Catcher

[wallus]

According to Robert Murray, we are looking at catching options. I imagine we would DH William a lot more in this scenario which wouldn't be my first option. I am guessing we are looking a ton of different options to cheaply help out the team. None of these guys should be expensive. 

Among the catchers drawing interest at the Winter Meetings include Yasmani Grandal, James McCann and Tucker Barnhart, among others, sources say. Among the teams in the catching market include the Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and the Athletics.

Yas against RHP in 2024: .747 OPS

Haase against LHP (career, too few ABs in 2024): .743

[Ro Mueller]

I’d figured we may try to get a LHH catcher on a minor league contract or split contract:

- Reese McGuire
- Tucker Barnhart
- Omar Narvaez (if we think we can fix him)

[tmwiese55]

I don't know about this, seems pretty safe and solid with how well Haase did last year.  Not sure I'd want the roster saddled with carrying 3 catchers for all next year, since I'm pretty sure none of these guys could get sent back and forth.    I guess I can talk myself into them wanting to rest Contreras more at DH, but assuming Yelich is back and needing to be DH a ton I'm not sure I see it.   

Getting a 3rd catcher who has options I can totally see. 

[Playing Catch]

I think they'll do something akin to what they did with Haase last season. Sign a vet to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. The Brewers kind of operate like this with a lot of positions. You can never have enough catchers.

The only reason the Brewers had 3 catchers for much of the season is because Haase vastly outperformed expectations, making his control for 2025 quite valuable.

[Ro Mueller]

Barnhart to the Rangers on a minor league contract. Still expecting the Crew to nab an experienced catcher for depth. 

[edfunderburk]

On 12/14/2024 at 10:53 AM, Ro Mueller said:

Barnhart to the Rangers on a minor league contract. Still expecting the Crew to nab an experienced catcher for depth. 

If so - hopefully a LH bat … I can’t see a 3rd RH catcher being added

[Ro Mueller]

Looks like Jorge Alfaro may be our experienced catching depth addition: