Rays catcher Jose Molina. Picture courtesy of bostonherald.com.
One of the most obvious issues during the offseason was the fact that the Tampa Bay Rays did not have a starting catcher. They traded their platoon of John Jaso and Kelly Shoppach to Seattle and Boston, respectively. Jose Lobaton has been the primary back-up to Jose Molina, a combination that simply is not working. Molina is hitting better than expected, at .226 (7-31), with 3 2B and 1 RBI. He is not expected to hit much better than that, plus he has never been a starting catcher in his entire career. Lobaton is 2-10, and no threat to overtake Molina as the starting catcher.
While there is decent amount of talent available via trade, I don't see a player like AJ Pierzynski available for the White Sox to trade. He means a lot to the organization and the White Sox would be foolish to trade him after getting off to a very good start. Here are six options for the Rays to trade for, sooner rather than later.
6. John Baker, SD: Baker is currently the back-up in San Diego, hitting .182 (2-11) with 1 RBI. He was injured last year while playing in the Marlins organization getting just 13 MLB AB. In 2009, he hit .271, 9, 50 for the Marlins and has a reputation for being a good two way catcher.
5. Nick Hundley, SD: Hundley is currently starting over Baker, hitting .182 (6-44), 1 HR, 5 RBI. He is known as more of a defensive catcher, but has some pop. Last year, he hit .288, 9, 29 for the Padres and can probably put up better numbers if he gets a chance to play 110-120 games in a season, something he has not done before.
4. Ramon Hernandez, Col: Hernandez was signed to a two year contract by the Rockies in the offseason and is off to a very good start, hitting .294 (10-34), 2, 5. So why in the world would the Rockies want to trade him? Answer: Wilin Rosario. Rosario has come a little quicker than the organization has expected and will be playing in Colorado relatively soon. The plan was initially to play Hernandez this season and have Rosario play next year, with Hernandez the back-up. Tampa would not mind the two year deal, either. Hernandez hit .282, 12, 36 last year for the Reds and hit .275, 23, 91 in his best season in 2006 with the Orioles.
3. Geovanny Soto, Cubs: The Cubs just moved OF Marlon Byrd to the Red Sox and I am sure Soto could be had for the right price. He is off to a rough start, hitting .150 (6-40), 1, 1. He also just hit .226, 17, 54 last season which could reduce the price of what he is worth. It will be hard to expect him to duplicate his rookie season of 2008, when he hit .285, 23, 86 for the Cubs.
2. Kurt Suzuki, Athletics: I like the thought of the A's moving Suzuki, especially with Derrick Norris waiting in the shadows and the team rebuilding yet again. He is hitting just .192 (10-52), 5 RBI. His production has dipped, particularly last season where he hit .237, 14, 44. His best season came in 1009, where he hit .271, 15, 88 and the A's think he can approach those numbers again. I expect them to wait a little while longer as they think Suzuki's value is higher than it has been this season.
1. Miguel Olivo, Mariners: This, to me, is the most logical move to make. Despite a slow start (.125 (6-48), 3 RBI), Olivo is coming off his best season where he hit .253, 19, 62 and would upgrade the Rays both offensively and defensively. The Mariners have former Rays catcher Jaso and also traded for Yankees catching prospect Jesus Montero, giving them options behind the plate. The Mariners owe it to themselves to see if Montero could catch on a regular basis before making him a full time DH.
While there is decent amount of talent available via trade, I don't see a player like AJ Pierzynski available for the White Sox to trade. He means a lot to the organization and the White Sox would be foolish to trade him after getting off to a very good start. Here are six options for the Rays to trade for, sooner rather than later.
6. John Baker, SD: Baker is currently the back-up in San Diego, hitting .182 (2-11) with 1 RBI. He was injured last year while playing in the Marlins organization getting just 13 MLB AB. In 2009, he hit .271, 9, 50 for the Marlins and has a reputation for being a good two way catcher.
5. Nick Hundley, SD: Hundley is currently starting over Baker, hitting .182 (6-44), 1 HR, 5 RBI. He is known as more of a defensive catcher, but has some pop. Last year, he hit .288, 9, 29 for the Padres and can probably put up better numbers if he gets a chance to play 110-120 games in a season, something he has not done before.
4. Ramon Hernandez, Col: Hernandez was signed to a two year contract by the Rockies in the offseason and is off to a very good start, hitting .294 (10-34), 2, 5. So why in the world would the Rockies want to trade him? Answer: Wilin Rosario. Rosario has come a little quicker than the organization has expected and will be playing in Colorado relatively soon. The plan was initially to play Hernandez this season and have Rosario play next year, with Hernandez the back-up. Tampa would not mind the two year deal, either. Hernandez hit .282, 12, 36 last year for the Reds and hit .275, 23, 91 in his best season in 2006 with the Orioles.
3. Geovanny Soto, Cubs: The Cubs just moved OF Marlon Byrd to the Red Sox and I am sure Soto could be had for the right price. He is off to a rough start, hitting .150 (6-40), 1, 1. He also just hit .226, 17, 54 last season which could reduce the price of what he is worth. It will be hard to expect him to duplicate his rookie season of 2008, when he hit .285, 23, 86 for the Cubs.
2. Kurt Suzuki, Athletics: I like the thought of the A's moving Suzuki, especially with Derrick Norris waiting in the shadows and the team rebuilding yet again. He is hitting just .192 (10-52), 5 RBI. His production has dipped, particularly last season where he hit .237, 14, 44. His best season came in 1009, where he hit .271, 15, 88 and the A's think he can approach those numbers again. I expect them to wait a little while longer as they think Suzuki's value is higher than it has been this season.
1. Miguel Olivo, Mariners: This, to me, is the most logical move to make. Despite a slow start (.125 (6-48), 3 RBI), Olivo is coming off his best season where he hit .253, 19, 62 and would upgrade the Rays both offensively and defensively. The Mariners have former Rays catcher Jaso and also traded for Yankees catching prospect Jesus Montero, giving them options behind the plate. The Mariners owe it to themselves to see if Montero could catch on a regular basis before making him a full time DH.
picture courtesy of mlbphotos.com
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