Atlanta Braves: Best catcher options in 2020 and the impact on 3B and SP
The Atlanta Braves are in need of a catcher to pair up with Tyler Flowers in 2020. How will the player they sign impact other areas of need?
There are still some pressing needs for the Atlanta Braves this offseason, luckily, they also have budget space to work with.
The Atlanta Braves still have about $30-40 million in budget space to work with. They started the offseason with a bang by signing the top reliever on the market to solidify the bullpen.
There are still four major voids that need to be addressed, with the departures of Dallas Keuchel, Julio Teheran, Brian McCann, and Josh Donaldson.
To recap: We need at least one frontline starting pitcher, a third baseman/middle-order bat, and a catcher to share the load with Tyler Flowers.
Where Things Currently Stand
3B – The Braves have been named as a favorite to bring Josh Donaldson back in free agency. There is a hot market for the former MVP, with rumors linking the Nationals, Phillies and Rangers, among others, to being in the race for Donaldson’s services. Should the Braves fail to land Donaldson, they have also been linked to Mike Moustakas, and as a potential trade partner with the Cubs for Kris Bryant.
Finally, there are the in-house options of Austin Riley and Johan Camargo: both of whom have shown stretches of brilliance with a road leading to a bright future. On the flipside, both have shown extended stretches of play akin to the stench that accompanies a drive through a long stretch of highway in Kansas.*
*An interstate in Kansas is usually lined with cattle farms and rotting-deer carcasses. This causes the release of an aroma that permeates in the humidity until it becomes tangible. It is such a horrid odor it has been known to cause some people to achieve the supernatural feat of holding their breath for hundreds of miles.
Also Read: The benefits of Austin Riley as everyday third baseman in 2020.
SP – The Atlanta Braves are currently rolling three starters over from the end of last season, Mike Soroka, Max Fried, and Mike Foltynewicz. Sean Newcomb is going to be given an opportunity to stretch back out and vie for a rotation spot, as the Braves need one more lefty. Even with Newcomb, the Braves still need to sign a frontline pitcher to round out the rotation.
C – The Braves brought Tyler Flowers back at $4 million for one year. Flowers has been a solid contributor in a time-share since 2016. As a right-handed hitter, Flowers is usually on the short end of the split with whomever the other catcher is. The Braves won’t be looking for a long-term investment as they have some nice prospects in the farm system, notably last year’s first-round pick, Shea Langeliers.
Allocating the Funds
If the Braves spend $20-30 million between third and the rotation, they will need to once again find a great value at catcher to team with Flowers. They’ve done a fine job the past few years in utilizing two catchers to create one of the most productive tandems in the league, it appears they are heading that direction in 2020.
Let’s take a look at some of the catching options in free agency and the impact their potential contracts could have on how the Brave address third base and starting pitching.
Tier 1
Yasmani Grandal – For the sake of finding value, I’ll mention Grandal so I can dismiss him. I know he’s out there and if somehow the Braves were to bring his juggernaut of a bat to SunTrust Park, it would be glorious. Grandal hit 28 home runs last season and was an on-base machine with a .246 AVG and .380 OBP. Signing Grandal would likely prevent the Braves from even spending $10MM/year on Moustakas, but the trade-off would be that Grandal would supply the middle of the order bat at catcher.
The impact would be felt at third base and starting pitcher. Grandal is projected to sign for about $17 million per year. That is nearly the cost of signing a Bumgarner or Wheeler. Theoretically, it would keep Moustakas in play, but that would leave the rotation fixes to in-house options. Signing Grandal would almost certainly mean Austin Riley or Johan Camargo would start the season at the hot corner. The risk is that neither one is ready/worthy of an everyday role. The reward is one of them breaks through and becomes a solid contributor in addition to the thunder Grandal has added to the lineup.
Signing Grandal ties the Braves up financially, and it will have to be a multi-year deal, but it does cover two areas of need. Grandal will provide a solid backstop and provide protection in the middle of the lineup. However, where do you take the risk on the in-house talent? Third base or Pitcher? Does signing Grandal ultimately hurt the chances of fielding the best possible lineup?
Tier 2
d’Arnaud is a former 37th overall pick with a strong defensive profile. His career has been defined by injuries.
In 2012 he partially tore his PCL, in 2013 he suffered a broken foot, and in 2014 he required elbow surgery to repair a bone spur that broke off on a throw to second base.
The next year he suffered a broken hand, and then the following year it was his rotator cuff.
