Getz move to bulk up on catching newest market niche?

[caulfield12]

https://www.mlb.com/news/why-catchers-are-so-important-to-mlb-executives

Everyone might have assumed it was CF SS and starting pitching that would be most desired positions to build the foundation of a team around...

 

The responses got us thinking: if the best catchers in the game are seemingly in such high demand, why do so few of the elite backstops test the free-agent market?

“Catching is incredibly hard to find,” Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said.

Edited April 22 by caulfield12

[Lyle Moooton]

It’s the most important position on the field, so it’s nice to know we likely project well. 
 

there’s a note later on in the article on how catchers tend to be easily extendable and that may also be part of the strategy. See who extends for less, deal the other?

[caulfield12]

46 minutes ago, Lyle Moooton said:

It’s the most important position on the field, so it’s nice to know we likely project well. 
 

there’s a note later on in the article on how catchers tend to be easily extendable and that may also be part of the strategy. See who extends for less, deal the other?

Hopefully both Quero and Teel work out....but we all know from past prospect history the odds are just one if we're fortunate really makes it, at least a 2.5-3 fWAR contributor.

[Lyle Moooton]

20 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Hopefully both Quero and Teel work out....but we all know from past prospect history the odds are just one if we're fortunate really makes it, at least a 2.5-3 fWAR contributor.

For someone who posts so much you never really actually say anything. 

[caulfield12]

1 hour ago, Lyle Moooton said:

For someone who posts so much you never really actually say anything. 

What would you like to know?  Ask a question.

The Dodgers are the team that best exemplifies the philosophy behind the article.

The Dodgers have employed this practice and have lost former Top 5-10 system catchers because of 40 man issues, as well as traded Liranzo with Sweeney for Flaherty...then also have Dalton Rushing, a Top 30-40 MiLB catcher backed up behind Smith and Barnes.

The problem with Teel and Quero is they're going to have to play 1B/DH secondarily where their position and value will be downgraded...and it's likely neither would hit 850-925, enough to justify a spot at that position in the first place.

In general...having 4-5 quality SS's like the Dodgers have in their MiLB system is ideal.

The White Sox currently don't have ANY with plus tools other than maybe Bonemer...who might actually be a 3B or 2B or 1B/DH when all is said and done with filling out his frame.

In theory, the White Sox should trade from their catching depth for a legit two way CF or SS, but that's easier said than done here.

And the Dodgers actually have the most players at both positions but no need for either Teel or Quero.

 

 

So maybe they have no choice but to take on a character concern player in CJ Abrams...who's not a great fit for the rebuilding timeline.

The main problem there is Getz supposedly purged the Sox of all such players now.

Edited April 22 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

In the end...for LAD, Diego Cartaya went from their top prospect entering 2023 to almost worthless in eighteen months, and yet another top catching prospect, Keibert Ruiz, was traded to the Washington Nationals as part of the Max Scherzer-Trea Turner blockbuster on July 30, 2021. The deal guaranteed $50 million over eight years for the Venezuelan catcher. In return, the Nationals received a big haul, including pitcher Josiah Gray.

 

So moral of the story is don't hold onto catching prospects TOO long...

and that the Orioles might want to heed this with their own blocked catcher, Samuel Basallo.

[Quin]

Great job by Hahn to get Quero and Lee (whatever you think of him, he's around as long as DH/1B/ backup C are unfilled at the MLB level) on his way out. Super helpful.

[46DidIt]

7 hours ago, Lyle Moooton said:

It’s the most important position on the field, so it’s nice to know we likely project well. 
 

there’s a note later on in the article on how catchers tend to be easily extendable and that may also be part of the strategy. See who extends for less, deal the other?

Yeah but on the other hand you can always plug in the position with short term guys like Thaiss. Think I'd still rather have a couple top 50ish shortstops or centerfielders. Back when the Sox were actually generally pretty good they were fine plugging in with guys like Marc Johnson or Chad Kreuter behind the plate

[caulfield12]

3 hours ago, 46DidIt said:

Yeah but on the other hand you can always plug in the position with short term guys like Thaiss. Think I'd still rather have a couple top 50ish shortstops or centerfielders. Back when the Sox were actually generally pretty good they were fine plugging in with guys like Marc Johnson or Chad Kreuter behind the plate

Seems like 90s and 2000's almost all imported catchers except for Karko.

