Catcher, 2014

[Edgy MD]

2013 Guys:

• John Buck
  
• Anthony Recker
  
• Travis d'Arnaud
  
• Juan Centeno

2014 Leading Internal Candidates:

• Travis d'Arnaud
  
• Anthony Recker
  
• Juan Centeno

2014 Fringey Internal Candidates:

• Landon Powell
  
• Kai Gronauer
  
• Xorge Carillo

You Snooze, You Lose:

• Brian McCann (.256 / .336 / .461 // .796 in 356 PA - 115 OPS+), 30 years old
  Signed by Yankees for 5 years, $85MM
  
• Brayan Pena (.297 / .315 / .397 // .713 in 243 PA - 91 OPS+), 32
  Signed by Reds for 2 years, $2.275MM (11/8/13)
  
• Jose Molina (.233 / .290 / .304 // .594 in 313 PA - 68 OPS+), 39
  Signed by Rays - 2 years, $4.5MM (11/24/13)
  
• Geovany Soto (.245 / .328 / .466 // .794 in 184 PA - 114 OPS+), 31
  Signed by Rangers - 1 year, $3.05MM (11/5/13)
  
• Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz (.268 / .320 / .368 // .688 in 341 PA - 90 OPS+), 35
  Signed by Phillies - 3 years, $26MM (11/18/13)

Remaining Free Agents:

• Kurt Suzuki (.232 / .290 / .337 // .627 in 316 PA - 73 OPS+), 30 years old
  
• Jarrod Saltalamacchia (.278 / .338 / .466 // .804 in 470 PA - 118 OPS+), 29
  
• A.J. Pierzynski (.272 / .297 / .425 // .722 in 529 PA - 94 OPS+), 37
  
• Dioner Navarro (.300 / .365 / .492 // .856 in 266 PA - 132 OPS+), 30
  
• John Buck (.219 / .285 / .362 // .648 in 431 PA - 84 OPS+), 33
  
• Kelly Shoppach (.193 / .288 / .339 // .627 in 127 PA - 80 OPS+), 34
  
• Yorvit Torrealba (.240 / .295 / .285 // .580 in 196 PA - 52 OPS+), 35
  
• Will Nieves (.297 / .320 / .369 // .690 in 206 PA - 90 OPS+), 36
  
• Ramon Hernandez (.208 / .291 / .438 // .728 in 55 PA - 104 OPS+), 38
  
• Henry Blanco (.142 / .228 / .246 // .474 in 150 PA - 35 OPS+), 42
  
• Humberto Quintero (.237 / .275 / .366 // .642 in 140 PA - 79 OPS+), 34
  
• Miguel Olivo (.203 / .250 / .392 // .642 in 80 PA - 74 OPS+), 35

.

Funny to see Hernandez and Torrealba both on the list. Didn't the Mets offer both of them contracts, like, eight years ago, before trading for Lo Duca? Saltalamacchia is one of those knows-how-to-win guys we're supposed to be going for. Isn't there something disgraceful and/or racist on that guy's ledger?

Anyhow, how do you see/want to see the 2014 catcher picture emerging?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I've seen reports suggesting the D'Arnaud could stand a veteran backup and a few that suggest the Mets would be happy to have Recker back.

I don't really want to go around again with John Buck, even if you're casting for the first category he's prolly your man. I'd have to look to see the actual differences between the Quinteros, Navarros and Olivos to choose between the others if that's how we go.

I kind of wish D'Arnaud hit enough and/or "catcherized" enough to lessen the temptation of a veteran but he didn't.

Maybe Recker is more veteran-y this year.

[Edgy MD]

I think he catcherized enough.

Hit enough? Uhn-uh.

[G-Fafif]

Landon Powell not so internal anymore.

[Edgy MD]

Ugh. Thought he was just on leave of absence or something.

[smg58]

d'Arnaud kind of had a lost year but I see no reason to sour on him. He'll figure things out at this level. Recker could use some competition, though. I wouldn't oppose bringing Buck back as a #2.

[Edgy MD]

Sour on him, no, but it's just good business having a seasoned backup who can lend him some experience, lessen his workload, and provide an alternative should d'Arnaud need a trip to the DL/more seasoning in Vegas/singing lessons.

[Lefty Specialist]

Face it kids, this is the Mets. D'arnaud starts, Recker backs him up, Centeno if anyone gets hurt. They're not paying anybody much to be the backup- that's money that can be underspent elsewhere.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah, I think that's probably how it will play out. Unless there's some leftover inexpensive veteran still available (or newly available) in February or March.

[Ceetar]

d'Arnaud all the way. Delve into some of those advanced catcher/framing stats and pick the backup that's good at that. (Trav is pretty good at that apparently, so might as well be consistent)

[ashie62]

Ceetar wrote: d'Arnaud all the way. Delve into some of those advanced catcher/framing stats and pick the backup that's good at that. (Trav is pretty good at that apparently, so might as well be consistent)

You might want a more than passable backup as Travis does spend abit of time on the DL..

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mike Puma of the Post is saying that the White Sox may non-tender a catcher named Tyler Flowers, and if so, the Mets might be interested in him as a backup to d'Arnaud.

One name Mets will keep an eye for non-tender is ChiSox Tyler Flowers. Team execs have liked him in the past. Potential d'Arnaud backup.

