Offseason Catcher Options

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Cervelli and Suzuki? Just need a German and it's WWII all over again.

But really...them as a pair seems awfully expensive for two mediocre options together.

I think Suzuki's contract is for $4MM this year and $6MM next.  With Cervelli only having 1 year remaining, this would be $15.5MM for the position.  I don't think that is that much.  They would be getting good production out of C, which maybe allows them to gamble a bit on 2d base and wait for an unsigned guy looking for a team in February.  My bigger concern would be what we have to give up to trade for a catcher.  I think Cervelli will have a market. He costs more than he's worth for where Pittsburgh is on the contender / rebuild cycle, but they should have suitors for him.

[Expos]

Didn’t say it made sense. How about Difo as the starting 2B. That makes me laugh also.

Do you really think Difo will be the starting 2B when the season rolls around? No chance.

[Natsinpwc]

Do you really think Difo will be the starting 2B when the season rolls around? No chance.

They already said they are set at second base with him and Kendrick. Kendrick can hit but won’t be able to play defense well.

[HalfSmokes]

Do you really think Difo will be the starting 2B when the season rolls around? No chance.

cannt plug in a free agent everywhere

[Slateman]

They already said they are set at second base with him and Kendrick. Kendrick can hit but won’t be able to play defense well.

SO .... he'll be Daniel Murphy?

[Natsinpwc]

SO .... he'll be Daniel Murphy?

I doubt he can hold up a whole season at 2B. LF would be better. Of course he can always sub at first for Zimm. We know for sure he will be hurt.

[DCFan]

Please stop. They are not paying for another catcher.

Amen. We're not going to have 2 catchers with multi million dollar contracts.

[hotshot]

Re: Zim backup

Cervelli, IIRC, played some games at 1B for the Pirates season.

[sixthree175]

They already said they are set at second base with him and Kendrick. Kendrick can hit but won’t be able to play defense well.

If true, this tells me that we're primed for another 82-80 season.  Difo was a mild disappointment in 2018.  Both he and Kendrick are utility players.

[hotshot]

If true, this tells me that we're primed for another 82-80 season.  Difo was a mild disappointment in 2018.  Both he and Kendrick are utility players.

I'll take Kendricks bat as many games as possible over Difo's defense.

[Natsinpwc]

I'll take Kendricks bat as many games as possible over Difo's defense.

I think you may be underestimating how serious an Achilles injury is and especially for a guy his age. No doubt he is a better hitter.

[hotshot]

I think you may be underestimating how serious an Achilles injury is and especially for a guy his age. No doubt he is a better hitter.

You're right. I really wasn't taking the specific injury/age into account and I should have. In doing a little reading, the sports medicine consensus on a "close to 100% recovery" seems to be the two year mark.

So, if this were a year from now, I'd feel better about my post above. Since it isn't, the docs say expect diminished performance at the one year point.

[PowerBoater69]

Twitter rumors are flying that the Nats are getting Yan Gomes from the Indians. OK bat, ranked high defensively. Team friendly contract, three years of team control with options after each year. All star last year so the price will be high.

[bluestreak]

Gomes to Nats. And apparently not for top prospects. Not sure of source though.

https://twitter.com/danjfederico/status/1068608388039356421?s=21

Yan Gomes is being traded to the Washington Nationals, per source. Haven't heard who is going back to Cleveland but it won't be for DC's top prospects

[imref]

Twitter rumors are flying that the Nats are getting Yan Gomes from the Indians. OK bat, ranked high defensively. Team friendly contract, three years of team control with options after each year. All star last year so the price will be high.

A few weeks ago NatsGM proposed Eaton for Gomes as the core of a deal given Cleveland's need for corner OF help.  If that deal happens, it will be interesting to see who we trade.

[lylelgreen]

Trading Eaton now would lead me to believe Harper is still in play for the Nationals.

[PowerBoater69]

MLB updated the article and removed the names of the Nats prospects.

The Hot Stove season's catching carousel continued to spin Friday, as the Nationals completed their second backstop acquisition of the winter by trading for Indians catcher Yan Gomes, a source told MLB.com. The Tribe acquired necessary salary relief and two Minor Leaguers -- outfielder Daniel Johnson (the Nats' No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) and right-hander Jefry Rodriguez -- in the trade between two contending ballclubs.

https://www.mlb.com/news/nationals-trade-for-catcher-yan-gomes/c-301320940

[Natsinpwc]

Please stop. They are not paying for another catcher.

Rizzo fooled me. Gomes is not very good though, is he?

[PowerBoater69]

Rizzo fooled me. Gomes is not very good though, is he?

An All Star last year, for what that's worth.

[PowerBoater69]

Now reported that Taylor is going to the Indians.

[varoadking]

Now reported that Taylor is going to the Indians.

As well, or instead of Johnson?

[bluestreak]

Now reported that Taylor is going to the Indians.

https://twitter.com/jonheyman/status/1068646363871744001?s=21

Yan Gomes is being acquired by the #Nats. Gives them a nice catching combo with Suzuki. Minor League RF Daniel Johnson going the other way to #Indians . (sorry if you saw earlier that mentioned Michael Taylor; he's not involved)

[DCFan]

Amen. We're not going to have 2 catchers with multi million dollar contracts.

Doh!

[Slateman]

They're getting Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki for what they paid for Wieters last season

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Rizzo fooled me. Gomes is not very good though, is he?

his bat disappeared for several years but came back big time last year.  For trivia fans, I think he was the first native Brazilian in MLB.  D is pretty good, but Perez was always supposed to be better. Makes the Mejia trade a bit painful.

With Gomes  and Suzuki, I think they sit tight on 2d base and hope someone falls to them in February.  They can afford to play Difo / Sanchez / Kendrick until Kieboom is ready.