The icing on top of the cake is a 2017 Tommy John surgery.
d’Arnaud was once believed to be the catcher of the future for the Mets. He was once the building block the Mets received in exchange for R.A. Dickey.
Those hopes officially ended prior to last season when the Mets designated him for assignment on April 28.
d’Arnaud ended up spending his 2019 season with the Tampa Bay Rays and revived his career in the Gulf with 16 HRs, 67 RBI in only 351 Abs.
He posted a line of .263/.323/.459. Those are pretty good offensive numbers for a guy who is better known for his defense.
Projected to receive about $7 million per year, d’Arnaud would present a great value if he stays healthy.
If he can be had at $7 million, he would be a nice fit with Moustakas, but that will still only allow for a lower-level pitcher.
It would almost all but rule out guys like Wheeler, Ryu, and Bumgarner. This would leave us more in the range of a Dallas Keuchel or Cole Hamels.
When healthy, d’Arnaud is a force in the lineup and behind the plate. He would pair nicely with Tyler Flowers.
The sacrifice at pitcher would demand Soroka maintain his level of performance and either Folty bounces back to form or Fried takes the next step (preferably both).
The defensive presence d’Arnaud brings could help facilitate that growth with the Braves’ young pitching staff.
Tier 3
These guys have a chance to provide the most value or return on investment. The low salary demands for these players will open things up for a full attack on free-agent pitchers and at third base.
Chirinos is heading into his age-36 season in 2020. He posted a line of .236/.342/.428 with the Astros last season. He’s above average on offense and below average on defense. Chirinos made $5.75 million in 2019 and should be able to be had for less than the $7 million d’Arnaud will command. He could make for a nice veteran presence to pair with Flowers and keep the budget-space free for the Braves to pursue big ticket players.
Jason Castro posted a 1.6 WAR last season with the Twins. Unfortunately for Castro, he wasn’t even the best catcher on his team. Mitch Garver had a monstrous, breakout season for the Twins. Garver’s 30+ homers overshadowed Castro’s solid 13 HR in 237 ABS. Castro became an afterthought in Minnesota but could provide real value to his next employer. He’s usually good for 10-15 HRs and plays exceptional defense. He is coming off a contract with an average annual value of $8 million per year, which does sound a little pricey for what the Atlanta Braves are looking to do. If he could be signed for a couple million less (or more) then Castro comes into play as a valuable addition.
On the plus side, he’s a two time All-Star who once finished fourth in MVP voting. The downside? That was many moons ago. Lucroy will come a very low price this offseason. He will provide a veteran presence and leadership, but probably isn’t anything more than a stopgap until the youth is ready. Lucroy has posted three consecutive seasons with a negative WAR. The Braves might be better off picking up the contract of John Ryan Murphy, who is projected to receive $1.2 million in arbitration.
Tier 3 Continued
After mulling retirement last season, Cervelli ended up playing a big role down the stretch as he provided the Braves with clutch hitting and veteran leadership. Cervelli only mustered a .213 AVG in 141 ABs last year, but he showed a lot of life once he donned the awe-inspiring uniform of the Atlanta Braves. His numbers with the Braves were a stark contrast from his numbers with the Pirates. His line with the Pirates was .193/.279/.248. The magic powers of the Braves uniform led him to a .281/.381/.688. Believe it or not, those numbers are close to his career numbers. Cervelli has always had a phenomenal eye with a .358 OBP in 12 years. His ability to get on base is a bonus from the catcher position. Pair him up with Flowers and let the veterans work with the youthful pitching staff until Langeliers (or other) is ready.
He showed he still has pop in his bat last season with 12 homers in 251 ABS, but that is about it. He had a .209/.267/.417 line and nine passed balls. Tyler Flowers led the league in passed balls with 16. If you pair these two catchers up they might need to replace the backstop at SunTrust Park, mid-season. It could end up being a competition the likes of which haven’t been seen since Legolas and Gimli duked it out for most orc kills.
Avila is a plus defender with a career OBP of .348. He is entering his age-33 season and is coming off of a $4.25 million salary in 2019. Avila has thrown out 30% of baserunners in his career and threw out 11 of 21 last season. He’s going to be affordable, he gets on base, and he’s good behind the plate. He could be an excellent fill-in and potential, long-term contributor once Flowers’ days with the Atlanta Braves are done.
Next. What if Braves don't acquire SP. dark
Which catcher do you think would make the most sense for the Braves in 2020? Should they tender a contract to JR Murphy and roll with him? What say you?