Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB Free-Agency Preview: 2018-2019 Free Agent Catchers

By Marc Delucchi

HOUSTON, TX - JULY 10: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros hits ground ball to the catcher in the eleventh inning allowing Kyle Tucker #3 on a throwing error by Jonathan Lucroy #21 of the Oakland Athletics letting the winning run score at Minute Maid Park on July 10, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 10: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros hits ground ball to the catcher in the eleventh inning allowing Kyle Tucker #3 on a throwing error by Jonathan Lucroy #21 of the Oakland Athletics letting the winning run score at Minute Maid Park on July 10, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
MLB Free Agency
Jonathan Lucroy #21 of the Oakland Athletics is one of the many intriguing catchers set to enter free-agency after the 2018 season. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

There is still plenty of baseball left in 2018.  However, following the trade deadline, it’s time to begin thinking about who will be free to negotiate with all 30 clubs. We have decided to begin profiling the upcoming MLB Free Agency class as well, starting with the players in the squat.

Many have been looking at the 2018-2019 MLB Free Agency class for years in anticipation of the star power that will hit the open market this offseason. We will look at each position group for the upcoming MLB free agency class in a series here on Call to the Pen, starting today with the guys donning the tools of ignorance.

This offseason is set to have one of the deepest group of catchers available in free-agency in a long time.  Highlighted by a couple of the best catchers in baseball, a few other solid starters, and a host of good backups will give teams plenty of options.

Some notable players who just missed the list are Jonathan Lucroy, Jeff Mathis, Matt Wieters, and Drew Butera.  Lucroy once was considered one of the best in the game and Wieters was once the best prospect in baseball, but age has taken it’s toll on them and will leave them as an emergency option for a team.

Though they won’t make this list, Lucroy and Wieters could make an option for a team as a starter if the teams believe they could coax better seasons out of the two of them. Both have exhibited premier defensive skills and at least above-average offensive skills, if not elite offensive skills for a catcher.

Mathis and Butera are career backups who have been around quite awhile.  Both are soft-hitters who are very good defensively.  Mathis is a step above Butera because of his elite framing ability. Both could be defensive backups that would be pursued for that purpose.

Home/MLB News