2012 MLB Free Agents: Catchers
By Editorial Staff
Players filed for free agency today, and Major League Baseball has released its list of its 2012 free agents. Clubs have exclusive negotiating rights with their players until Thursday, when they will be able to sign with any team. Here is a look at the 2012 free agent class of catchers.
Players and teams have until Monday night to make decisions regarding their options. Players with either club and/or their own options are in italics.
The biggest name on the above list of free agent catchers will likely be off the market by Tuesday. The Cardinals hold a $7 million club option for Yadier Molina and are expected to exercise it.
Beyond Molina, Ryan Doumit, Chris Snyder and Ramon Hernandez are the only players on the list that may be considered average to above-average everyday catchers. Doumit’s problem is the everyday part, as the backstop hasn’t played in more than 124 games in a season since hitting the Majors in 2005. Still, Doumit does have a career OPS of .777 posted a line of .303/.353/.477 over his 77 games played in 2011.
The 35-year-old Hernandez spent the past three seasons in Cincinnati. The former All-Star wasn’t very impressive during his first year with the Reds, but posted OPS’s of .792 and .788 in 2010-11 for the club.
Snyder, who was teammates with Doumit in 2011, was limited by injuries this season. Snyder played in only 34 contests in his first full year with the Pirates, but was Arizona’s primary backstop for several seasons before joining the Buccos. The 30-year-old has a career line of .231/.333/.394.
Other notables include Dioner Navarro, Rod Barajas and Jason Varitek.