Why not trade from surplus (catcher)?

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

In particular catcher?

Pages and Pozos (limited if anything)
Hererra (some desperate team potentially giving him a chance as secondary catcher who can hit at DH and potentially other positions)

Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez.

There are a lot of catchers at the top. Obviously a critical position so you want to hold onto 1-2 but I would think moving a controlled highly touted catching prospect (if done correctly), could fetch you a player of similar upside that fills a position of need.

[Talkin' Baseball]

I'm a little surprised that we haven't heard a peep of a rumor about trading a catcher this offseason.

[sikeston bulldog2]

In particular catcher?

Pages and Pozos (limited if anything)
Hererra (some desperate team potentially giving him a chance as secondary catcher who can hit at DH and potentially other positions)

Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez.

There are a lot of catchers at the top. Obviously a critical position so you want to hold onto 1-2 but I would think moving a controlled highly touted catching prospect (if done correctly), could fetch you a player of similar upside that fills a position of need.

If we traded Donovan and a catcher, that would be a nice deal for another team, and maybe sweeten it enough for us to land.

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

I'm a little surprised that we haven't heard a peep of a rumor about trading a catcher this offseason.

It has the DNA of Moe in some regards.

[ramfandan]

I'm a little surprised that we haven't heard a peep of a rumor about trading a catcher this offseason.

Maybe Bloom is playing it close to the vest.
Catcher and SS are two premium positions.
You and I won’t be surprised if a catcher is part of a deal.

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

In particular catcher?

Pages and Pozos (limited if anything)
Hererra (some desperate team potentially giving him a chance as secondary catcher who can hit at DH and potentially other positions)

Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez.

There are a lot of catchers at the top. Obviously a critical position so you want to hold onto 1-2 but I would think moving a controlled highly touted catching prospect (if done correctly), could fetch you a player of similar upside that fills a position of need.

If we traded Donovan and a catcher, that would be a nice deal for another team, and maybe sweeten it enough for us to land.

That gives you a sub super on a good team and a top flight prospect who profiles into a critical position. What's not to like from the receiving team?

[ecleme22]

I’m okay with letting the catcher situation shake out a bit…

[Talkin' Baseball]

In particular catcher?

Pages and Pozos (limited if anything)
Hererra (some desperate team potentially giving him a chance as secondary catcher who can hit at DH and potentially other positions)

Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez.

There are a lot of catchers at the top. Obviously a critical position so you want to hold onto 1-2 but I would think moving a controlled highly touted catching prospect (if done correctly), could fetch you a player of similar upside that fills a position of need.

You rightly list 6 catchers presently. When I think about the catchers beyond this year, I don't think of Herrera and Rodriguez as catchers. I think they will change positions. I don't worry about Pozo in the mix. He's great to have as depth. If we have 2 ML catchers and he is at AAA, I would be really glad to have him on the big league roster in case of injury.

I see Bernal as the catcher of the future whenever he is ready.

So the two I see as possible trade pieces are Pages and Crooks. They have about the same trade value, but teams may have a preference based on experience, or handedness with the bat. It seems one of these two could/should be traded.

[CorneliusWolfe]

I’m okay with letting the catcher situation shake out a bit…

Agreed. At this point it doesn’t seem clear who is actually the best anyway, and it is critical we correctly identify and keep the best for ourselves.

[An Old Friend]

In particular catcher?

Pages and Pozos (limited if anything)
Hererra (some desperate team potentially giving him a chance as secondary catcher who can hit at DH and potentially other positions)

Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez.

There are a lot of catchers at the top. Obviously a critical position so you want to hold onto 1-2 but I would think moving a controlled highly touted catching prospect (if done correctly), could fetch you a player of similar upside that fills a position of need.

Catcher has one of the highest bust rates in baseball. There is very little log jam. Neither Pages or Pozo will stand in the way of Bernal. Bernal is only turning 22 in February. He shouldn't be in any conversation for 2026, with an earliest ETA of 2027. Rodriguez is much younger, so you don't need to solve for him, either.

