Potential Free Agents: Top Five Catchers

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Catchers don’t generally do well on the free agent market. It’s a position that, while important, doesn’t generally rank among the league’s highest paid players. It’s also not one that typically is the recipient of long term deals. There’s just too much risk given the physical nature of the job.

Despite such trends, there’s been increasing speculation that this winter could go against that norm. Brian McCann has been a name tossed around for much of the season, with no certainties in place as to what his future holds. The same can be said for Carlos Ruiz and A.J. Pierzynski. Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been swinging the bat well enough that suddenly he could be in line for an attractive deal.

Further impacting the speculation is the increasing number of teams who could stand to make an upgrade at the position. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports cites a number of them – including the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees. New York’s interest in his own speculation, given the team’s desire to find an upgrade over what they put behind the plate this season, but their willingness to spend is unknown considering the team’s desire to get under the luxury tax threshold. Rosenthal also suggests that the Chicago White Sox could be in the mix, depending on how they decide to spend their money this offseason.

Considering some of the names that have been tossed around, it seems prudent to take a look at some of the players who just might be available this winter on the open market. Most of the teams looking to make an upgrade at the position will not have the luxury to wait for the 2015 free agent class at the position (which includes just Nick Hundley and Russell Martin among a group of uninspiring options).

Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

5. Kurt Suzuki

Suzuki’s inclusion here might come as a surprise to some. It’s indicative of just how weak the potential catching market will be, as there aren’t many alternatives who could have potentially stepped into this spot. John Buck would presumably be atop that short list (unless you were to have faith in Dioner Navarro or Geovany Soto as better options). Buck got off to a strong start to the 2013 season, but cooled off considerably before the New York Mets shipped him off to the Pittsburgh Pirates in August. Collectively he’s hit just .222/.289/.368 in 422 PA on the year. He’s struck out a lot (101 times in 107 games) but he’s been pretty reliable defensively, having thrown out 30% of opposing base stealers. Buck’s never been able to be consistent, however, which will always be his drawback.

Suzuki, on the other hand, might not have the same flare that Buck might bring to the table. He’s not the same power threat – Buck has 15 HR on the year, Suzuki just 4 – but he’ll bring a more balanced approach to the plate. In 310 PA between the Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics he’s hit .232/.289/.329, with just 35 strikeouts. Suzuki was re-acquired by the A’s because they had multiple injuries to their catching corps, but he’s also proven an ability to handle a young pitching staff and has been reliable defensively. He’s also two years younger than Buck and likely to be more affordable.

Oakland holds an $8.5 Million team option for 2014 but it appears unlikely that they’ll exercise it, instead paying a $650,000 buyout which will allow Suzuki to become a free agent. The A’s will already have John Jaso and Derek Norris under contract for next season, limiting the team’s need to make a significant investment to keep Suzuki around.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

4. Carlos Ruiz

A year go this time we’d probably assume that the chances Philadelphia would let Ruiz reach free agency were slim. He’d established himself as one of the team’s core, stepping in when the team needed someone to do so with injuries to Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and others. From 2010 through 2012 he’d hit .303/.388/.454 while receiving MVP consideration all three years. 2012’s power surge (a career best 16 HR) landed him his lone All Star appearance.

Things changed in Philadelphia in 2013. Ruiz missed some time with a strained hamstring, but has hardly missed a step at the plate. He’s batted .290/.341/.397 in 300 PA. His power production is gone (6 HR, 14 2B) but otherwise he’s largely been providing the same offensive production the team’s become accustomed to. Yet most speculation points to the Phillies allowing Ruiz to walk via free agency. Their desire to save money on the position figures to prevent them from being a major player for a catcher on the open market – despite Rosenthal’s earlier assumption. Philadelphia has other priorities this offseason (in no particular order I’d expect the team to pursue a starting pitcher and an outfielder before addressing their catching situation) that should preclude them from this discussion.

Ruiz is earning just $5 Million this season but will be 34, an age that works against him when it comes to getting a long term deal. The fact that the Phillies have seemingly dismissed him already (signing Utley to his extension also cut into their prospective future budget) comes as a surprise.

Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

2. Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Having twice ranked among the game’s top prospects by Baseball America (prior to the 2006 and 2007 seasons), Saltalamacchia has long underperformed compared to the lofty expectations that he’d arrived with. Something has seemingly clicked in 2013, however, and suddenly Salty just might be a more appealing option that you’d might of thought.

Batting .263/.334/.454 in 437 PA on the year, Saltalamacchia has taken steps this season towards demonstrating that he can be a more all-around hitter. He’s already hit career highs in hits (103), doubles (36), and walks (43) on the year – despite striking out 132 times, just seven shy of his career high.

An unknown factor is how heavily Boston will pursue re-signing him. He likely offers the most value to the Red Sox, given his existing familiarity with the pitching staff, but he’s coming off a season in which he earned just $4.5 Million and he’s likely facing a big raise from that figure. Boston has internal options they could go with. Ryan Lavarnway could step into the starting role, with David Ross on the bench behind him. Dan Butler will likely return to Triple-A Pawtucket and by late next season it’s possible that Christian Vazquez will be MLB-ready, giving the organization added depth in the interim.

Saltalamacchia’s long been coveted by opposing GMs – he was part of two separate trades – so he’s sure to attract some level of interest on the open market. At 28, he’s also among the youngest options that could be available.

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

1. Brian McCann

McCann’s earning $12 Million in the final year of his deal with the Braves and he seems like the likeliest candidate to receive something close to that on the open market. He comes with his reservations, however.

Labrum surgery delayed the start of this 2013 season but he’s been able to rebound and produce at a similar clip to what he’s become known for. McCann is hitting .261/.340/.479 on the year in 373 PA, adding 20 HR and a strong walk/strikeout ratio (37/62). It’s the sixth straight (and seventh in his last eight) season in which he’s topped the 20 HR mark and he does so without piling up the strikeouts.

At one point in time, McCann appeared to be the likely successor to Chipper Jones as Atlanta’s “Face of the Franchise”, but things have since changed. The Braves were aggressive last winter, acquiring B.J. Upton via free agency and Justin Upton via trade, eliminating some of their financial flexibility in the process. Where McCann once appeared like a sure thing to be extended, now his future with the Braves seems much less likely. Atlanta will have other needs to address this winter (potentially adding a starting pitcher and almost certainly targeting some bullpen depth) which could also play a factor into things. The organization will also likely consider their internal options – namely Evan Gattis and Christian Bethancourt, the latter of whom is likely a long shot to be ready when the season begins.

McCann will turn 30 just as Spring Training begins and will assuredly attract some interest on the open market. He’ll likely see multi year offers and will have choices. Catchers don’t draw the biggest paydays, but it won’t be out of the question to expect a deal in the neighborhood of $50 Million for McCann when he opts to sign on the dotted line.