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Atlanta Braves Off-Season Free Agent Outlook: Catchers

By Dan Horton

Jul 16, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) looks back to the dugout for a pitching sign at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 16, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) looks back to the dugout for a pitching sign at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers (25) argues with umpire Larry Vanover (27) over a call after being ejected from the game against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Marlins 8-5. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers (25) argues with umpire Larry Vanover (27) over a call after being ejected from the game against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Marlins 8-5. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

So we all know the Atlanta Braves are going to need another catcher for the 2017 season. Trying to predict who and where those FA’s go is not easy.

Catching is a Hot Ticket Position, What Does Atlanta Do?

A.J. Pierzynski is not going to be with the Atlanta Braves in 2017. I have loved Tyler Flowers in Atlanta this year and think he has really helped this young pitching staff. If had it not been for an extended stay on the DL, Flowers could have done so much more.

Even Anthony Recker has shown vast improvement. Maybe not defensively, but his offense is decent enough to be considered a back-up. Will he start 2017 with the big club? Probably not, but you just never know.

The list of potential free agent catchers is rather long, but only 3 or 4 have any significant value. We’ve talked about Matt Wieters, Wilson Ramos, and even Jonathan Lucroy.

Chances are both Wieters and Ramos come with the risk of 1) Extremely high and overpriced tags, and 2) the loss of a draft pick. Both are certain to get Qualifying Offers.

Then there’s Brian McCann. I’ll leave that alone for now.

Also, Lucroy is going to be more than those two mentioned above. He may be the better option of the 3, but are the Braves really that desperate enough to overpay for a catcher on the downhill slide of his career (never mind that it’s almost a lock that the Rangers pick up his 2017 option).

Of the catchers who will be free agents this year, only one is below the age of 30, and that’s Ramos (29). That said, just because these guys are “old”, doesn’t mean they can’t contribute positively in some way.

So, for the sake of argument, let’s assume the top three targets above are off the table… that being due to contracts, desires to be elsewhere, or just crazy money.

Let’s look at a few of the other guys that, even though they aren’t top names or targets, could just as easily help a young and developing rotation.

Next: More Help from the South Side?

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