A Look At The Free Agent Catcher Market

sounds like you are in full rebuild mode.....and, if you are punting next year, you are saying they have a 3 year window, good luck with that all working out.

what I am saying is that half measures are what the Twins have been doing the last several years.  Also the Wild, just good enough to compete not good enough to win it all.  I am endorsing a path that has a chance of winning it all.  Twins have enough talent that while painful could punt the second round draft pick.  Do not see Twins developing enough pitching internally to get to the next level(hope they not be realistic about the chances).  You have to trade or buy pitching to compete and how many of the Twins current pitchers could you see on a pennant winning team.  My estimate at the current time is 2 maybe 3.  That leaves 9 -10 spots to fill and hope maybe half will be filled internally.  That leaves about 5 to sign or trade for. That is a big task, so we need to get going.

And how does signing Castro hurt that, assuming he stays a very good defensive catcher? that's what we are talking about...right?

Because he becomes a block to finding out what you have in either Garver or Murphy.  Both need to play next year with the Twins.  If neither work out then you look for a catcher.  I much rather put dollar assets into pitching that is both younger and with several years of control.  The Twins hitting could be ready to compete by 2018, but pitching looks like a much longer track.  My moves would be to bring both at the same time.

Twins payroll at the end of 2018 will be very low, so putting major assets into the staff should be a priority, not into a 2 or 3 year aging catcher.

Just one man's opinion.....

Overall, I'm not a believer is this whole "blocking" thing.  If the "up and comer" can't get playing time due to someone else "blocking" them, I'd have to question the skills of that "up and comer". 

Because he becomes a block to finding out what you have in either Garver or Murphy.  Both need to play next year with the Twins.  If neither work out then you look for a catcher.  I much rather put dollar assets into pitching that is both younger and with several years of control.  The Twins hitting could be ready to compete by 2018, but pitching looks like a much longer track.  My moves would be to bring both at the same time.

Twins payroll at the end of 2018 will be very low, so putting major assets into the staff should be a priority, not into a 2 or 3 year aging catcher.

They can sign Castro and not break the bank doing it, and also if Garver or Murphy play and earn time, then they will play. The coaches have seen both of them and scouted both of them for years. If they are not ready, they are not ready. Garver isn't going to magically become Johnny Bench by playing in the pros when he hasn't shown enough in the minors to earn a call-up yet.

Plus, you realize, they can spend 20-30 million on Castro, and still not even get close to the amount of resources they have to pursue pitching in every/all avenues. Pursuing a major league caliber catcher (which they don't currently have) doesn't mean they can't also pursue pitching.

what I am saying is that half measures are what the Twins have been doing the last several years.  Also the Wild, just good enough to compete not good enough to win it all.  I am endorsing a path that has a chance of winning it all.  Twins have enough talent that while painful could punt the second round draft pick.  Do not see Twins developing enough pitching internally to get to the next level(hope they not be realistic about the chances).  You have to trade or buy pitching to compete and how many of the Twins current pitchers could you see on a pennant winning team.  My estimate at the current time is 2 maybe 3.  That leaves 9 -10 spots to fill and hope maybe half will be filled internally.  That leaves about 5 to sign or trade for. That is a big task, so we need to get going.

I completely agree with the half measure sentiment, but I don't think the catching situation falls into that category. I have zero confidence that Murphy will be anything other than a fringe backup at this point, and Garver hasn't seen any time with the Twins. If he can force his way into a platoon in the lineup then great, but signing an everyday FA catcher would be huge for this team. Filling the need at catcher doesn't preclude the Twins from finding help for the pitching staff.

Josmil Pinto is available again.  Cleared waivers and sent to AAA Colorado Springs.  Split time between catcher and first base while hitting a strong .308/.362/.517 in 315 plate appearances with 11 home runs.

No, but do not spend resources on players that will not be here in 3 years.  That is why I am in favor of signing an ace reliever and an ace starter next offseason.  Do not waste money on players just to get a little better next year.

I read a couple of your posts and spot on, but with a caveat.  If the player is worth and may not be here in 3 years because you have an prospect to replace him and get value in return.

But for the love of God and the Hamm's Bear, don't throw money at fringe players...

Which is why I am against Castro unless he can hit at least 1/4 of the time.  .215 average, we have that kind of impact already.

I read a couple of your posts and spot on, but with a caveat.  If the player is worth and may not be here in 3 years because you have an prospect to replace him and get value in return.

But for the love of God and the Hamm's Bear, don't throw money at fringe players...

Which is why I am against Castro unless he can hit at least 1/4 of the time.  .215 average, we have that kind of impact already.

Here is Castro's stat line from last year when he only faced right handed pitching...

231/331/426 for a .757 OPS. That is really good for a catcher especially. He also had a 12.9% walk rate, something this team could absolutely use more of.

He was not good against left handed starters. He hit lefties (as a right handed hitter) to the tune of 149/237/241, with an ops of .478.

If Castro starts the majority of games (because there are more right handed pitchers in baseball than left handed) and is paired with another catcher who can hit lefties well, the catching position will be just fine on the offensive side of the ball. What Castro brings to the table in terms of defense and pitch framing makes this a no brainer.

Make Mauer catch. Let one of the kids play first base. BOOM.

I absolutely disagree with this. Someone like Castro can come in and help the young pitching staff improve over the next two years or so (maybe 3) and then he can also help work with Murphy/Garver etc. It's not like the catcher position is only one guy. But, trusting every single position on your team to young players, especially when they don't have quality veterans to look up to and work with, that doesn't help.

Centeno does not belong on a MLB roster.

Yes.  Regardless of the readiness of Garver and Murphy, bringing in a veteran would be money well spent.  Young Mauer had the benefit of several veteran catchers to back him up and provide guidance, and that seemed to work out OK.  No?

And if Murphy isn't ready (likely) and Garver isn't ready (the Twins might not be ready to promote him just yet, regardless of whether or not he can do it), the Twins would have something other than an open tire fire behind the plate.