Atlanta Braves: Why the rush to add a catcher?

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Jun 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers (25) argues with umpire Larry Vanover (27) over a call after being ejected from the game against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Marlins 8-5. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Tough Decisions

Don’t get me wrong – Tyler Flowers is unlikely to start for the next division champion Braves team – but why the immediate need to add a starting caliber catcher? That next division champion team will almost certainly not be the 2017 iteration of the club.

As it stands, the team will enter next season with a combination of Flowers, Gosewisch, and Anthony Recker at catcher. That gives them a serviceable big league regular coming off his best offensive season to date and a pair of backups with prior MLB experience.

Flowers is under contract for $3 million in 2017 with a $4 million club option for 2018. Gosewisch and Recker make close to league minimum.

Looking at the names associated with Atlanta over the offseason, who provides a marked improvement over that? Further, when factoring in the salaries/prospects associated with signing or trading for one of those players, who provides enough additional value to warrant the additional cost?

Castro has garnered praise for his receiving and game management skills but is far from an elite defender and limped to a .210/.307/.377 line in 376 plate appearances last season. Ramos had a breakout season but a torn ACL has put his long-term durability into question. Vogt is a worse hitter than Flowers with only marginally better defense. Hundley and Norris are lucky to still be on major league rosters.

Out-Waiting Scott Boras?

Meanwhile Wieters, the biggest name still available, has far more name value than actual value. As a prospect, he received some tremendous praise (i.e. a switch-hitting Joe Mauer with power) and that has followed him ever since. In reality, he’s a second or third tier starting catcher with a little pop and above-average (though not Gold Glove-level) defense and currently holding out for Boras money.

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect Castro, Castillo, Ramos or Wieters to perform better than Flowers next season.

It would be unreasonable, though, to expect that difference in performance to be so vast that it would noticeably alter Atlanta’s fortunes in 2017.

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