Arizona Diamondbacks: Catcher Alex Avila inked to two-year deal

By Mark Brown |

Alex Avila brings depth to Arizona Diamondbacks catching. (David Banks / Getty Images)

The Arizona Diamondbacks added depth by signing Alex Avila to a two-year contract.

Last season, the three catcher-system worked just fine for manager Torey Lovullo of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Splitting time between veterans Jeff Mathis, Chris Iannetta and Chris Herrmann acted directly into plans.

When Iannetta walked after last season and signed a two-year deal with the NL West Division-rival Colorado Rockies, Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen appeared back to square one, or what has become the core philosophy of the Hazen-Lovullo regime.

Building a staff of three catchers clearly represents a major goal and direction of the franchise. That is to build depth at every position, and that core principal worked well last season.

By signing free agent Alex Avila to a contract just two weeks before catchers and pitchers report to the Diamondbacks’ Salt River spring training site, the move represents an opportunity for Hazen to survey the marketplace and ascertain his needs. Not in a hurry to retain Iannetta, Hazen said to Call to the Pen during a conference call Wednesday night that “(Iannetta) went early.” That left time for the organization to research and apply metrics to any player under their microscope.

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At the same time, the wait for Avila was uncomfortable and uncertain. Like most free agents, the 31-year-old wanted to learn of his destination early in the process, but that did not happen. Instead, Avila waited and waited until Hazen, just about two weeks ago, made contact.

In a conference call with Call to the Pen Wednesday night, Avila said the doubt was unsettling. At the same time, Avila said he was not about to search for a team.

“I wanted to see which team had interest in me,” he said. “Over the past few years, I also played first base, so I wasn’t sure what the market was like for a guy like me. Once I had contact from Arizona, I reached out to J. D. Martinez and he raved about the city, the team and the guys. What most impressed me is the way J. D. said how hungry the team is and ready to compete at a very high level. From the start of the off-season, I didn’t expect Arizona to be a landing spot.”

From the Diamondbacks perspective, Avila represents that core value of depth. Here at the advent of spring training, Hazen would not commit to whether he will carry two or three catchers. “Versatility,” he told Call to the Pen could be a decisive factor.

That could mean Herrmann catching and spending time in the outfield, and Avila giving Paul Goldschmidt an occasional rest at first base.

All of which plays into the Arizona Diamondbacks essential approach to the game. Like building competition for middle relievers, and accumulating a plethora of adequate infielders, structuring depth behind the plate remains consistent with Hazen’s core value.

“At this point, I don’t know how the roster will shake out,” Hazen told Call to the Pen on the Wednesday conference call. “It will be how we deploy the catchers. Remember, there are the factors of injuries and durability. Catching at the major league level is extremely difficult, and I think it’s unrealistic to ask one player to catch 130 or more games in one season.”

In addition to supplying depth behind the plate, Avila brings a heavy, left-handed bat. Splitting last season between Detroit and the Cubs, he hit a combined for a .264 batting average in 112 games with 14 homers and 49 RBIs. An American League All-Star with the Tigers in 2011, Avila hit .295 that season with 19 homers and knocked in 82 runs.

At the least concern, the Diamondbacks expect some punch from the 5-11, 210-pounder, who will earn a reported $.8.25 mil for the length of the deal. That brings the Diamondbacks’ payroll to an estimated $120 million for the season, and Hazen told Call to the Pen he is not finished tweaking the roster between now and Feb. 14.

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That’s the day pitchers and catchers have their first workout of the spring at Salt River, the Arizona Diamondbacks training facility.

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