Tyler Flowers

He hit ten homers last year, but other than that, his numbers don't look so hot. He'll turn 28 next month.

[metirish]

Exciting times.

[Edgy MD]

Similar Batters through 27

1. Hal King (953)
   
2. A.J. Hinch (949)
   
3. Javier Valentin (948)
   
4. Rod Barajas (945)[/bigpurple]
   
5. Raul Casanova (942)
   
6. Jason LaRue (942)
   
7. Humberto Cota (940)
   
8. Chris Widger (938)
   
9. Scott Servais (938)
   
10. Tom Egan (937)

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Even with the pee-yew-trid bat, he's been a 0.5-to-0.7-WAR-ish guy-- as per both BBREF and Fangraphs-- on balance (in limited action, no less) over the last three seasons, thanks to a glove the defensive-metric-loving-ladies love.

[Benjamin Grimm]

So maybe the Mets will replace the catcher with the pretty face with a catcher with a pretty name.

[Frayed Knot]

I remember his name from a prospect lists as he was coming up through the Atlanta system (of course he was a Braves draft choice ... he's from Georgia). He was a Top-100 prospect a couple of times (although never Top-50) before being a piece in the deal to the ChiSox that sent Javy Vazquez to the Braves.

His hitting is more than a little bit K-tastic (94 in 256 ABs - Oh my!!!) ... BUT
- he walks a decent amount
- over 40% of his ML hits have gone for XBs
- he hits right-handed (when, you know, he hits) so the platoon aspect works there

But he's not creaky and old and I guess they like him defensively.


He makes me think of the character 'Nurse Flowers' that Rick Schroeder played for a short arc on 'Scrubs'

[Edgy MD]

Frayed Knot wrote: His hitting is more than a little bit K-tastic (94 in 256 ABs - Oh my!!!) ... BUT - he walks a decent amount - over 40% of his ML hits have gone for XBs - he hits right-handed (when, you know, he hits) so the platoon aspect works there But he's not creaky and old and I guess they like him defensively.

No wonder Barajas makes his comp list.

The Mets could have a Flores and a Flowers in '14.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

My knowledge of Tyler Flowers is informed entirely by Hamilton Bennett's cray-cray Twitter x-girlfriend, who hates him for replacing her fantasy boyfriend AL Pierzynski.

?@WhiteSoxDiaries 30 Jan Top 10 Catchers Right Now-Friday on MLBN. Spoiler alert! Tyler Flowers~not only NOT on the list, he's not even allowed to WATCH the show from Pekin, IL

?@WhiteSoxDiaries 4 Dec Not even Tyler Flowers MOTHER is be happy with him as a back up if AJ leaves. Cut the crap, Hahn. NO ONE PREFERS THIS! #WhiteSox

?@WhiteSoxDiaries 22 Nov 12 I Do know one thing----- I'm thankful for #WhiteSox catching Oh wait, that's Tyler flowers now. Scratch that.

?@WhiteSoxDiaries 25 Jul 12 I miss Aj pierzynski ( its just not the same with Tyler flowers always in the damn line up

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: The Mets could have a Flores and a Flowers in '14.

Then all they need to do is sign Guy La Fleur and they're all set.
Or maybe Edwin Encarnacion is available ... or Pete Rose. Too bad Ted Lilly just announced his retirement.

[Edgy MD]

Here's their new first base coach posing at Shea.

[Frayed Knot]

Dioneer Navarro - two year deal with Toronto

[Frayed Knot]

To make room for the Navarro signing the Jays cut loose former 1st round draft pick (22nd overall - 2007) JP Arencibia - yet another high-power/low-OBA/high-K/RH-hitting backstop to toss on the pile of possibilities.

JP was originally drafted when JP Riccardi was GM so maybe there's some connection there, although I'm not sure that his 148/18 K/BB ratio (over 474 ABs) this past season fits in very well with Sandy's line of thinking. Don't believe he's too highly regarded defensively either and hIs career .212/.258/.408 line suggests that things kind of went downhill for him following his 4-for-5, two-HR ML debut (but, really, where else did they have to go?).

[Benjamin Grimm]

Wasn't Arencibia one of the two catchers that were rumored as possibly coming to the Mets in an R.A. Dickey trade with the Blue Jays. Or am I thinking of someone else? I remember that d'Arnaud was considered the better of the two, but for a while it looked like the Mets might get the other guy.

[HahnSolo]

I will need to find a way to get an all caps "NO ONE PREFERS THIS" into my vernacular.

[Frayed Knot]

Pierzynski (the 2nd best Polish player ever out of Bridgehampton, LI) to the BoSox on a one-year deal.
Saltalamacchia to the Marlins for three

[Guest sharpie]

Tyler Flowers re-ups with the White Sox. 1 year/900,000. We can now stop discussing Tyler Flowers.

[Edgy MD]

Melissa Dickson's head explodes.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Edgy MD wrote: Melissa Dickson's head explodes.

Well, not quite...

@WhiteSoxDiaries 2 Dec I've said it before & I'll say it again~Fowers is fucking worthless. Thx for wasting the money on him, Hahn. Way to continue being a MORON

[Edgy MD]

We've got to get those crazy kids together.