16. Jesus Montero—C, Yankees – 21-yrs. old – AAA - .289/.346/.418/.763, 7-HR, 33-RBI
28. Devin Mesoraco—C, Reds – 23-yrs. old – AAA - .300/.379/.505/.884, 9-HR, 49-RBI
64. Yasmani Grandal—C, Reds – 22-yrs. old – A+/AA - .294/.396/.500/.896, 11-HR, 51-RBI
81. Travis D’Arnaud—C, Blue Jays – 22-yrs. old – AA - .317/.390/.552/.942, 12-HR, 38-RBI
86. Wilin Rosario—C, Rockies – 21-yrs. old – AA - .245/.281/.433/.714, 12-HR, 29-RBI
90. Gary Sanchez—C, Yankees – 19-yrs. old – A - .242/.327/.419/.745, 9-HR, 33-RBI
98. Wilson Ramos— C, Nationals – 23-yrs. old – MLB - .251/.328/.425/.753, 8-HR, 30-RBI
116. Tony Sanchez—C, Pirates – 23-yrs. old – AA - .237/.346/.304/.6450 – 3-HR, 24-RBI
117. Derek Norris—C, Nationals – 22-yrs. old – AA - .193/.354/.417/.771, 12-HR, 28-RBI
120. Hank Conger—C, Angels – 23-yrs. old – MLB - .221/.305/.369/.675, 5-HR, 16-RBI
121. JP Arencibia—C, Blue Jays – 25-yrs. old – MLB - .221/.285/.427/.712, 12-HR, 40-RBI
151. Carlos Perez—C, Blue Jays – 20-yrs. old – A - .265/.323/.364/.687, 2-HR, 26-RBI
162. Austin Romine— C, Yankees – 22-yrs. old – AA - .288/.349/.389/.739, 4-HR, 36-RBI
209. Blake Swihart—C, Red Sox – hasn’t played yet
220. Justin O’Connor—C, Rays – 19-yrs. old – rookie - .157/.234/.329/.562, 3-HR, 10-RBI
First of all, I have nothing against either Josh Thole or Ronnie Paulino. Josh is a great guy and both have done what has been asked of them, but neither is that kind of player that takes a position off the board.
I love when the Mets trade for players like Mike Piazza and Carlos Beltran. You simply don’t have to worry about that position for the next five years.
There’s a lot of ways to skin a cat, but, for now, the best chance of getting a catcher prospect would be through a trade for Beltran. That means you have to find a team that is in the race, has the money to rent a player (the Mets will probably pay most of the 2011 salary anyway), and the stones.
The first thing we have to do is eliminate the teams that wouldn’t be in the hunt. Washington (Ramos, Norris) wouldn’t entertain a rental trade with the Mets for a myriad amount of reasons. The rest are technically in either a pennant or wild card race.
NYY: The list above lists three Yankees catching prospects and even I know you can’t play three catchers at the same time. Throw in Russell Martin and something has to give here. You know how I man love Montero (hit a line drive home run in Savannah that hit the top of the dead centerfield score board… still rising)and I still think the Yankees would part for him for the right deal. Romine projects out as a run of the mill player and Sanchez is years away.
CINCY: Currently, they have 47 loses, nine more than Atlanta. There’s a good chance they will not rent anyone at this level; however, the team is catcher rich. 35-year old Ruben Hernandez is doing a fine job this year (.322), but Mesoraco will be ready next spring, quickly followed by Grandal. I don’t see Beltran going along with any trade here so I’m passing here.
TOR: Another team that’s technically still in the race, but probably not somewhere Beltran considers as a playoff contender. Arencibia is already the full time catcher, while a projected more talented D’Arnaud will be ready in 2013. Add Perez and there has to be some movement here some day. Again, not a real threat, we’ll pass here too.
BOS: Swihart isn’t even signed yet and we covered this team in a previous post. Either Tim Federowicz or Ryan Lavarnway could possibly be in a BoSox package.
RAYS: This is definitely a team that could use a bat like Beltran, but O’Connor is a far away from the majors and won’t help either team for many years.
LAA: Conger has already graduated to the parent team and is in a platoon with Jeff Mathis. There really isn’t anybody available here.
COLO: Another of those borderline playoff contenders, but even Beltran would drool to hit half the time in that atmosphere. Chris Iannetta (.220) isn’t having the greatest season, but he is projected as the long term Rockies catcher. Rosario could be available if Beltran goes along with the deal.
PIT: Seven different catchers have played this year for the Pirates, a team no one really considers a playoff threat. I can’t see Carlos going along with any deal here.
2 comments:
I hope that if the Mets trade Beltran they add pitching. I think the Paulino-Thole duo is acceptable and not the problem that SP is.
Thole got off to a brutal start and Paulino is not hitting for power. but combined they form a middle of the pack catcher duo for under $2 million.
I think Thole can hit for a better AVG and Paulino can hit more HR, so I see upside from what already is a low-cost, decent production tandem.
That said, I hope they keep Beltran.
Remember the days we wrote about a team that kept their top players regardless of cost.
Structure a three-year deal that has a 20-year payout a la Bobby Bonilla.
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