11/23/18

Reese Kaplan -- BVW Might Want to Call the Padres



On Saturday we looked at the possibility of trading for help in the bullpen.  Today let’s look at another of the team’s biggest needs – a catcher – and one team in particular that Brodie Van Wagenen needs to have on speed dial – the San Diego Padres. Not too long ago the most highly regarded defensive catching prospect in baseball was Austin Hedges, currently number one on the Padres’ depth chart behind the dish.  His pitch framing abilities and arm strength are unquestionable.  The issue is whether or not his offensive potential ever catches up to his defensive acumen.

This past season for the Padres he was in something of a share in the catching position, Hedges tallied 303 ABs (about half a season’s worth).  In that time his .231 batting average was nothing to write home about, but he did slam 14 HRs and drove in 37.  That’s 28 HRs and 74 RBIs over the course of a full season which, if the defensive skills are there, is a highly respectable output even if accompanied by a large strikeout total and a low batting average.  The right handed batter will turn 28 during the upcoming season. 

During this past season they Padres traded solid reliever Brad Hand to the Cleveland Indians to help them in their quest of the post-season.  They got back arguably the top catching prospect in all of baseball, Francisco Mejia.  I had the good fortune (or misfortune) of seeing Mejia tee off on the Las Vegas 51s when they came to visit here in El Paso.  Mejia was a guy who would throw from his knees behind batters to try to nail runners at first.  He was a high contact hitter with occasional power.  The diminutive switch hitter has a career .291 average.  He’ll turn 24 during the 2019 season.


Given this depth already on the major league roster, perhaps the most intriguing name in the San Diego organization is Austin Allen, an offense-first catcher who played in AA this past season and assuming he’s added to the 40-man roster he should be on display for me locally here for El Paso.


The 4th round draft choice has made the San Diego front office look good by providing strong run production.  Over the past two years he hit .287 with 44 HRs and 62 doubles.  He’s been in the minors since 2015 and has a career .290 average.  He’s 24 years old now but appears to be blocked at the major league level between Hedges and Mejia. 

I know a great many people feel catcher is a defense-first position, so they would be in the camp of trying to pry loose Hedges or Mejia.  There’s certainly a strong argument to be made for that, but at the same time the Mets’ primary problem last year (after bullpen) was the inability to score runs.  On that front Allen may have the strongest potential.


As a big man – 6’2, 225 – there was some concern about his flexibility and his conditioning, but he’s redoubled his efforts on both in the attempt to remain behind the plate instead of migrating to 1st base which is more of an offense-first position.  He has sent videos of himself to the catching coordinators in the Padres’ system to try to refine his defensive game.


When asked about his preference, Allen was clear, “But catcher is so much fun. Having a relationship with all the pitchers and going to battle every day with them, it gets me going even talking about it.”

In 2016 he allowed 11 passed balls.  He worked at it and cut it nearly in half in 2017 to 6.  Then this past year he cut it down to a mere 3 in 795+ innings behind the plate. 

Whichever of these three catchers float your boat, it would seem that the Padres have a great depth where the Mets have a corresponding need.  It surely wouldn’t take a Noah Syndergaard to pry one of them loose, but with the number one farm system in the game, getting one of them as part of a package deal is certainly something to consider.

19 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Austin Allen sounds like a Pete Alonso catcher - very nice power bat, improving defense - we could do worse.

Let's get one of these guys. We sure need the catching upgrade.

Mack Ade said...

Morning guys.

I follow the Mets beat press pretty closely on Twitter and there seems to be a tremendous increase in chatter between the Mets brass and teams with players available via trades.

The Padres are mentioned often.

6 pounds... a 170 morning blood sugar... but well worth Mrs. Mack's turkey extravaganza.

Gary Seagren said...

Happy Thanksgiving all. Interesting stuff Reese now considering the Yanks just got Paxton for a bag of balls trading Thor for a package of say Allen/Mejia, Urias and pick one of the few interesting pitching options they have. Now add a FA starter like Eovaldi to fill Thor's spot and address the BP and this could be a very productive off season. So Lets go BVW!

Rustyjr said...

I’m sorry I don’t trade Thor period ! I still think you can do a package of Matz, Nimmo & Plawecki to fill holes on the offense . I keep saying that Nimmo could be the lynchpin of a deal that could net a big vat - like Hubie Brooks was when he was traded along with Floyd Youmans & Mike Fitzgerald for Carter . Am I wrong ? If so Why ?

