Hey brother, can you spare a catcher?

[REDREAD]

Originally Posted by westofyou

Javy Lopez is a retired DH who owns catcher gear

But he's cheap and it's not like Ross and Valentine are gold glove catchers either. Was thinking more of him as a plan B if Ross explodes or as a pinch hitter for Ross when we fall behind.. Then Javy could stay in and catch the last few innings.

Wasn't saying it was a great idea (see the Reds live thread).. Just something to think about.

[Tom Servo]

The problem with Lopez is that he wants to be the #1 catcher and not a bench player. I don't see how it could work out with him and the Reds.

[TheBigLebowski]

The obvious answer is former Cubs stalwart Hector Villanueva.



Here he is, calmly holding his considerable arms in the air....as if to say "Worry not, Reds fans. It's going to be okay."

[mth123]

Another option might be Tampa Bay. They still owe the Reds a player for Brendan Harris and it looks like it won't be Hamilton as many (including me) had been speculating. They have Dioner Navarro and Josh Paul in the big leagues. Shawn Riggans is 26, RH, went .293/.341/.444 at Durham in 2006. He got a cup of coffee in TB last year and could be a guy to keep in reserve at AAA. He's TB's number 16 prospect and is blocked by Navarro. Since TB's top 11 guys are in the top 150 or so overall, he might be a top 10 guy in Cincinnati's system.

[westofyou]

But he's cheap and it's not like Ross and Valentine are gold glove catchers either.

He's crap and he's old, why even bother?

Just because of his name is the only reason he's even mentioned, if he was Rod Barjas no one would give him the time of day.

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by TheBigLebowski

The obvious answer is former Cubs stalwart Hector Villanueva.



Here he is, calmly holding his considerable arms in the air....as if to say "Worry not, Reds fans. It's going to be okay."

You're really Paul White from Sports Weekly, aren't you?

The problem I see with acquiring another catcher is that you're going to have 3 catchers again unless you can foist Javy or Ross off on someone. And if neither of them are hitting, you aren't going to have many takers. And you just know no matter how poorly Ross or Javy are hitting, Narron would sooner cut off his right arm before he played some kid straight up from the minors at catcher.

[Jpup]

Greg Zaun lives in Cincinnati and tried to talk Wayne into signing him in the offseason, the Reds apparently had no interest in giving him a job. He re-signed with Toronto for 2 years/7.25 million. He's 35. I certainly wouldn't pay him that kind of cash, but he did have a good year last season. I'm not sure I wouldn't rather have him than Valentin if the money was the same.

Zaun

2006 .272/.363/.462
Career .253/.345/.385

As far as worrying about Ross, I think he will be fine. It's way too early to worry about his hitting IMO. I would be calling Atlanta about one of their young catchers if I were the Reds front office.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Top catching prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia was one of six players the Braves sent down to the Minors after Monday's 3-1 loss to the Cardinals in Jupiter.

Saltalamacchia, who doubled in his only at-bat during Monday's loss, was reassigned to Double-A Mississippi. The 21-year-old switch-hitting catcher has registered three hits in eight Grapefruit League at-bats.

[Chip R]

From what I've heard, Zaun makes A.J. Pierzinski look like Sean Casey. But he re-signed with TOR so it's moot.

[Falls City Beer]

Originally Posted by flyer85

I don't think the Reds have any other options, they will sink or swim with the Valentin/Ross combo.

Yep. Ross should be decent (on offense), but Valentin could and likely will be post-nuclear.

[texasdave]

Javier Valentin has some weird splits as a Red. Pre-AS his OPS is .619. Post-AS his OPS is .959. His swing is so violent maybe it takes him longer to get his timing down. Or maybe he is going so badly he has hit bats blessed during the All-Star break. Who knows.

[LoganBuck]

Originally Posted by mth123

Another option might be Tampa Bay. They still owe the Reds a player for Brendan Harris and it looks like it won't be Hamilton as many (including me) had been speculating. They have Dioner Navarro and Josh Paul in the big leagues. Shawn Riggans is 26, RH, went .293/.341/.444 at Durham in 2006. He got a cup of coffee in TB last year and could be a guy to keep in reserve at AAA. He's TB's number 16 prospect and is blocked by Navarro. Since TB's top 11 guys are in the top 150 or so overall, he might be a top 10 guy in Cincinnati's system.

I hadn't been thinking about Tampa like that but now that Hamilton looks like he is going to stick on merit, you are so right. They may be someone to target, but it may take a Coutlangus instead of a Cormier.

[redsmetz]

Originally Posted by mth123

Another option might be Tampa Bay. They still owe the Reds a player for Brendan Harris and it looks like it won't be Hamilton as many (including me) had been speculating. They have Dioner Navarro and Josh Paul in the big leagues. Shawn Riggans is 26, RH, went .293/.341/.444 at Durham in 2006. He got a cup of coffee in TB last year and could be a guy to keep in reserve at AAA. He's TB's number 16 prospect and is blocked by Navarro. Since TB's top 11 guys are in the top 150 or so overall, he might be a top 10 guy in Cincinnati's system.

I'm not certain, but I think PTBNL have to switch leagues, so I don't think we could have a player go from their International League team to our International League team. Somebody correct me if that's wrong. We could take someone from the PCL to IL or a Single or Double A teams go to AAA, etc.

[Tony Cloninger]

Not that i would not mind having a catcher who could play defense and hit.....but i would rather have a C who can play very good defense and whatever he hits is gravy. Ross and Valentin are not great defensive catchers....so If Moeller is better defensively, i would rather have him.

If they can get a better defensive/catcher in a trade...great but why worry about someone who is going to be hitting 8th and his main reason for being is his defense? This position, along with SS, no matter how much the game has changed to a more offensive oriented game......is still a defense first type position.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Tony Cloninger

Not that i would not mind having a catcher who could play defense and hit.....but i would rather have a C who can play very good defense and whatever he hits is gravy. Ross and Valentin are not great defensive catchers....so If Moeller is better defensively, i would rather have him.

If they can get a better defensive/catcher in a trade...great but why worry about someone who is going to be hitting 8th and his main reason for being is his defense? This position, along with SS, no matter how much the game has changed to a more offensive oriented game......is still a defense first type position.

Unfortunately, for that to work the team needs a 1B who is a top run producer to make-up the difference. If the Reds are going to go with Hatte and Conine making a "judy hitting" spot out of a place where most teams have a big time run producer, then the team has to get some offense from the traditionally defensive spots.

I'm excited about Hamilton and I think Votto could be an answer when he is finally given a shot, but for now, the team has 3 sluggers in Dunn, Griffey and EdE. In this day and age, that is at least one slugger short. Right now the Ross/Javy duo is the best chance to get slugging from a 4th spot in the line-up. Unless Hamilton provides it, the offense is sunk without it.

I think the concerns about Ross and Javy are valid. On this team some offense from the Catcher spot isn't "gravy." Its an essential part of the teams Bread and Butter.

[KySteveH]

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

Wasn't Benito Santiago looking to get back into the league earlier in the offseason? Jim Leyritz was too. Charles Johnson could probably be brought out of retirement. And Javy Lopez is available. These seem like some Reds-like choices.

Steve Christmas is available, but I'd look at Dave Van Gorder or Alan Knicely first. Especially Knicely, because he's versatile enough to play 1B or the OF.