AJ defined 2005-2012 team peak.

https://www.mlb.com/news/white-sox-catchers-all-time-ranking

Fisk defined the early reign of JR.

Kurt Brown over Bonds, worst draft miss ever.

Charles Johnson 2000.

Tyler Flowers and James McCann had a few decent individual seasons...and Grandal started off quite well, then imploded.

Miguel Olivo was fun for awhile...then faciltated Garcia trade.

Narvaez mostly succeeded elsewhere.

Yermin terminated by TLR.

Few standouts.  Certainly no Salvador Perez types since AJ.

Edited April 22 by caulfield12

[FloydBannister1983]

11 hours ago, Lyle Moooton said:

It’s the most important position on the field, so it’s nice to know we likely project well. 
 

there’s a note later on in the article on how catchers tend to be easily extendable and that may also be part of the strategy. See who extends for less, deal the other?

Not disagreeing with "most important position" at all ... is there some sort of stat that actually shows this?  There must be.

[Texsox]

1 hour ago, FloydBannister1983 said:

Not disagreeing with "most important position" at all ... is there some sort of stat that actually shows this?  There must be.

They do touch the ball a lot. Likely influence most of the pitches. 

But looking at the richest contacts and by the time you get past the top eight or so the rest are making Leury Garcia money. 

[DoUEvenShift]

14 hours ago, Lyle Moooton said:

For someone who posts so much you never really actually say anything. 

 

[Bob Sacamano]

30 minutes ago, DoUEvenShift said:

 

He’s not wrong lol

[caulfield12]

2 hours ago, Bob Sacamano said:

He’s not wrong lol

There's ONE person right now that can actually write well, and insightfully on the topic of the White Sox.

And that's James Fegan.

Whose reward for being good at his job was being rescued by SoxMachine and Margalus because there weren't enough eyeballs on his writing thanks to JR.

Everything else is basically just white noise.

 

It doesn't matter what anyone else says or writes, JR is never going to change.  It's almost a point of pride for him.

[GreenSox]

On 4/22/2025 at 7:08 AM, caulfield12 said:

 

So moral of the story is don't hold onto catching prospects TOO long...

 

Probably sound advice or any prospect:  use 'em or move 'em.   And if Teel and Quero are both ML Quality catchers each of whom can hit, they probably should move one (unless they can figure out a way for both to play every day and not just DH)  -  guys like that are so rare that they should be able to get 2 good players for 1.
This happened to the Orioles- held onto prospects too long; looked like they may be getting stale, so used 2 of them on the mediocrity named Trevor Rogers. (would have been a nice return for Fedde, as things look now).

Edited April 23 by GreenSox

[caulfield12]

26 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Probably sound advice or any prospect:  use 'em or move 'em.   And if Teel and Quero are both ML Quality catchers each of whom can hit, they probably should move one (unless they can figure out a way for both to play every day and not just DH)  -  guys like that are so rare that they should be able to get 2 good players for 1.
This happened to the Orioles- held onto prospects too long; looked like they may be getting stale, so used 2 of them on the mediocrity named Trevor Rogers (couldn't we have taken those 2 for Fedde?).

Basallo and Rushing will both be quite interesting to monitor as the two best catchers that are currently blocked...

Ethan Salas has been terrible hitting-wise...no amount of defense will make up for that. Has bled a lot of his trade value.

Other Quero...Brewers' Jefferson, with right shoulder subluxation, yet another catching risk. Hamstring injury as well.

Edited April 23 by caulfield12

[pcq]

20 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

There's ONE person right now that can actually write well, and insightfully on the topic of the White Sox.

And that's James Fegan.

Whose reward for being good at his job was being rescued by SoxMachine and Margalus because there weren't enough eyeballs on his writing thanks to JR.

Everything else is basically just white noise.

 

It doesn't matter what anyone else says or writes, JR is never going to change.  It's almost a point of pride for him.

Most of the free Sox articles aren't worth reading. 

[caulfield12]

1 hour ago, pcq said:

Most of the free Sox articles aren't worth reading. 

Most are paywalled off now.  Still look there for breaking headline news, though.