2013 Spring Training Roster Battles: Starting Catcher

(Is the kid already being groomed?  Courtesy of Ron Antonelli/NY Daily News)

There's no denying that the Yankees downgraded at more than one position this offseason, perhaps nowhere more than at catcher.  Low 2012 batting average aside, Russell Martin was a good 2-way backstop in his two years in New York.  He brought power and patience (the top two Yankee offensive staples) to the plate, some decent speed and smarts on the basepaths, and a strong all-around defensive game behind the plate.  The Yankees' decision to not even offer him a contract this offseason was beyond puzzling, both because of the money involved in the deal he eventually did sign and because of what they had left available to pick from for a replacement.  There's no other way to say it than to just say that the Yankees have two substandard candidates for the everyday job this year, guys who are much better suited as backups than starters.  That's the decision the front office made and a decision they've stood by all offseason, for better or worse.  Now that camp has started, we'll find out who's the next in line to be the bridge to Gary Sanchez.

Yanks Better Be In On Kottaras

 (He can't be worse than Cervelli.  Courtesy of the AP)

The Yankees' involvement in trade talks with Washington had barely got off the ground last week when the Nationals swung a 3-team deal with Seattle and Oakland to trade Michael Morse to the Mariners.  He addressed their desperate need for offense without being a great fit for the system, and once again the Yankees found themselves on the outside looking in as a good right-handed bat passed them by.  But there was something else that came out of that trade that could help New York.  Oakland had to clear a 40-man roster spot to make their part of the trade work, and they did that by DFAing catcher George Kottaras, who they had just re-signed to a 1-year deal to avoid arbitration.  Their current catching situation being shaky at best, Kottaras presents the Yankees with an opportunity to add some depth and some offensive skill to the position.

Another Possible Catching Option

I have to imagine the Yankees would have been in on him if Oakland decided to non-tender him, so it was a bit of a downer when the A's tendered a contract offer to George Kottaras before Friday's deadline.  Kottaras has flown under the radar a bit the last few seasons in Milwaukee and then Oakland, but has steadily improved his offensive and defensive games to the point that he can be a useful, productive semi-everyday player.

Looking at his recent statistical profile, Kottaras projects as a mini-Russell Martin.  He doesn't hit for a lot of average (.220 career) but he can draw walks at a well above-average rate (13.1%) and has posted ISO values over .200 in each of the last 2 seasons.  He hit .211/.351/.415 (.339 wOBA) in 2012, with a 17.7% BB rate, and had 1.2 fWAR in less than half the PA of Martin.  He's not going to make any All Star Games, but Kottaras would be a better all-around catching option than anything the Yankees have in-house.

The problem is that now that he's been offered a contract, it would take a prospect to get him rather than just a small-dollar contract.  It wouldn't be a high-level prospect, but the Yankees haven't shown any outward interest in dealing anything in a trade yet this offseason.  Billy Beane is always open to a deal, though, so Kottaras is at least worth Cash putting a call in.