Nats lock up Ruiz

[tomterp]

I think you move him if you can, unless you really buy the defensive improvement.  I still can't imagine anyone taking that contract based on the uncertainty in the economics and the brevity of his improvement.

He's been coached up, why shouldn't I buy it?  Sure age, etc, but he's a better player all around now.

[PowerBoater69]

He's been coached up, why shouldn't I buy it?  Sure age, etc, but he's a better player all around now.

Locked up long term, he's playing at the level of a starting catcher for the price we'd pay for a free agent back up. Nice to see him bounce back from those concussions, glad to have him on the team.

[zimm_da_kid]

I think you move him if you can, unless you really buy the defensive improvement.  I still can't imagine anyone taking that contract based on the uncertainty in the economics and the brevity of his improvement.

If he's average at defense and slightly above as a hitter, or vice versa, his contract is team-friendly. I could see a catcher-needy team biting. At the same time, I kinda like keibert now (and I hated him last year)

[Elvir Ovcina]

If he's average at defense and slightly above as a hitter, or vice versa, his contract is team-friendly. I could see a catcher-needy team biting. At the same time, I kinda like keibert now (and I hated him last year)

Sure, but he's likely not sustainably both of those things, or at least other teams aren't going to believe it yet.  Things might be different at the deadline if he looks the same, because he's owed 4/31.5 after this year, which is indeed below market for a catcher in his prime with a 120ish OPS+. 

But just like I don't believe JJ Bleday has turned into Juan Soto with more power or Fernando Tatis Jr. is going to hit fewer than 5 homers this year, I don't believe Ruiz is going to sustain his trends.

[Slateman]

His bat is living off a month of a .391 BABIP. That's not sustainable, nor is simply trying to pull the ball in the air. Should absolutely look to see if anyone can get suckered into trading for him.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

His bat is living off a month of a .391 BABIP. That's not sustainable, nor is simply trying to pull the ball in the air. Should absolutely look to see if anyone can get suckered into trading for him.

Isn't that it though? Absolutely deal the guy if the team doesn't believe the performance is stable and high and someone comes in and offers you a package for a top 10 catcher? I tend to be an optimist on his defense with better coaching (caveat - How Henry Blanco couldn't figure  this out IDK). The power seems silly but it seems he's  finally accepted he can strike out a bit when he hunts for  pitches he can loft down the line. He's replicating 2023 with more ISO due to lofted flies down the line while paying a slight price a higher but still good K rate. I wonder what will happen when the league pitches him differently.

[Slateman]

Hello, my name is Keibert Ruiz. If you have a moment, I would to tell you about the warming embrace you can find at the Church of Pulling Baseballs.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Hello, my name is Keibert Ruiz. If you have a moment, I would to tell you about the warming embrace you can find at the Church of Pulling Baseballs.

that's what made his rbi single Sunday surprising. through the left side drawn in infield.

[tomterp]

that's what made his rbi single Sunday surprising. through the left side drawn in infield.

Intentional or just late decision making to swing? 

Intentional of course.   

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Intentional or just late decision making to swing? 

Intentional of course.   

intentional or by accident, it was still surprising.

[welch]

Ruiz has improved his defense. Over the years, he is a .250 hitter with .675 OPS. He is under contract at something affordable. Why trade him? Who would replace him?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Ruiz has improved his defense. Over the years, he is a .250 hitter with .675 OPS. He is under contract at something affordable. Why trade him? Who would replace him?

he's not getting dealt any time soon. If he's playing this well, then this team isn't going to tail off before August. Both catchers have been terrific defensively. There's skepticism about  his offense because  he doesn't hit the ball hard, but if maintains the dead pull flies and liners, it can stick. He's running  a  .281 average and a .500 SLG while his xBA and xSLG are only .223 / .363, but the expected stats don't take account of direction of his contact.

Scroll down to the batted ball stats on his splits page and look at his soft / medium / hard contact rates as a lefty vs RHP and as a righty vs LHP. 96% of his pulled contact as a lefty is medium or hard, 90% as a righty is medium or hard. Pulling, 21% of his flies are homers (HR/FB). especially as a lefty,  he's  putting a lot of balls in the air.

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/keibert-ruiz/19610/splits?position=NP

[blue911]

Look at Yodier’s numbers at Baseball Savant. He was a soft hitter as well.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I should say he doesn’t swing hard.