Close to Getting a Catcher...

[NWinAZ]

Oh Gawd!. We really love catchers that can't their weight don't we?

 

[cezero]

Angels fans will be delighted.

 

[blstoker]

Let's hope that last year was an abboration, cause his career .127 BA in Safeco doesn't inspire confidence.

 

[NWinAZ]

Per Report:

Earlier in the day, Dutton reported that there was "increased chatter" regarding a possible contract with Chris Iannetta. It appears that we've moved beyond the "chatter" stage of things, as he's indicating that they're now closing in on a potential deal. Seattle already has Mike Zunino in the fold, but Zunino hit a pitiful .174/.230/.300 over 350 at-bats and it makes sense the club would be targeting somebody to push him. Unfortunately for the M's, it's not like Iannetta played much better in 2015. The 32-year-old catcher posted a .188/.293/.335 triple-slash in 92 games for the Angels this past season and rates very poorly defensively.

 

[unlvmariners]

Iannetta blows!

 

[NWinAZ]

Iannetta blows!

Yes, but it looks like he will be blowing for us next year.

 

[PolarVortex]

They have to do something and there isn't much available out there. And historically, mid-tier catchers like Ianetta and saltamacchia go quickly in free agency.

Consider how of available payroll we want to tie up in a free agent catcher or how much prospect talent (we don't have much to go around) we are willing to trade for another team's catcher. Then consider what the free agent or trade-acquired alternatives are if we don't get Ianetta or Saltamacchia. Those two guys may very well be our realistic limit.

James Paxton seems to be our hottest expendable commodity right now. If you are thinking he going to bring back a catcher you approve of then you probably are not thinking realistically. Mark Wieters got a qualifying ($15.8 million) offer. Yeah, Mark Wieters, a guy who missed most of the season last year. You got to pay the ass these days to get a catcher that isn't much above mediocre.

 

[unlvmariners]

They have to do something and there isn't much available out there. And historically, mid-tier catchers like Ianetta and saltamacchia go quickly in free agency.

Consider how of available payroll we want to tie up in a free agent catcher or how much prospect talent (we don't have much to go around) we are willing to trade for another team's catcher. Then consider what the free agent or trade-acquired alternatives are if we don't get Ianetta or Saltamacchia. Those two guys may very well be our realistic limit.

James Paxton seems to be our hottest expendable commodity right now. If you are thinking he going to bring back a catcher you approve of then you probably are not thinking realistically. Mark Wieters got a qualifying ($15.8 million) offer. Yeah, Mark Wieters, a guy who missed most of the season last year. You got to pay the ass these days to get a catcher that isn't much above mediocre.

I agree the catching market is thin both in FA and in trades. In this circumstance we will likely have to live with what is available and for the right price. Personally I would be going after Salty over Iannetta if those are the two guys on the Mariners radar.

 

[phredmojo]

we have better benchwarmers in a-ball... what a waste of money. nothing has changed.

 

[NWinAZ]

Greg Johns ‏@GregJohnsMLB 20m20 minutes ago

Mariners sign free-agent catcher Chris Iannetta to a one-year Major League contract. Provides needed vet to go with Zunino.

 

[NWinAZ]

Now we are talking!

 

[cezero]

what's the average BA for all free agent catchers on the market right now?

 

[NWinAZ]

 

[NWinAZ]

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS 11m11 minutes ago

ianetta gets $4.25M plus incentives. 1 year plus an option. #mariners

 

[HammerDown]

Whatever you guys need, just check the Padres roster and help yourself. AJ Preller (the "baseball genius") is happily giving shit away for free.

 

[blstoker]

what's the average BA for all free agent catchers on the market right now?

.224/.308/.363/.671

Chris Ianneta (2015 + rank among free agent catchers this offseason):
GP - 92 (3rd)
PA - 317 (3rd)
AB - 272 (3rd)
R - 28 (2nd)
H - 51 (4th)
2b - 10 (5th)
3b - 0 (t-4th)
HR - 10 (1st)
RBI - 34 (2nd)
SB - 0 (t-5th)
BB - 41 (1st)
SO - 83 (1st)
BA - .188 (9th*)
OBP - .293 (9th*)
SLG - .335 (7th*)
OPS - .628 (8th*)
OPS+ - 78 (8th*)

* No catcher this offseason became a free agent while having enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title, so the ranking is of catchers that had at least 100 plate appearances (11).

 

[PolarVortex]

Dipoto said Zunino would have the opportunity to compete for the back up catcher position. I guess we now know where Mike stands with ole Jerry. I'm not even sure if Zunino will be a Mariner when camp opens. Dipoto already dumped Danny Hultzen. He's shown that he doesn't have much regard for Jack Z's first round draft picks.

$4.25 million for a 100-120 game-a-year veteran catcher - that's not bad. Not bad at all. But if anyone expecting more than 10 homers/40 RBBI/.220 BA, then you are going to be disappointed.

 

[blstoker]

Dipoto said Zunino would have the opportunity to compete for the back up catcher position. I guess we now know where Mike stands with ole Jerry. I'm not even sure if Zunino will be a Mariner when camp opens. Dipoto already dumped Danny Hultzen. He's shown that he doesn't have much regard for Jack Z's first round draft picks.

$4.25 million for a 100-120 game-a-year veteran catcher - that's not bad. Not bad at all. But if anyone expecting more than 10 homers/40 RBBI/.220 BA, then you are going to be disappointed.

Hopefully, Zunino is working on his approach at the plate as well as many other offensive factors. Z has a chance to be a very good MLB catcher if he could get his offense under control - and maybe being in AAA for a while will help him do that.

If the Mariners get from Iannetta what he did for the Angels last year, I would see this deal as a net loss. The only real benefit (IMO) with Iannetta's signing is that the Mariners can afford to send Zunino to AAA to work on his hitting.

 

[cezero]

I'm fine with the Iannetta acquisition.

Zunino just hit 1500 pro at bats, so I think it would be a little crazy to give up on him. He would've just been called up for the first time this past September if the organization that Dipoto just DECIMATED had been anything approaching competent. I think he needs at least another half year at AAA.

 

[NWinAZ]

$4.25 million for a 100-120 game-a-year veteran catcher - that's not bad. Not bad at all. But if anyone expecting more than 10 homers/40 RBBI/.220 BA, then you are going to be disappointed

Unfortunately he only started 81 games last year so we shall see.