Twins sign Alex Avila

[RedTeamGo!]

Catching market is pretty much exhausted at this point. Looking like the Reds are going to be sitting at home making a mixtape again. Barnhart/Casali again. Bummer.

[Mitri]

I think it was Yasmani or bust. Barnsali is fine, Reds have one of the worst outfields in the majors, and are dead-last in SS projections too.

[M2]

I think it was Yasmani or bust. Barnsali is fine, Reds have one of the worst outfields in the majors, and are dead-last in SS projections too.

Exactly, the Reds were middle of the pack at catcher last season (6th in the NL in Wins Above Average). They were dogmeat in the OF (13th in WAA).

[DocRed]

Chirinios is the only FA upgrade available. I'm fine keeping our catchers as is and not upsetting our starting pitching. Wilson Contreras is probably a pipe dream for several reasons.

[RustyJ]

Say what you will about Barnhart, I’m at least not worried about him batting well under .200

[RedTeamGo!]

Say what you will about Barnhart, I’m at least not worried about him batting well under .200

Speak for yourself

[Griffey012]

Avila wouldn't be an upgrade, probably slots as Garver's backup, no big deal here.

[TheBigLebowski]

We're pouting about losing Alex Avila now?

[WrongVerb]

I want Willson Contreras.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Contreras or bust, at this point.

And Contreras is (extremely) unlikely.

Grandal was the only free agent catcher who moved the needle enough above Barnsali to do something.

[ukredsfan]

I feel like Tucker will rebound this year. Maybe I'm an eternal optimist, but I feel like he hit half decent during the second half last year. He had a terrible start and some injuries. Maybe the hitting coach hampered him some also....who knows. All I am saying is, I feel like we've seen the worst Tucker has to offer, but maybe not the best. I know this isn't a super popular opinion, but he does some good things behind the plate and hopefully can rebound some on offense this season. If we go into 2020 with SS and or OF in better shape, I think we can live with Tucker.

[OGB]

I feel like Tucker will rebound this year. Maybe I'm an eternal optimist, but I feel like he hit half decent during the second half last year. He had a terrible start and some injuries. Maybe the hitting coach hampered him some also....who knows. All I am saying is, I feel like we've seen the worst Tucker has to offer, but maybe not the best. I know this isn't a super popular opinion, but he does some good things behind the plate and hopefully can rebound some on offense this season. If we go into 2020 with SS and or OF in better shape, I think we can live with Tucker.

Tucker did bounce back some in the second half last year.
The thing that was endlessly frustrating with him was that he was maybe the worst hitting catcher in mlb while the entire rest of the team except Dietrich struggled for 2 and a half months.
If we have 5-7 guys hitting around .200 in late May again this year I'll be inconsolable.

[klw]

My favorite part about this signing is that Avila's dad was outbid for him:

Jon Heyman
‏
Verified account

@JonHeyman
https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status...45816157507584

Tigers GM Al Avila was in the unusual position of being outbid for his own son. Twins got Alex for $4.25M. It’s not known what Detroit bid but it’s believed to have been a bit less. In any case, in his 12th season, Alex is surely looking to play for a contender.