They can have one of Crooks / Pages / Pozo in a platoon with Bernal at AAA with the other 2 in the majors. If Herrera can catch, one of Pages / Pozo becomes fodder... they have very little value on the market.

If Herrera can catch 40-50 games and DH the rest... great. Use 2026 to figure that out. The nice part is that they have proximal depth to let that play out.

Bernal might be the major league starter in 2027 or 2028 assuming he hits at AAA.
Rodriguez you don't need to plan for yet - he should develop without concern about the players at AAA / MLB.

[Red Bird Classic]

I’m okay with letting the catcher situation shake out a bit…

Me too. We don't know which one is best yet.

[Cusecards]

In particular catcher?

Pages and Pozos (limited if anything)
Hererra (some desperate team potentially giving him a chance as secondary catcher who can hit at DH and potentially other positions)

Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez.

There are a lot of catchers at the top. Obviously a critical position so you want to hold onto 1-2 but I would think moving a controlled highly touted catching prospect (if done correctly), could fetch you a player of similar upside that fills a position of need.

You rightly list 6 catchers presently. When I think about the catchers beyond this year, I don't think of Herrera and Rodriguez as catchers. I think they will change positions. I don't worry about Pozo in the mix. He's great to have as depth. If we have 2 ML catchers and he is at AAA, I would be really glad to have him on the big league roster in case of injury.

I see Bernal as the catcher of the future whenever he is ready.

So the two I see as possible trade pieces are Pages and Crooks. They have about the same trade value, but teams may have a preference based on experience, or handedness with the bat. It seems one of these two could/should be traded.

Sounds about right:
Pages/Pozo solid backups likely.
Herrera I can’t see sticking at Catcher.
Crooks just arrived and needs to show more.
Bernal I agree has the best potential due to balance between offense/defense.
Rodriguez likely has the best bat and could move.

Good analysis

[An Old Friend]

I’m okay with letting the catcher situation shake out a bit…

Me too. We don't know which one is best yet.

Yep. 2026 provides an easy evaluation year for Herrera and Crooks, specifically. Pages and Pozo are just temporary filler.

[OldRed]

I’m okay with letting the catcher situation shake out a bit…

I agree.

[Talkin' Baseball]

In particular catcher?

Pages and Pozos (limited if anything)
Hererra (some desperate team potentially giving him a chance as secondary catcher who can hit at DH and potentially other positions)

Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez.

There are a lot of catchers at the top. Obviously a critical position so you want to hold onto 1-2 but I would think moving a controlled highly touted catching prospect (if done correctly), could fetch you a player of similar upside that fills a position of need.

You rightly list 6 catchers presently. When I think about the catchers beyond this year, I don't think of Herrera and Rodriguez as catchers. I think they will change positions. I don't worry about Pozo in the mix. He's great to have as depth. If we have 2 ML catchers and he is at AAA, I would be really glad to have him on the big league roster in case of injury.

I see Bernal as the catcher of the future whenever he is ready.

So the two I see as possible trade pieces are Pages and Crooks. They have about the same trade value, but teams may have a preference based on experience, or handedness with the bat. It seems one of these two could/should be traded.

Sounds about right:
Pages/Pozo solid backups likely.
Herrera I can’t see sticking at Catcher.
Crooks just arrived and needs to show more.
Bernal I agree has the best potential due to balance between offense/defense.
Rodriguez likely has the best bat and could move.

Good analysis

...and age, and developmental timeline.

[82birds]

In particular catcher?

Pages and Pozos (limited if anything)
Hererra (some desperate team potentially giving him a chance as secondary catcher who can hit at DH and potentially other positions)

Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez.

There are a lot of catchers at the top. Obviously a critical position so you want to hold onto 1-2 but I would think moving a controlled highly touted catching prospect (if done correctly), could fetch you a player of similar upside that fills a position of need.

agree with you ARCY