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Atlanta Braves Catching: Four Trade Targets

By Fred Owens

Sep 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Catchers mask and glove sits in dugout before the game between the Detroit Tigers and the San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Catchers mask and glove sits in dugout before the game between the Detroit Tigers and the San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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the tools await a new owner in the Atlanta Braves dugout
The tools await a new owner in the Atlanta Braves dugout. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Braves are looking for a new catcher and a trade looks the best option. Who are some targets to consider?

(Note that this page is the same information from part 1. If you remember all that feel free to jump to the next paragraph.)

Notes On Catcher Defense

Judging catcher defense is more difficult than any other position because there are so many facets to it; framing, pitch blocking, game calling, controlling the running game and being able to manager pitchers. Pitch blocking and controlling running are impacted by the pitchers on the staff and to some extent by the whims of the scorekeeper.

There’s a lot of emphasis on pitch framing but it isn’t a make or break item. Stat Corner ranks catcher framing skills and this year Salvador Perez ranked last while Tyler Flowers was third.

Fangraphs ‘Defense’ metric ranks Perez first (15.5) and Flowers 51st (-1,1) among catchers with 350 innings while the Inside Edge ranking at the same link has Perez 34th and Flowers 18th.

Is limiting the running game your thing? Perez threw out 37 of 77 (48%) base stealers, Matt Wieters 23 of 66 (34%) while Flowers. . .never mind.

You get the idea, there’s a case for most of the top catchers depending on where you put the priority.  As I go through the catching options I’ll throw some statistics in and you get to choose which you pay attention to.

Stat Corner breaks out framing by team, I combined the numbers of those players so the ranking I give may not match the one on the page.  Onward and upward for a look at potential trades.

Trades – One that Won’t Happen Three That Could

"“Trade a player a year too early rather than a year too late.” Branch Rickey"

No one can be sure who will be traded this off-season because GMs will listen to offers on anyone. They may laugh after hanging up the phone but they will listen.  Some things are pretty obvious to anyone paying attention:

  • Players who’ve lost their everyday job to younger less expensive players are available
  • Teams with excess players at a position will move them to fill vacancies
  • Teams with needs that can’t be filled will trade players not otherwise available to fill them

The first category fits two obvious teams; the Padres and the Yankees. Let’s get the Yankees out-of-the-way first.

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