Passan: Twins to Sign Catcher Alex Avila

I like this move. If we can't bring back Castro, this is the next best thing. Jeffers should be ready for 2021.

I wasn't initially a fan of this signing because of his K issues but his K rate is closer to 30% versus right handers so I can live with that especially with his excellent walk rate.  Alex looks like a solid platoon mate with Garver and it sounds like his defense has improved as well.  Solid pickup for the Bomba squad.

Solid backup catcher.

Thanks TTKiller for the mention of his defense.  He fits well with Garver as a left handed hitter.  Although I seem to recall that he was very good defensively back whenever playing with the Tigers, I wasn't certain that was true.  If it is it fits perfectly with Garver starting 90+ games a year, Avila at 50+ and Astudillo getting 10-20 starts at some point during the year.

"It's not a perfect comp, as Castro has more power and is the better defender, but Avila will provide the Twins with a veteran presence who is adept at getting on base."  So are we getting better?

The rotation is about to be lead by Berrios, Oddorizzi, Pineda, ?,?  Is that better?  Cron is gone, no answer is provided yet.  Has the BP improved?  Now we have a second catcher that is good, but not quite as good as the last one.  

So where is the forward momentum?  

Time for a big one.

Meh... He fills a need, is cheap and is only signed for one year but not excited about him.

Should be good enough as the backup catcher. Let him play vs. right hand pitchers and it'll be alright.

If Garver gets hurt and Avila is the starter for a while, I won't be real jazzed up.

"It's not a perfect comp, as Castro has more power and is the better defender, but Avila will provide the Twins with a veteran presence who is adept at getting on base." So are we getting better?

 

The rotation is about to be lead by Berrios, Oddorizzi, Pineda, ?,? Is that better? Cron is gone, no answer is provided yet. Has the BP improved? Now we have a second catcher that is good, but not quite as good as the last one.

 

So where is the forward momentum?

Time for a big one.

The current alternative is Austudillo. Yes, this move made them better.

"So are we getting better?

I would say after the performance of our catcher platoon last year holding serve there is quite good. Also while Castro may have the slight edge at framing Avila guns em down better so a wash.

I really liked Vogt if not Castro, as I stated in the other thread, but this is a fine move for 1 yr. Solid, experienced, some power, and just a decent compliment to Garver.

"It's not a perfect comp, as Castro has more power and is the better defender, but Avila will provide the Twins with a veteran presence who is adept at getting on base."  So are we getting better?

 

The rotation is about to be lead by Berrios, Oddorizzi, Pineda, ?,?  Is that better?  Cron is gone, no answer is provided yet.  Has the BP improved?  Now we have a second catcher that is good, but not quite as good as the last one.  

 

So where is the forward momentum?  

Time for a big one.

2 more SP spots and Cron's spot left to get better. I still expect one of those SP to be filled by who we already have.

So far you are right in that we are not better.  We have some everyday players who it wouldn't surprise if we see some regression. I don't see Odo or Pineda being as good either. Berrios I think will be even better. We lost a few coaches too. CWS is better, and even if they don't win the Central yet will be a harder W when they are played.

Good move. I like this guy as a backup catcher. I am very curious though why more effort wasn't put into retaining Castro? Last year's catching situation was flat out, the best in baseball, offensively anyway. 

2 more SP spots and Cron's spot left to get better. I still expect one of those SP to be filled by who we already have.

 

So far you are right in that we are not better.  We have some everyday players who it wouldn't surprise if we see some regression. I don't see Odo or Pineda being as good either. Berrios I think will be even better. We lost a few coaches too. CWS is better, and even if they don't win the Central yet will be a harder W when they are played.

 Yes, its likely some will regress but so much depends on Sano and Buxton coming in, doing well and staying healthy.    That would make up for some regression from others.    Might not be record breaking but should still be a good offense.    Rosario could improve.     Another year from surgery says Pineda should be better and fresher once the suspension ends.   I have less faith in Berrios than I do in Odorizzi and Pineda.     I would have had a lot of confidence in our pen if Dyson wasn't a bust but still more than going into last year.   I have lots of confidence that Dobnak, Graterol and Smeltzer can improve on what Perez and Gibson gave us.   I don;t expect them to win 100 but I expect them to contend which is enough to make me look forward to the season.

Solid move at roughly half the cost of Castro's 2019 salary!

"The answer is money, right?"

I expect that is so. We're saving up for the big free agent investment that, when all is said and done, we won't make. Not that management didn't try to spend that money; they just couldn't find anyone to take it. 

Look on the bright side, though. Money unspent at the end of the season goes into the owners pockets, never to be seen again by the team or fans. That will provide fodder for another long offseason of fan vs pocket protector commentary on these boards.

Castro didn't get a single AB in the post-season and I wouldn't be surprised if (fingers crossed on a return in 2020) Avila is the same.

A solid signing at a decent price for a non-premium role on the team.

I notice there hasn't been a single mention of his stats on base stealing.

I'm not really concerned (though I always want a gunner for that), but it's telling of how we both rate defense these days and how few teams run.

I do think it was a bit a bit of a liability last year between Castro/Garver. Just not a serious one since nobody bothers with basestealing anyway.

The answer is money, right? 

Most likely. This guy is actually gonna be a pretty good backup catcher. But I just don't know why you would mess with something that went so extremely well for you last year. Especially when you know Castro isn't going to command a ton of cash. Now, he might want to start somewhere and then that is totally acceptable. To not bring him back though because he was gonna cost a little extra dough though is inexcusable.