Tampa Rays To Look For Catching Help

[rockondlouie]

By Darragh McDonald | October 1, 2025 at 5:39pm CDT

The Rays acquired two catchers at this year’s trade deadline but are apparently not content with them. President of baseball operations Erik Neander told Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times that both backstops did good things but “we’re going to keep looking.”



C. Bloom has plenty of catching trade assets, wonder if he can land something good for one of them (not named R. Rodriguez) from his one time organization?

[3dender]

Crooks + Burly/Donovan/Gorman/Noot + ??? for a pitcher

[MrPostman01]

Will the Cards get fleeced again?

[scoutyjones2]

Tamp needs pitching, why would they trade any?

[rockondlouie]

Will the Cards get fleeced again?

Nope

Mo is gone!

[Francis Park Thug]

Crooks + Burly/Donovan/Gorman/Noot + ??? for a pitcher

Crooks did not impress........At all.

[woofy25]

Crooks + Burly/Donovan/Gorman/Noot + ??? for a pitcher

Crooks did not impress........At all.

45 ABs…four five

[Melville]

By Darragh McDonald | October 1, 2025 at 5:39pm CDT

The Rays acquired two catchers at this year’s trade deadline but are apparently not content with them. President of baseball operations Erik Neander told Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times that both backstops did good things but “we’re going to keep looking.”



C. Bloom has plenty of catching trade assets, wonder if he can land something good for one of them (not named R. Rodriguez) from his one time organization?

In business, leadership relationships matter.
Baseball is no exception.
Tampa Bay could indeed be worth keeping an eye on.....

[Bob Kunush]

Crooks + Burly/Donovan/Gorman/Noot + ??? for a pitcher

Crooks did not impress........At all.

45 ABs…four five

Take a look at some of my Molinas first-years in the majors. Its a good thing he was a great defensive player because he sure couldn't hit.

[Basil Shabazz]

Crooks + Burly/Donovan/Gorman/Noot + ??? for a pitcher

Crooks did not impress........At all.

Mike Trout's first 47 PAs
.163 .213 .279 .492

Jeremy Hazelbaker's first 71 PAs
.317 .357 .683 1.040

[60 year Cardinal fan]

Crooks + Burly/Donovan/Gorman/Noot + ??? for a pitcher

Crooks did not impress........At all.

Mike Trout's first 47 PAs
.163 .213 .279 .492

Jeremy Hazelbaker's first 71 PAs
.317 .357 .683 1.040

About 75 years ago there was a young man named Mays who went 1 for his first 25, but he turned out to be pretty good.

[Absolut]

Crooks + Burly/Donovan/Gorman/Noot + ??? for a pitcher

Crooks did not impress........At all.

45 ABs…four five

We got some keen eyed folks. They can name that career in 45 at bats.

[82birds]

what Cardinal catching would they be interested in?
certainly not Pages or Pozo

[82birds]

I imagine they'd go for Bernal.

[ecleme22]

Crooks + Burly/Donovan/Gorman/Noot + ??? for a pitcher

You forgot the blue font

[rockondlouie]

Crooks + Burly/Donovan/Gorman/Noot + ??? for a pitcher

Crooks did not impress........At all.

Mike Trout's first 47 PAs
.163 .213 .279 .492

Jeremy Hazelbaker's first 71 PAs
.317 .357 .683 1.040

Crook's #1 job, like any catcher new to the staff, is to get to know his pitchers and learn about the leagues hitters.

Anyone attempting to gauge his hitting ability on his first couple dozen PA's is being unfair.

Yadi's first 47 PA's:
.216 .348 .243 .591

Hopefully Crooks gets 400 PA's next season so we can have a fair sample size before judging if he's a "bust".