The 2025 Alternative-Degree Killers: Catcher & Second Base

At present, now we have a Killers two-fer, with lists protecting a few necessary defensive positions, particularly second base and catcher. Whereas nonetheless specializing in groups that meet the unfastened definition of a contender (a .500 document or Playoff Odds of roughly 10%) and which have gotten about 0.6 WAR or much less out of a place to this point (which prorates to 1.0 WAR over a full season), I’ve additionally integrated our Depth Charts’ rest-of-season WAR projections into the equation for an extra perspective. That will recommend that a few of these groups will clear the bar by a big margin, besides, I’ve included them right here as a result of their efficiency at that spot to this point is value a glance. All statistics are by way of July 12.

Padres

With Kyle Higashioka departing for the Rangers in free company, the Padres — who ranked twenty fourth within the majors final yr in catcher WAR (1.1) — pencilled in Luis Campusano, the weaker companion of final yr’s catching tandem, alongside late-season addition Elias Díaz to do the majority of the work behind plate. The pair, augmented by 38-year-old free agent Martín Maldonado, ranked useless final in our preseason Positional Energy Rankings. After optioning Campusano to Triple-A El Paso in March (he was recalled yesterday), they’ve approximated that billing, rating twenty ninth out of the 30 groups in catcher WAR.

The 34-year-old Díaz, whom the Rockies — the freakin’ Rockies, man — launched in the midst of final August, has hit simply .198/.270/.297 (65 wRC+) whereas hanging out a career-high 26.4% of the time and has been a subpar framer as effectively, although admittedly not as unhealthy as he was in Colorado. Maldonado, who by some means hit for simply an 11 wRC+ final yr (.119/.174/.230 in 147 plate appearances) with the White Sox has been incrementally higher than that, which is to say fairly terrible (.178/.221/.295, 45 wRC+ in 141 PA). His -1.0 WAR marks his third straight season within the purple, and Statcast is especially down on his protection (-7 FRV, together with -4 runs for throwing and -2 for blocking). The 26-year-old Campusano, a former high 30 prospect who fell out of favor because of his protection (a main league-worst -14 FRV final yr, together with -8 runs for framing) has hit effectively at El Paso (.308/.427/.587, 140 wRC+) however is 0-for-21 in spot main league responsibility. Tellingly, he has but to play an inning behind the plate for the Padres this yr (he DH’ed in opposition to the Phillies on Sunday), which is saying one thing given the competitors. If nothing else, his 4 years of remaining membership management makes him a change-of-scenery candidate.

With the Padres proper within the thick of the Wild Card race and solely 5 1/2 video games again within the NL West, that is an apparent space of want, and 19-year-old high prospect Ethan Salas, who’s been restricted to only 10 video games at Double-A San Antonio because of a stress response in his again, isn’t the answer. Sean Murphy, who’s now sharing time with rookie Drake Baldwin in Atlanta and who’s signed by way of 2028, can be the highest catcher out there if the Braves select to deal him; simply final week, The Athletic‘s Jim Bowden talked about the Padres as a staff with robust curiosity in him. The Angels’ Travis d’Arnaud can be a less expensive improve; he’s signed for $6 million for subsequent yr. The Yankees’ J.C. Escarra, who has hit effectively in restricted responsibility as a rookie however is being crowded by Ben Rice’s dip again into the catching pool, is likely to be out there. A method or one other, we will anticipate A.J. Preller to do one thing right here with a view to enhance the Padres’ probabilities.

Rays

Starter Danny Jansen has been unremarkable on the offensive facet, hitting .207/.302/.379 (93 wC+), however he’s been unhealthy defensively, with -5.1 FRM and -7 FRV (together with -7 runs for framing). Backup Matt Thaiss hasn’t hit a lot since being rescued from the White Sox in a late-Might commerce; his general .225/.361/.297 (96 wRC+) slashline rests on a 16.1% stroll fee, however he’s turn into far much less selective, with extra swing-and-miss, for the reason that commerce. Ben Rortvedt, who hit an impossibly terrible .095/.186/.111 (-12 wRC+) in 70 PA earlier than being outrighted off the 40-man roster, has hit for only a 77 wRC+ at Triple-A Durham, however had an 87 wRC+ and 1.4 WAR, with stable protection, as not too long ago as final yr. If he’s not within the Rays’ near-future plans, he could possibly be of curiosity to a different staff.

