Atlanta Braves Off-Season Free Agent Outlook: Catchers
Jun 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers (25) argues with umpire Larry Vanover (27) over a call after being ejected from the game against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Marlins 8-5. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
So we all know the Atlanta Braves are going to need another catcher for the 2017 season. Trying to predict who and where those FA’s go is not easy.
Catching is a Hot Ticket Position, What Does Atlanta Do?
A.J. Pierzynski is not going to be with the Braves in 2017. I have loved Tyler Flowers in Atlanta this year and think he has really helped this young pitching staff. If had it not been for an extended stay on the DL, Flowers could have done so much more.
Even Anthony Recker has shown vast improvement. Maybe not defensively, but his offense is decent enough to be considered a back-up. Will he start 2017 with the big club? Probably not, but you just never know.
The list of potential free agent catchers is rather long, but only 3 or 4 have any significant value. We’ve talked about Matt Wieters, Wilson Ramos, and even Jonathan Lucroy.
Chances are both Wieters and Ramos come with the risk of 1) Extremely high and overpriced tags, and 2) the loss of a draft pick. Both are certain to get Qualifying Offers.
Then there’s Brian McCann. I’ll leave that alone for now.
Also, Lucroy is going to be more than those two mentioned above. He may be the better option of the 3, but are the Braves really that desperate enough to overpay for a catcher on the downhill slide of his career (never mind that it’s almost a lock that the Rangers pick up his 2017 option).
Of the catchers who will be free agents this year, only one is below the age of 30, and that’s Ramos (29). That said, just because these guys are “old”, doesn’t mean they can’t contribute positively in some way.
So, for the sake of argument, let’s assume the top three targets above are off the table… that being due to contracts, desires to be elsewhere, or just crazy money.
Let’s look at a few of the other guys that, even though they aren’t top names or targets, could just as easily help a young and developing rotation.
Aug 29, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Alex Avila (31) hits a single against the Detroit Tigers in the fourth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Another White Sox Backstop?
The White Sox have been our proverbial fountain of youth I guess you could say. OK, maybe not youth, but certainly the bottle harvesting the lighting.
A.J. Pierzynski (yeah, he came to us from the Cardinals, but he’s a Pale Hose). AJP had an unbelievable 2015 no one could have predicted.
The offensive outburst no one thought would last the season, were utterly stunned. The 2016 version AJP has come crashing back to earth with gusto. It hasn’t been pretty.
Tyler Flowers. Yep, another South Side transplant. Flowers has been pretty much what we needed him to be. He’s been the primary catcher, minus his DL stint, all season long.
He has been very serviceable in the role. And honestly, I’d be fine with him back again next year as the primary receiver for the Braves.
But one guy that could also transplant from the South Side could be Alex Avila. Avila is 29 years of age, right now, but he will turn 30 in January. He’s still somewhat young.
Avila, who before landing in Chicago, spent his first seven seasons in Detroit. His playing time has dropped significantly since 2014. He played in 124 games that year, but 2015, and so far in 2016, has only seen him barely match that number.
Avila this season in 43 games has put together a decent line for a backup catcher. His .240/.369/.380 line are closer to his 2011 All-Star campaign than his previous 4 years. His .749 OPS is the highest in that same time span as well.
Defensively, Avila this season, in 41 games behind the plate, he has thrown out 25% of base-stealers.
Mar 2, 2016; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Nick Hundley (4) in the first inning during a spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Mile High Veteran
More from Tomahawk Take
Nick Hundley is one of those veterans that’s always thought of, but never seriously considered. I think what he could do with a young crop of pitchers, with Flowers, would be tutelage and knowledge well invested in.
Hundley has never been a “blow you away” type of player. But he comes to the park everyday, does his job, and helps a team in more ways than one. He’s a leadership kind of guy that would be a more vocal presence.
Not that I don’t think Tyler could do that as well, but there is always room for more leadership in the Braves clubhouse.
Hundley’s offensive numbers are almost a mirror image of what Avila gives you. Hundley has had a bad year behind the plate, though, defensively. He’s only caught 11% of base runners, which is way down from his career average of 28%.
In 2015, he pegged 34% of base runners. Avila would be a better defensive backup, but either of them will give about the same from the offensive side.
Aug 29, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (39) celebrates after he hits a two run home run in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Why Not? We Brought Back Flowers …
Jarrod Saltalamacchia is the more better of the previous two. His offensive numbers are slightly better, at least over a career. He’s had a down 2016, but he has more pop and is more consistent run producer.
Salty would fit right in with the Braves. I’ve always thought that he and AJP were cut from the same cloth.
Salty’s 2016 has been less than spectacular, to say the least. But his .192 BA is not indicative of anything to be concerned about. His .306 OBP and .404 SLG, to go with his .710 OPS are all right in line with his career averages.
He’s a bit more of a thumper than Avila and Hundley as well. The price tag on Salty, Avila and Hundley, is much more affordable. Plus, I wouldn’t mind seeing Salty back in Atlanta with a Tomahawk on his chest.
Jul 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros catcher Jason Castro (15) throws out a runner at first base during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
A Diamond In the Rough?
Jason Castro of the Houston Astros intrigues me. He was an All-Star in 2013, and deservedly so. That year Castro hit .276/.350/.485 and had an OPS of .835. .835?!
His OPS has come back to reality a bit, but in 2016, it still sits at .712. Since 2013, he has hit 10+ home runs and is on pace to do that again this year. 2013 saw him launch 18 long balls.
Unlike the others I have listed, this guy’s game is his offense. Not that his defense is bad, but it’s not balanced and needs work. Tyler could help him loads in that part of his game.
Castro intrigues me simply because he doesn’t seem to be on anyone’s radar, except for probably Houston’s. He could be a phenomenal steal in free agency this off season.
These are just a hand-full of choices, mostly ones no one seems to be discussing, and for good reason. It’s not like the free agent market for catchers is, shall we say, bearing many fruits.
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