Once again, San Diego Padres catching situation is unsettled

Wow, what a difference a year makes for the San Diego Padres behind the plate.

Heading into last offseason, the San Diego Padres thought the catching position was one of the team’s strengths. However, as the 2021 season progressed, that situation became more unsettling and a definite weakness.

Austin Nola had a season to forget for the San Diego Padres

Austin Nola had a very forgettable season. He suffered through a myriad of injuries (fractured middle finger, sprained left knee, and left thumb strain) and never could get himself healthy enough to become a constant in the lineup. He played in only 59 games last season. His absence forced Victor Caratini, a lesser bat but a better glove, to become San Diego’s full-time catcher.

This offseason, the Friars are looking to revamp their batting order, and Nola’s future with the Friars could be in doubt if the right catcher becomes available on the trade market. The organization’s main issue with Nola is his inability to catch the bulk of games on the schedule.

Granted, Nola was not acquired from the Seattle Mariners as a foundation piece in the Padres lineup, but he has not produced with his bat as team general manager A.J. Preller expected after pulling off the biggest of his 2020 trade deadline deals.

In 75 games with the Friars, Nola has hit .258 with four home runs and 38 RBI. That’s a far cry from his time in the Northwest where Nola batted .280 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI in 108 games with the Mariners.

His struggles followed him onto the field as Nola had his worst season defensively in 2021. He was charged with four passed balls and 19 wild pitches while opposing teams stole 26 bases. Nola threw out only 13 percent of would-be base stealers.

Is Luis Campusano the solution for the San Diego Padres at catcher?

Right now, the Padres might be stuck with Nola because they have no clear-cut minor league catching prospect ready to play in the majors next season. Luis Campusano would not be an upgrade at this moment. He is considered to be one of the more promising hitters (.301 career average) in the minors, but his defensive skills behind home plate are less than desirable.

His troubles have been ongoing as Campusano fails to use proper technique when blocking pitches in the dirt or providing a wider target when framing pitches. Despite his struggles at El Paso last season, Campusano will still garner interest from other clubs looking for a quality prospect who needs a change in scenery.

The Padres will have to ask themselves if upgrading to a more accomplished catcher will guarantee more wins and a chance to contend for a playoff berth.

At his best, Nola is a disciplined hitter with a .713 OPS in his time with the Padres. At his worst, Nola’s health deteriorates over time, which magnifies the Friars’ lack of depth at the catcher position. His versatility to play multiple positions makes him a coveted trade chip for teams looking to improve their bench.

Any newcomer must be a catcher who develops an immediate rapport with the pitching staff and be productive in the lower third of the batting lineup. San Diego’s next catcher must be able to command 400-450 plate appearances next season. Right now, that candidate is not on the 40-man roster.

Moving on from Nola might be a risky proposition. However, it might be a risk worth taking.