Mariners Need to Catch Up

During the off-season I am going to write what I think the Mariners will be looking at getting for this coming season, and the first position is catcher.

Looking at the rosters of the other 29 teams there are a few left handed and switch hitting catchers available. They are the type that the Mariners should go after especially if they plan to keep Mike Zunino.

I would really like the Mariners to have a left handed hitting catcher so he can play some first base and DH. The player can be at least a decent defensive catcher; however, primarily should be a hitter. In this way the Mariners can always install Zunino into the game defensive in the later innings.

I found that there is not a lot of left handed or switch hitting catchers available as far as free agency goes. New general manager Jerry Pinoto says that he prefers trading over free agency, and this is what it looks like at the catcher’s position. The two main free agency catchers are Matt Wieters  of the Baltimore Orioles and Alex Avila   of the Detroit Tigers . Both have come off subpar seasons; Matt Wieters played just over one hundred games while Avila was injured a good part of the season and played in 64 games with a batting average under two hundred. Wieters may resign with the Orioles; however, if he does not the Mariners would have to pay over ten million dollars a season for probably four years. The Mariners most likely won’t sign him to that much money because of how many players they are currently paying high, and resigning Iwakuma will cost them about the same as Wieters. Avila most likely is the better choice to sign because he likely won’t command as much money. There is a chance he may return to Detroit because his father is now the general manager of the Tigers. If the Mariners did sign him they likely will play him some at first base as well as DH. I would see him catching when the Mariners are facing a tough right handed pitcher.

Like I say the Mariners most likely will make a trade to get a left handed or switching catcher during the off-season. The mostly likely choice to partner in a trade would be the Chicago Cubs who currently are in the playoffs. In the wild card game that they beat the Pittsburgh Pirates they started two left hitting catchers Miguel Montero and Kyle Schwarber. Montero started at catcher while Schwarber in right field. There is a possibility they may stay that way in the future; however, if they did make a trade likely it would be Montero. Schwarber is a rookie catcher who has a lot of power in his bat. The Mariners or any other team would have to give up a lot to pry him away from the Cubs. Montero has been a starter for the Cubs but they may look at moving him along, and would not cost a team as much in value. In this case the Mariners likely would have to part ways with Zunino.

Another choice would be backup catcher, and switch hitter Dioner Navarro of the Toronto Blue Jays. He would be ideal since he can hit both ways. I am not sure if he has played any first base before; however, the Mariners could use him as the DH.

There are a few other catchers that could be available for trading. The Cincinnati Reds who need to make changes in their roster has four different catchers that bat either left handed or are switch hitters. So they could decide to be trade partners as well. Not sure which they are thinking of trading but would not take a lot for the Mariners take their hands off the Reds. None of them would replace Zunino as the regular catcher; however, may have some use as the backup catcher.

If you are looking for a veteran catcher my favorite would be Jarrod Saltalamacchia of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has always been a favorite of mine primarily because of his name; however, he is a good hitter with some power though not a good defensive catcher so he could be used some as a DH, and backup Zunino. The only thing is that he likely cost more than the Mariners are willing to pay unless the Diamondbacks would pay part of his salary.

All I have to say is good luck for the Mariners to find another catcher to help or replace Zunino. Next I will look at first base though likely Trumbo will be the starter unless the Mariners look to trade him. Go Mariners!