As for potential upgrades, Bowden talked about the Rays as the opposite staff with robust curiosity in Murphy. D’Arnaud, who spent most of his 2019 season with Tampa Bay, would even be a match, and MLB Commerce Rumors has instructed that both Higashioka or fellow Rangers catcher Jonah Heim could possibly be commerce candidates, and likewise the Marlins’ Nick Fortes.

Twins

Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vázquez shaped a tandem that was solidly middle-of-the-pack final yr, combining for two.2 WAR, however they’ve slipped — or relatively, Vázquez has. Jeffers has hit for a good .247/.344/.398 (110 wRC+) whereas offering sometimes fringy protection (-3.9 FRM, -4 FRV), however Vazquez’s manufacturing has cratered. His .167/.239/.250 slashline represents a drop of twenty-two factors in wRC+ (from 59 to 37), and the place he was distinctive defensively in 2024 (9.5 FRM, 5 FRV), he’s been about common this yr.

The Twins do have Mickey Gasper, a switch-hitting 29-year-old utilityman who can catch, at Triple-A St. Paul, the place he’s torn up the Worldwide League (.307/.408/.577, 154 wRC+). He’s hit simply .115/.258/.135 in 62 PA within the majors, nevertheless, and has caught only one inning throughout his transient time with the Twins, so it appears unlikely they’d out of the blue flip to him as an improve. Noah Cardenas is a 25-year-old, 35+-FV prospect who has hit a mixed .245/.383/.448 (130 wRC+) between Double- and Triple-A, however his protection is tough (“a 40 receiver with a forty five arm,” as Eric Longenhagen not too long ago described him). As a sub-.500 staff, the Twins (47-49) could wind up promoting or holding as a substitute of shopping for; on condition that additionally they made the Killers checklist at first base (Ty France) and second (see beneath), upgrading their second catcher will not be their high precedence.

Royals

Regardless of only a 4.2% stroll fee, Michael Massey made a stable displaying in 2024, producing 1.5 WAR in 100 video games whereas batting .259/.294/.449 (103 wRC+) and enjoying barely above-average protection at second base. This yr, nevertheless, his overly aggressive method has caught as much as him, and his efficiency has collapsed. He’s hitting simply .202/.221/.258 in 209 PA; his 25 wRC+ is the bottom for any participant with no less than 140 PA, and his -1.1 WAR is tied for the bottom of any second baseman. His 2.9% barrel fee ranks within the seventh percentile, and he doesn’t have an xSLG above .300 in opposition to any pitch in addition to sinkers and sweepers, which collectively account for nearly 14% of the choices he’s seen.

Massey has been out of the Royals’ lineup since early June, when he went on the injured checklist with a left ankle sprain; whereas on his rehab task, he was hit by a pitch that brought about a hairline fracture of his proper wrist. In his absence, Jonathan India has been protecting second, however that’s been lower than ideally suited. He’s a greater hitter than Massey even in what has thus far been a career-worst offensive displaying (.249/.330/.346, 90 wRC+), however as with the opposite positions at which he’s dabbled (third base and left discipline), his protection has been effectively beneath common (-3 DRS and -3 FRV in simply 317 innings). Nick Loftin is a greater fielder than India however has hit simply .191/.238/.383 (64 wRC+). Maikel Garcia has performed a little bit of second base within the midst of his breakout season (.298/.355/.454, 123 wRC+), however he’s not nearly as good defensively there as he’s on the scorching nook.

At 47-50, the Royals have been unimpressive so far, however they’re simply 4 1/2 video games out of a Wild Card spot. They might actually use an improve, however given their place within the standings, they may desire to hunt a participant with years of membership management relatively than a pending free agent. Nonetheless, shopping for low on somebody such because the Rockies’ Thairo Estrada or the Braves’ Ozzie Albies (who can be right here if Atlanta’s odds weren’t down to three.2%) hardly ensures enchancment. Free agent DJ LeMahieu, whom the Yankees launched final week, can be a match; if nothing else, his 96 wRC+ so far seems completely All-Star caliber on this context.

