that this counts as "cheap."

 

Probably is (slightly) better than Ross though, but we're talking about a catcher who has a combined OPS over the last 2 years of .605. Being not an offense guy is one thing, being a black hole is quite another

[Dojji]

He got a lefty hitting catcher.

 

Ryan Hanigan? Former Tampa Bay Ray? Bats right throws right? That Ryan Hanigan?

[Spitball]

I like the trade for Hanigan. Middlebrooks had little value, and now the Sox have two of the best pitch framers in baseball with Christian Vazquez and now Ryan Hanigan.

 

Interestingly, Hanigan has now replaced David Ross twice. He was called up to the majors in August of 2008, after David Ross was DFA by the Reds.

[vjcsmoke]

Just shows you how much Middlebrooks' value has bottomed out. He needs a fresh start somewhere else. The arrival of Sandoval meant the end of the Middlebrooks era.

 

At least Hanigan gives us some value defensively. Maybe... it might make Vazquez expendible if we plan on pairing Swihart with Hanigan in the near future. One young offensive catcher + 1 vet defensive catcher.