Rangers Catching Dilemma

by sggut95 on Jun 30, 2008 6:56 PM EDT Comment 17 comments

The Texas Rangers have three top-notch catching prospects in their organization, plus one 28-year-old current starter in Gerald Laird, who was hitting .306/.360/.437 before going on the 15-day DL.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Laird's backup most of the season, is hitting a dismal .214/.338/.333 with 3 HR in 117 AB this season, and boasts a career .252/.318/.398 career mark in 425 AB.

Max Ramirez, recently called up from AA Frisco, caught last night's game, was hitting .363/.457/.662 with 17 HR in 237 AB before joining the Arlington club. He hit a homer in his second game, and has also started at 1B.

Taylor Teagarden is hitting .240/.368/.426 with 5 HR in 129 AB at AAA Oklahoma City, after hitting .310/.426/.586 with 27 HR in 394 AB between high A Bakersfield and AA Frisco in 2007.

So what do the Rangers do here, with this apparent logjam? They seem to have a glut of riches, in that they've also recently called up 1B Chris Davis, who promptly hit two homers in his first 8 at bats, after hitting .333 with 23 HR between AA Frisco and OK City.

I see the potential for a trade for a young starting pitcher, possibly a deal with the Red Sox for a Masterson or Bowden. What are your thoughts?

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An interesting dilemma...

I’m sure if the Rangers were contenders, a deal would’ve been made a long time ago. You don’t see prospect-for-prospect deals all that often.

The only thing I could see the Rangers trading one of these guys for is a young player with club control, or starting pitching (prospect or big leagues). Unfortunately, both are in pretty high demand, and it would have to be tough for the Rangers to get good value in a deal for either.

by DrunkIrish on Jun 30, 2008 7:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Response

The nice thing (or bad thing, depending on your perspective) about prospect “logjams” is that they tend to fix themselves.

But a prediction . . .Davis at 1B and Teagarden at C (even if his bat doesn’t play especially well he’s just so far ahead of the other guys defensively). Laird goes elsewhere, if only to save the team some money. Ramirez ends up mostly as a DH, but gets to play some C and 1B as well to keep everybody fresh. That leaves Salty, who can’t compare to Teagarden defensively and doesn’t have Davis’ raw power potential. He just hasn’t played very well, but he hasn’t been handled very well either. I’d guess he gets moved to another team, probably for 60 cents on the dollar.

by mrkupe on Jun 30, 2008 8:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How is Davis' fielding at third?

I know he used to be a 3B, but if the Rangers could trade Blalock perhaps in the off-season and move Davis there, then that could open up another slot for either one of their many catchers, or for Justin Smoak when he comes up.

www.loftylantern.com

by OldProspects on Jun 30, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

3B

From what I’ve heard his fielding at 3B is really bad. Although it would be nice if he could move to 3B I just don’t see that as an option.

by TRanger on Jun 30, 2008 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Think Ryan Braun...

It’s pretty scary…

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Jul 1, 2008 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well then...

move Davis to left field. Worked for Braun.

by journeymen on Jul 1, 2008 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem is

that I’m not sure that any of them have their value at its highest. Laird is hurt and may not have had enough time to show that last season’s offensive display was a fluke. Saltalamacchia’s value is probably at its lowest since he hit AA, with his struggles this season in the majors. Teagarden hasn’t been able to stay healthy and has struggled with his contact (though not his power) this season. People who have seen Ramirez catch for the first time the last few days have been shocked by the fact that he looks fine defensively, considering the nightmarish scouting reports. If he were given the opporunity to show that, his value would obviously skyrocket.

If they could get a Masterson for one of them, they probably should do that, but not knowing specifics on what the market is, my attitude is that they need to be patient and allow a) someone to grab the job or b) someone’s value to go up to a peak rather than a valley.

At least one of them does need to be gone by next April, though.

by Brett Perryman on Jun 30, 2008 8:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's a real good summary of the status of each of the four.

it’s looking more and more like they need to wait. I was hoping the “establishing” and “peaking” would already be done at this point. With Laird’s injury and Salty not seizing the job, they’re better off waiting until the offseason. Greedy Ranger fans will have one less deadline deal this year.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jun 30, 2008 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

from what i've seen and read

teagarden is the best catcher of the bunch, but also the best bet to move out of catcher and succeed defensively somewhere other than 1b…..some were suggesting before he was injured a couple years ago that he would eventually replace blalock at 3b….that would lead to an interesting combo of salty/ramirez/davis playing c/1b/dh in the next few years….not sure they’d do that, but certainly it’d be another possibility of what COULD happen….

by biggentleben on Jul 1, 2008 12:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

I have never seen a suggestion that Teagarden play at 3B, or anywhere else for that matter. These “some” you reference must be people not connected with the organization, probably fans of other teams who don’t follow the Rangers. Teagarden is an outstanding catcher, the only questions are: can he stay healthy, and can he improve his contact skills enough to be a frontline catcher on both sides of the ball. He will be a good game caller with solid onbase skills and a little bit of pop in the bat. He probably won’t hit for average.

But he will not be moving to another position.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 1, 2008 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just like Mauer

Catchers who get injured seem to be a lightning rod for speculation of position changes. Ever since Biggio successfully made the move, people assume anyone can do it easily. There are constantly rumors the Twins might move Mauer since he’s so tall for the position and they have Redmond too, but that’s just ridiculous. Maybe when he’s older to prolong his career, but right now you’ve got one of the best catchers in the game. He’d be good but not great as a 2B/3B. You stick with greatness. I’m sure Teagarden will too (and am excited for that as I picked him up this past off-season).

by purppride1 on Jul 1, 2008 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Salty will be traded

but I don’t think the Red Sox will part with Masterson or Bowden. I think he would be a great fit in Seattle as a switch-hitting 1B, but Texas would be very reluctant to trade him to a division rival and the M’s don’t really have any solid young pitching that they would or could part with. I don’t think Texas handled his development well at all. I would like to see Salty get a full time gig somewhere.

by jeremyp on Jul 1, 2008 4:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Do the Mariners really need another catcher?

www.loftylantern.com

by OldProspects on Jul 1, 2008 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He meant...

as a 1B, not a catcher. Personally though, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Clement move to 1B and Sexson to DH (unless some team is stupid enough to take him off our hands). Seattle has a decent catching prospect in Adam Moore down in AA too. Not sure about his defense, but his bat seems pretty decent. Not enough for 1B or DH, but plenty good for catcher. He could end up being Johjima’s replacement in a couple years.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Jul 1, 2008 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Riggleman

has refused to name a starting catcher, and has said he’s going to start Clement at least a few times a week. Perhaps he’s got more pull than you’d expect from an interim manager, and can see how ridiculous the Johjima extension was. It bodes well for Clement anyway.

by DrunkIrish on Jul 1, 2008 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Moore...

He’s more likely to move to 1b or DH rather than C. His defense isn’t good by any means, but his bat should carry him to the MLB… I’m surprised that he’s still catching in that organization with Clement there. I figured Clement was solid behind the plate and the need for a 1b is imminent with the impending release of Sexson (or whatever move they make with him).

Moore is a big boy, he’ll probably end up at 1B. He just doesn’t seem too mobile behind the plate. Moore is also old for a prospect, 25 or 26 I want to say off the top of my head.

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Jul 1, 2008 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs