going by each position in the field
for the Seattle Mariners.
Today's edition will be catcher.
Tom Murphy who had his best
season in 2019 was out for the
2020 season. He will be sharing
the catching spot with Luis Torrens
who the Mariners picked up at the
trading deadline when they
sent Austin Nola to the San Diego
Padres.
Nola was expected to be the backup
catcher for Murphy after playing
in the infield for the time he played
in Seattle in 2019. With Murphy
out Nola had a good enough season
for the Padres to give up four prospects
for him. The Mariners also send two
relievers to San Diego as well.
One of the prospects the Mariners
received Luis Torrens who played
18 games for the Mariners in September
where he hit a solid .254. What makes
Torrens to be a good Mariners in 2021
is he plays a good defense and he
hits around the .254 again it would be
fine. Torrens could be a surprise and
hit even higher. I expect Torrens will
play about 40% of the time while
Murphy plays about 60 percent.
Tom Murphy season in 2019 had a
solid season playing as a backup
catcher himself. The Mariners had
picked him up on waivers from the
San Francisco Giants right at the
end of spring training. His major
league experience was playing
parts of four seasons for the
Colorado Rockies.
Murphy started 66 games at
catcher as he appeared in
75 games for the Mariners
as a backup Omar Narvaez.
Murphy had almost as good
a season at the plate as Narvaez.
The reason the Mariners kept
Murphy by trading Narvaez
they felt he was a better
defense catcher.
This coming season we will
have to see if Murphy can hit
as well as a starting catcher.
It is hard to imagine him hitting
more than 18 home runs which
would be a good deal if he does.
Depending on Torrens and top
catching prospect Cal Raleigh
Murphy could be dealt during
the season if he is having close
to another good season and
where the Mariners are at
far as the playoffs go. The
Mariners could wait and trade
him during the off-season as
well.
One thing we do know the
catching will be in good hands
as far as defense goes. The
Mariners went many years
having trouble behind the
plate not having anyone close
to Dan Wilson. I am sure
we will see Wilson working
with the Mariner catchers
during the spring training
as well as the regular season.
I am sure we will hear and
see him the radio and television
on Tuesday nights too when the
team is at home depending
the announcers are traveling
this season with the team.
Cal Raleigh is expected to
be starting the season at triple
A Tacoma this year. At some
point he could be brought up
to Seattle depending on whether
the Mariners do trade Murphy.
The chances are good that
Raleigh will be the Mariners
starting catcher in 2022 or
share the position. Raleigh
is a good hitter and working
on improving behind the plate.
With his bat he may dh at times
to have a rest behind the plate.
It looks like the Mariners are
good for the future behind the
plate.
Next time we will look at first
base. Go M's.
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