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Atlanta Braves rumors: are they still seeking catching or what?

By Alan Carpenter

NAGOYA, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 15: Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves is welcomed by Manager Don Mattingly #8 of the Miami Marlins and Deesignated hitter J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins as he is introduced prior to the game six between Japan and MLB All Stars at Nagoya Dome on November 15, 2018 in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
NAGOYA, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 15: Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves is welcomed by Manager Don Mattingly #8 of the Miami Marlins and Deesignated hitter J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins as he is introduced prior to the game six between Japan and MLB All Stars at Nagoya Dome on November 15, 2018 in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 27: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals hits a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning against the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium on September 27, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 27: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals hits a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning against the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium on September 27, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

A Royal Connection

Okay, I gave you a pair of baseball media people with the Realmuto information.  Now we’re gonna drop down a step or two in terms of professional journalism:  aside from his 80-grade mustache, I have nothing on Taco other than him being a Royals fan:

https://twitter.com/TacoSalazar/status/1070102118269403136

So why do I even bother sticking this tweet in here?  1 oddball reason:  because if somebody would make something up, this wouldn’t be it.  This comes outta nowhere like a Honey-baked ham story.

Plus, in an odd way, Salvador Perez might actually fit on Atlanta’s roster at least as well as Realmuto.  I will explain.

Let’s check off the boxes here…

  • Rebuilding Royals team – makes sense to sell off their better assets
  • Perez is controllable: under contract for 3 more years (Realmuto is up for 2 more)
  • The contract price is reasonable:  $11m in 2019; $14 million in 2020-21.
  • Consistent RH bat power – 27 HR each of last 2 seasons; acceptable hitting otherwise (expect roughly .250/.290/.450/.700 OPS).
  • 6-time All-Star, 5-time Gold Glove winner, 2 time Silver Slugger (incl. 2018 for all 3).
  • Almost certainly a bit cheaper to obtain (in trade terms) than Realmuto.

Perez is 28 years old – 29 next May (Realmuto will be 28 in March) and has 7,427 innings behind the plate.

After a string of 1100 (and even 1248!) inning seasons from 2013-16, Perez dropped to 941 in 2017 and 831 in 2018.

2018 was a big of a freakish year for Perez, starting when he missed a stair step a tore a knee ligament.  With that healed, there was more to come.

He was also hampered by a thumb injury late in 2018 which likely impacted his hitting as well.  He got through the season, but had surgery to repair the lateral collateral ligament (termed as a ‘reconstruction’) immediately afterward.

With a 12-week recovery period, he is expected to be ready when Spring Training rolls around.

Still – it’s a bit surprising to see his name come up in a trade idea… even in a sketchy tweet like Taco’s (sorry man – it’s not personal… you’re just not a professional sports media guy).  But he’d have to be seen in close to the same kind of light as Realmuto would be:  he has been one of the very top catchers in the AL and a face of the Royal team.

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