Giants

As a rookie final yr, Tyler Fitzgerald hit for a formidable 132 wRC+ with 3.0 WAR in 96 video games, 72 of them at shortstop. The signing of free agent Willy Adames bumped him to second base, and issues haven’t been the identical. The 27-year-old Fitzgerald has hit simply .227/.287/.333 (77 wRC+), and whereas he’s performed above-average protection, he’s delivered simply 0.4 WAR. Final week, the staff optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento. Christian Koss, who acquired the majority of second base work when Fitzgerald missed time because of a fractured rib, has been sidelined by a left hamstring pressure, so the staff has began Casey Schmitt at second base in all six video games since Fitzgerald was despatched down.

The 26-year-old Schmitt has hit a good .254/.346/.404 (117 wRC+) in 131 PA to this point whereas trimming his chase fee, practically tripling his stroll fee (from 3.5% to 9.9%) and boosting his hard-hit fee from 36.1% to 47%. Till not too long ago, he’d been bouncing across the infield, serving as a platoon companion for since-traded first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. and filling in for injured third baseman Matt Chapman. If he can maintain on to the aforementioned offensive features whereas enjoying extra commonly, downside solved, however his observe document is brief sufficient — he’s by no means taken greater than 69 plate appearances in a calendar month — to ask some skepticism. A pending free agent such because the A’s Luis Urías could possibly be a match if the Giants resolve to go outdoors the group.

Twins

Second base has been a revolving door for the Twins thus far. The staff started the season with Willi Castro, and Edouard Julien sharing time, however Castro strained an indirect in late Might and Julien hit simply .198/.288/.319 (72 wRC+) earlier than being optioned to St. Paul in early June. Since then, Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens have dealt with the lion’s share of the work. The 24-year-old Lee, a 2022 first spherical choose and a high 30 prospect as not too long ago as final yr, has hit simply .259/.292/.381 (86 wRC+) with stints at shortstop (when Carlos Correa was injured) and third base (when Royce Lewis was injured), however he’s by some means managed only a 39 wRC+ in 95 PA as a second baseman, which is a part of the rationale the Twins are right here. The 29-year-old Clemens has powered his means into extra enjoying time than ever, hitting .216/.299/.507 (121 wRC+) with 12 homers in 168 PA, virtually completely in opposition to righties. Recently he has been enjoying extra first base than second, with Castro returning to the combo. A job share between the switch-hitting Lee and the lefty-swinging Clemens might work, but when the Twins resolve to promote, the latter could possibly be a helpful utility addition for an additional staff.

Pink Sox

Pink Sox second basemen mixed for -2.3 WAR in 2024, the second-worst displaying of any staff at any place. For a quick time, it appeared the staff had solved the issue by signing free agent Alex Bregman, however as a substitute the Pink Sox determined to fit him at third base, cheesing off Rafael Devers and setting in movement a saga we’ve written about extra instances than Statcast can depend. Nonetheless, it appeared the Pink Sox fortunes have been turning for the higher when rookie Kristian Campbell, no. 7 on our preseason Prime 100 Prospects checklist, gained the second base job throughout spring coaching, however after hitting for a 149 wRC+ in April, he sank to a -7 wRC+ in Might. He was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on June 20 with an general line of .223/.319/.345 (86 wRC+) and brutal defensive metrics at what’s admittedly a reasonably new place for him (-14 DRS, -6 FRV in simply 471.2 innings). Recently he’s been studying first base — the place the Pink Sox have misplaced Triston Casas to a season-ending knee harm — at Worcester, so he could already be out of the image right here.

David Hamilton acquired the majority of the non-Campbell work at second base till not too long ago, however he was so dreadful on the plate (.179/.229/.276, 35 wRC+) that he was optioned to Worcester final week when Bregman returned from the fitting quad pressure that knocked him out of the lineup for seven weeks. Supervisor Alex Cora not too long ago mentioned that rookie Marcelo Mayer, who shared time at third in Bregman’s absence, will now play plenty of second, however he’s hitting simply .230/.273/.416 (83 wRC+) whereas hanging out practically 30% of the time, so one imagines his leash is brief. Ceddanne Rafaela, who’s taken an enormous step ahead on the plate (.271/.313/.475, 113 wRC+) whereas additionally enjoying elite protection in heart discipline, will spot at second about as soon as every week as a means to assist alleviate the staff’s outfield logjam. Romy Gonzalez, who’s swung a scorching bat (.333/.371/.594, 157 wRC+) whereas splitting time between second and first base, will determine within the combine as effectively, although he’s tough defensively. Between these three, the Pink Sox in all probability have sufficient our bodies to type this out with out an out of doors addition, but when they’re energetic on the deadline, it might shake up this image.