Do the Red Sox Really Believe Kottaras is the Catcher of the Future -And Should We?
Today, the Red Sox announced that they have cut catcher Josh Bard. He had been hitting .429 with one home run and 16 RBIs while learning the art of exclusively catching Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball. Presumably the move was made to make room for George Kottaras to be the backup catcher.
When the Sox signed Bard, captain Jason Varitek was still a free-agent and dialogue between the two sides had not yet resulted in a new contract. They seemed to be far apart enough in regards to number of years and dollar amount that Red Sox Nation and baseball fans in general were wondering if the two sides would ever reach an agreement. There was talk of making a trade for a catcher, namely Jarrod Saltalamacchia of the Texas Rangers, who as a prospect had been compared by scouts to Varitek. However, nothing came to fruition. Thus had the Sox not been able to reach an agreement with Varitek, they would have been prepared to go into the 2009 season with Bard as their starting catcher, and Kottaras as their backup.
So Bard is good enough to be the starting catcher for this team, but not the backup? The Sox are going to entrust the very difficult task of catching Wakefield’s knuckleball to a player with a total of three games of Major League experience, as opposed to a veteran who has been Wakefield’s personal catcher before? The move was certainly made because Kottaras is out of Minor League options. But does the team really view him as the catcher of the future? He is almost 26 years old -most legitimate Major Leaguers prove by 24, 25 at the latest, that they can not only play in the Major Leagues, but stick. He has not proven that, and odds are that if he is legit, he already would have at this current juncture. At the Triple-A level, he has been unable to hit over .250 since being traded to the Red Sox. After Varitek retires, are they really thinking they’re going to give him the starting job? It would make more sense if it was Saltalamacchia, who is two years younger and a proven hitter at the Major League level.
The Sox didn’t make a trade for Saltalamacchia because they would have had to give up a high-end pitching prospect. However, isn’t that what depth is for? Not only to have it on a Major League roster, but to be in the best position to make a trade that will enhance said roster? The team has Lester locked up for the next five years, Beckett likely until the end of 2010 with a club option that should come into play, and Dice-K until 2012. So they have depth at the Major and Minor League levels -enough to part with a prospect that could bring them their true catcher of the future in return.
Perhaps Kottaras will emerge as that catcher. However, it seems foolish to take a gamble, rather than try out someone with extensive Major League experience.
The Oakland A’s: A Clash Atop the AL West Standings?
Most sound baseball minds predict that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a lock to win their fifth AL West title of the decade this season, though if there is one team within the division that can go toe-to-toe with them all year and possibly overtake them, it has to be the Oakland A’s. They have flown under the radar with their offseason moves, but that’s how GM Billy Beane likes to operate. With injuries all but guaranteeing the team out of contention by July since their last playoff appearance in 2006, the 2009 A’s are built for season-long success.
When trade rumors swirled around Matt Holliday, then with the Rockies, at the conclusion of the 2008 season, there was little doubt he would be traded. There was speculation that mentioned the Cardinals or the Rays, but the baseball world was surprised when Oakland was where he ended up. It shouldn’t have been -true baseball fans should know to expect the unexpected from Beane. This was typical brilliance from Beane because even if the A’s are out of contention by the trading deadline, he will be able to get a king’s ransom for Holliday from a playoff team -certainly far more than what he gave up to acquire him.
The A’s have also added Jason Giambi, still a power threat at 38, and Orlando Cabrera, who seems to win everywhere he goes. His infectious personality seems to loosen up the clubhouses that he is a part of, and his teammates always appear to enjoy playing with him as a teammate and a person. Nomar Garciaparra, their most recent addition, adds to the mix a steady veteran presence who still provides a bit of pop. He’ll be able to fill in more than adequately at any infield position.
Travis Buck has shown every sign of improvement over Spring Training, and Ryan Sweeney is already a proven solid young outfielder; the two of them and Holliday should form an outfield that most Major League teams would love to have. Kurt Suzuki seems to improve behind the plate each year, and the pitching staff seems to feel comfortable throwing to him. Mark Ellis continues to be one of the most underrated second basemen in the league, providing consistent production at the plate and defensively year in and year out. Daric Barton is still young with plenty of upside, so it wouldn’t be astonishing to see him put it together this year. And Jack Cust is nothing if not a power threat.
Of course, the real strength of successful A’s teams has been in their pitching. Justin Duchscherer, one of the Majors’ most pleasant surprises last year, will again anchor the rotation. However, during the seasons that the A’s have been one of the league’s most surprisingly elite teams is when their young, inexperienced pitching emerges from under the radar to achieve Major League success.
Four A’s pitching prospects were listed on Baseball America’s 100 Top Prospects list this year, including left-handers Brett Anderson and Gio Gonzalez at numbers 7 and 97 out of 100 respectively, and right-hander Trevor Cahill at number 11. The publication estimates that all three will be in the Major Leagues in 2009. (Right-hander Michael Inoa, the 17-year-old Dominican sensation who signed a record $4.25 million contract last spring, was listed at number 54, though according to Baseball America, he is not expected to make an impact at the Major League level until 2011.) Could this be a new Big Three? That would be a lot to expect of three prospects with limited to no Major League experience, but certainly stranger things have happened in Oakland.
Surely the team will be satisfied if they can be as successful as Dan Haren, Rich Harden and Joe Blanton. Dana Eveland had a solid rookie season, and should only improve with experience. The firepower of closer Brad Ziegler made former Rookie of the Year Huston Street expendable. Joey Devine was a consistent contributor out of the bullpen last season, being entrusted with the occasional save opportunity. He is also a young player who should only get better with experience. The team also seems to be high on Josh Outman and Sean Gallagher, the latter who was acquired from the Cubs in the Harden trade last season; the team has enough faith in them to be on the team’s 40-man roster. Both will be 23 on Opening Day.
If this team can remain injury-free, which is a tall order for any Major League team, there is no reason why they couldn’t continuously challenge the Angels for the top spot in the AL West this season. And if they do have some injuries, this team has depth. Even more so than in recent years past, there is a lot to be optimistic about in Oakland.
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