Catching situation

Post #1 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Mon Nov 3, 2008 4:51 am

I am all for keeping tek, but lets just say the tigers bite boras bid for tek to go to DET...

Do we go the trade route:
-Rangers catchers: They are all on the block apparently. I loved salty since he was a brave, but I heard rumors of his body wearing down already and not going to be able to crouch down as much, is that BS?
-Russell Martin: Interesting name I heard, he would be number 1 if he is on the block.

Or do we go on with Kevin Cash, and sign a vet to back him up.

Post #2 » by **Bleeding Green** » Mon Nov 3, 2008 5:46 am

Russ Martin on the block? No.

Kevin Cash to start? LOL.

Just trade for someone. I don't care at this point as long as it isn't Jason Varitek. Go for Pablo Sandoval or someone like that. The Giants are hopeless; exploit that.

Salty can't catch. Not even that good of a hitter either. Way overrated.

In the end, there are so few good catchers that all you need is someone who hits marginally better Jason Varitek and doesn't make 10 million dollars a year doing so. Last year, catchers only hit .258/.322/.393 as a whole. As truly awful as Tek was, he was almost average at the plate. However, he's going to be 37. And he'll want a multi-year deal. Don't be the team that has a 40 year old Jason Varitek on its roster. Just don't.

Post #3 » by **Bleeding Green** » Mon Nov 3, 2008 5:50 am

Russ Martin on the block? No.

Kevin Cash to start? LOL.

Just trade for someone. I don't care at this point as long as it isn't Jason Varitek. Go for Pablo Sandoval or someone like that. The Giants are hopeless; exploit that.

Maybe Jason Jaramillo from Philly. Ryan Hannigan from the Reds. Some old-ish dude stashed in AAA who puts up good numbers in the minors.

Salty can't catch. Not even that good of a hitter either. Way overrated.

In the end, there are so few good catchers that all you need is someone who hits marginally better Jason Varitek and doesn't make 10 million dollars a year doing so. Last year, catchers only hit .258/.322/.393 as a whole. As truly awful as Tek was, he was almost average at the plate. However, he's going to be 37. And he'll want a multi-year deal. Don't be the team that has a 40 year old Jason Varitek on its roster. Just don't.

Post #4 » by **studcrackers** » Mon Nov 3, 2008 8:14 am

come on guys, pick a rangers catcher and then sell low on buchholz

Post #5 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Mon Nov 3, 2008 2:48 pm

The only thing debatable in keeping varitek is the money/years. I agree a 40 + year old catcher is not what we need. But if he were to sign here for 2 years with a third year option, you wouldn't take that? I am not going to make the bold prediction that he will suddenly find his swing and hit great. But what he does behind the plate is nothing short of great. I don't see that production just suddenly stopping.

Post #6 » by **Basketball Jesus** » Mon Nov 3, 2008 5:54 pm

Jeff Clement. Seriously. He’ll be cheaper to get than any of the Rangers’ guys and his defense behind the plate is more or less the same as Varitek’s this past season.

Or: Victor Martinez. If he comes cheap.

Post #7 » by **studcrackers** » Mon Nov 3, 2008 6:22 pm

why would the mariners be so quick to give up on him? especially with johjima hitting the wall and i thought i read he may be causing problems.

just curious since u have the scoop on both these players

Post #8 » by **Basketball Jesus** » Mon Nov 3, 2008 6:37 pm

Mostly because the Mariners don’t seem inclined to give him the position outright and because Adam Moore (their top catching prospect) seems to have better fundamentals behind the plate and a bat that should be league-average (or a bit above) for the position. Clement’s the odd man out now, thanks to that stupid extension Bavasi was forced to give Johjima.

There’s been talk of moving Clement to first, which may happen given his injury at the end of the season. But I’ve always felt his defense has been unfairly maligned and, if he can return from the injury, he should provide a huge bat as a catcher.

Post #9 » by **Bleeding Green** » Mon Nov 3, 2008 10:31 pm

Celtics_Champs wrote:The only thing debatable in keeping varitek is the money/years. I agree a 40 + year old catcher is not what we need. But if he were to sign here for 2 years with a third year option, you wouldn't take that? I am not going to make the bold prediction that he will suddenly find his swing and hit great. But what he does behind the plate is nothing short of great. I don't see that production just suddenly stopping.

No, I wouldn't take it. You can replace Varitek with a scrapheap pickup in AAA and you can get someone who will be at least a little better by making a trade.

I don't really buy into Varitek as a great defensive catcher.

Post #10 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Mon Nov 3, 2008 11:44 pm

Bleeding Green wrote:
Celtics_Champs wrote:The only thing debatable in keeping varitek is the money/years. I agree a 40 + year old catcher is not what we need. But if he were to sign here for 2 years with a third year option, you wouldn't take that? I am not going to make the bold prediction that he will suddenly find his swing and hit great. But what he does behind the plate is nothing short of great. I don't see that production just suddenly stopping.

No, I wouldn't take it. You can replace Varitek with a scrapheap pickup in AAA and you can get someone who will be at least a little better by making a trade.

I don't really buy into Varitek as a great defensive catcher.

He has called tons of great games. A couple of no hitters. His arm isn't special, but we haven't seen that many passed balls in his tenure here either. The guy has been consistent behind the plate for many years.

Post #11 » by **canman1971** » Tue Nov 4, 2008 3:16 pm

I don't mind Tek for 2 years, but only as a guy who plays 3-4 times per week tops. His bat is like having a pitcher hit. This FO knows when it is time to move on and will not let emotions get in the way, which is why I think he is gone if he doesn't agree to their terms. 2 years, 10 million would be my top offer, which he would likely decline. He is not worth even that much, never mind more.

Post #12 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Tue Nov 4, 2008 8:06 pm

From Nick Cafardo:

The Red Sox need a catcher for now and in the future, so there's been a lot of discussion about the possibility of a Sox-Rangers deal at some point this winter for a young catcher.

.............

Talks between the two teams have been real exploratory and preliminary at best, and the Sox may also have some competition for the Texas backstops from Florida.

two names mentioned in that article were salty and Taylor Teagarden.

Post #13 » by **studcrackers** » Tue Nov 4, 2008 8:27 pm

i guarantee it will take more to get teagarden, his value is at an all time high after tearing it up in his september callup plus he's our best defensive catcher. i still think that september was a bit of a fluke but he's got a sweet stroke when the pitcher makes a mistake.

salty on the other hand, his value is very low but if he's not given the starting job this year i doubt his value will ever rise again. he actually fared very well against righties but sucked hard against lefties, he hit about .330 his last month before getting hurt

Post #14 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Wed Nov 5, 2008 7:00 pm

Boras looking to work off the Posada deal of last year for tek.

I dont get it. If your trying to get your client, a struggling hitting catcher, a contract. Why would you even bring up the name posada. He sucked last year.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #15 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:22 pm

Celtics_Champs wrote:The only thing debatable in keeping varitek is the money/years. I agree a 40 + year old catcher is not what we need. But if he were to sign here for 2 years with a third year option, you wouldn't take that? I am not going to make the bold prediction that he will suddenly find his swing and hit great. But what he does behind the plate is nothing short of great. I don't see that production just suddenly stopping.

Agreed on all of these points!