The free-agent catching market wasn’t particularly robust to begin with, but it keeps getting thinner.
Austin Hedges was the latest to sign, agreeing to a one-year, $5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hedges, who spent the last three seasons with Cleveland, would have made sense if the Tigers had sought a defense-first catcher to pair with Eric Haase.
The Tigers could go in the opposite direction, pursuing someone like Gary Sanchez, who has an offensive track record but questionable glovework.
The other remaining catchers also have question marks: Jorge Alfaro, 30, strikes out a ton and never walks. Roberto Perez, who turns 34 next week, missed almost all of last season with injury.
Other names include: Tucker Barnhart, 32; Curt Casali, 34; Robinson Chirinos, 38; Sandy Leon, 34; Kevin Plawecki, 32; Austin Romine, 34; and Luis Torrens, 27.
New Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris is familiar with Casali from his time in San Francisco. He could be a potential fit.
Plawecki could provide some insurance and might even be available on a minor-league deal.
But if we’re being really honest, would any of the remaining catchers really be an upgrade over Tucker Barnhart, who spent 2022 as the Tigers’ semi-regular catcher? If Barnhart is the best candidate remaining on the market — or the candidate who offers the best fit with the Tigers’ needs — maybe the Tigers should stand pat.
Harris has suggested that’s an option.
“The supply of talented catchers out there is very thin,” he said earlier this month at the MLB Winter Meetings. “It’s really hard to find a stable Major League catching duo. There are a lot of teams out there that are searching for that. Fortunately we have two catchers who have a chance to stay with us for a while.”
Those catchers are Haase and Rogers, who missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Haase will definitely be on the roster, either as the No. 1 catcher or as a backup who dabbles in the outfield. Rogers is the question mark.
If Harris decides the free-agent market isn’t worth his while, the trade market could provide some options.
The Athletics were reported to be demanding an outrageous price for star catcher Sean Murphy, which is why the league was stunned when they ultimately dealt him to the Atlanta Braves for what seemed like a bargain price.
The Toronto Blue Jays still have a surplus of catchers, with Alejandro Kirk, Danny Jansen and Gabriel Moreno on the roster. Moreno would probably start the season in Triple-A if the Jays don’t make a deal, but they could free up a spot for him by trading Jansen.
Then there’s a wild card option.
One way the Tigers could use their excess payroll is by taking on “bad” contracts from other teams, perhaps with a few prospects thrown in.
The New York Mets aren’t known for pinching pennies, but they no longer have space on the roster for catcher James McCann and would love to unload the remaining two years and $24 million on his contract.
McCann, 32, played for the Tigers from 2014-2018 and was a popular teammate and well-respected defender with an inconsistent bat.
Unfortunately, McCann’s offensive strength — hitting left-handed pitchers — overlaps with Haase’s best attributes, so a traditional platoon wouldn’t work.
If the Tigers went after McCann, they’d likely view him as an expensive backup whose acquisition was made more palatable by the inclusion of a few intriguing young players.
Such a deal is a long shot, of course. For one thing, the Mets are the Mets. Money is no object. They might be content to simply eat McCann’s contract rather than give up anything of value to entice a team to take it.
And McCann would not only block Rogers in 2023, but potentially Dillon Dingler or Josh Crouch in 2024. That wouldn’t jibe with Harris’ stated intention of “earmarking” at-bats for young players.
If the Tigers are merely seeking an insurance policy, they may already have one in 26-year-old Michael Papierski, who will be available in Triple-A Toledo.
Spending millions more to get only a marginally better Plan B might not be in Harris’ plans.