Mack Ade said...

I agree with Rusty.

You have to keep quality starters if you want to win in this game.

DeGrom, Syndergaard, and Wheeler stay on my team, all with extensions.

As for trading, the hard part here is not saying who you would trade for but finding the GM that controls the contracts of the players you want in a deal

Tom Brennan said...

I don't know much about baseball, but I sure do know about turkey and stuffing...and cheesecake, and apple pie, and...so much more. My belly is in total agreement with my assessment.

I surely hope that the Mets AMAZE us this off season...and not ABUSE us.

Rustyjr said...

Thanks Mack .. I thought I was in the minority about being willing to trade Nimmo but you are right it’s all comes down to finding that 1 gm willing to make that deal

Mike Freire said...

I know you have to give something to get something, but I think we would regret dealing Nimmo.......he reminds me of a younger (but developing) Christian Yelich*** and our future LF'er once Cespedes moves along.

***I think Reese mentioned this in a previous post along the way.

Plus, we are already a bit light on OF prospects/young players, so I would try to hold onto what we have and use free agency to address the catcher's spot (Wilson Ramos, already).

TexasGusCC said...

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Reese, I don’t want to trade Thor, but if we must and resign him in three years, then let’s do it. I want three prospects from the Padres or no dice. I want Tatis, Gore, and Mejia or this kid you’re writing about. Anything less makes me so no thanks, we’re not giving.

I still wonder if trading JDG isn’t the better move..l

bgreg98180 said...

How would a roster of
C Mejia
1b Alonzo/Bruce
2b McNeil
SS Rosario
3b Tatis Jr (or Urias)
RF Conforto
CF Nimmo
LF Harper

Sp deGrom, Wheeler, Matz, free agent (Corbin?), Vargas/Lugo/Gsellman

This looks nice for 3-5 years.

Real Nice

Tom Brennan said...

Bob Gregory with the line up of the day!

BTW, I spoke to my brother at Thanksgiving - among other Mets topics, he is still a Jeff McNeil doubter. He is taking a "Prove it was no fluke" stance.

If we get Bryce Harper, I want the fences moved in for a 3rd time. I don't want him losing 15 homers a season with balls caught at the wall. Invest that much, then make sure your invested-in player has EVERY chance to be dominant.

bgreg98180 said...

Remember...Harper is coming from the LARGER Nationals ballpark
(Not often power hitters come from larger parks to the Mets)
I wouldn't worry about losing hrs.

Just about getting the avg back up to before last year

Mack Ade said...

Gregory is smoking some really good shite over there.

Too bad he can't mail me some of it.

bgreg98180 said...

Sorry Mack
No smoking here to share.

I think you would be surprised that the payroll would not be too outrageous once you factor in Fraziers contract expiring, Bruce potentially moving, dropping d'Arnaud and Frazier and not having to pay Syndergaard's salary as it increases.

Factor moving on from Cespedes contract in trade or expiration.

Tom Brennan said...

Mack, Mr Gregory is sometimes "blunt", if you catch the drift.

bgreg98180 said...

Notice, I am connecting dots from reports that have arisen.

Reports of:
1) trading Syndergaard to Padres.

2) Mets interest in free agent pitcher

3) most recently that the Mets have not ruled out Harper.

4) Reports of Wilpon and VanWagenen desire to"not be afraid to win" and to be "aggressive"

(Oh yeah, dont forget insurance money savings for Wright and Cespedes)

"Blunt", good "shite", maybe....
But,
If this was pre-Maddoff Mets, or one of the winning teams of the past 10 years, would it make short and long term sense?

Reese Kaplan said...

It's a ripple effect. Signing Carlos Beltran made signing Pedro Martinez possible.

Instead, when you sign Anthony Swarzak and Jason Vargas the guys who look to you are the Trevor Plouffe types, not the Machados and Harpers. Signing one of the big fish will help faciliate improving the team and making it into a place people want to come.

Mike Freire said...

Adding Harper means either NImmo or Conforto need to play CF....not a deal breaker, but a consequence (defensively).

If we are spending that type of cash, I would take Machado over Harper (better fit), but his splits away from Camden Yards are
concerning.

bgreg98180 said...

My thought: 3 good defenders in the outfield make up for 1 great centerfielder 1 good defender and 1 poor defender