The Rays Swap Out Their Catchers as the Brewers Add Depth Behind the Dish

The Rays have shuffled up their catchers just some days earlier than the commerce deadline, first sending their starter Danny Jansen to the Brewers together with some money in return for infielder Jadher Areinamo. Then, Tampa Bay adopted it up with a second swap, this time bringing in Nick Fortes from the Marlins for outfielder Matthew Etzel.

Whereas Jansen’s bat has fallen off considerably from his 2021-2023 seasons, when he posted a 120 wRC+ over 754 plate appearances for six.0 WAR, he’s nonetheless an satisfactory a part of a catching tandem and offers the occasional round-tripper. He’s slashing .204/.314/.389 with 11 dwelling runs and a 98 wRC+ this season. His framing numbers have been down significantly the previous couple of years, as effectively, sufficient to knock off slightly below a WAR per season or so from his general worth. Contemplating the Rays had been virtually sure to pay out Jansen’s $500,000 buyout reasonably than choose up their aspect of a $12 million mutual possibility, this appears like them getting what they’ll whereas the getting was good.

Areinamo’s swing is fascinating to look at, one thing that my colleague Eric Longenhagen mentioned in his Rays prospect rundown. To me, his swing appears a bit like a cross between somebody swinging a claymore in a Recreation of Thrones battlefield scene and Tremendous Macho Man organising a punch within the unique Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! for the Nintendo.

He’s an aggressive slap hitter who will discover an occasional homer, and he’s acquired vital time on the three non-first base infield positions. Milwaukee has been actually sluggish to advertise him, sending him again to Excessive-A regardless of a extremely strong 2024 offensive line. He’s not a formidable defender, however the Rays have a superb document of discovering methods to make use of these Island of Misfit Toys-type gamers.

Areinamo really will get a really younger Jose Altuve as his no. 2 comp statistically, but additionally a number of gamers who’re far, far inferior to Altuve — Tommy Helms, Miguel Cairo, and Luis Rivas are most likely the very best of the remainder of the highest 20.

The Brewers, in the meantime, introduced in Jansen to bolster their catching depth for the stretch run of the season. That is necessary contemplating the starter, William Contreras, has seen his bat disappear in his age-27 season, probably largely as a result of he’s been enjoying all yr with a damaged finger. Regardless of the ache, he’s nonetheless main all catchers in defensive innings. At this level, there’s no cause to consider Contreras goes to cease enjoying due to that finger; even so, Jansen represents a serious improve over present backup Eric Haase and will present high quality innings behind the plate every time Milwaukee decides to offer Contreras a break. Jansen doesn’t straight support the Brewers of their battle with the Cubs, however he’s a reasonably low-risk participant who’s value having round.

The Rays, who stay within the thick of the AL Wild Card race, wasted no time in choosing up Fortes from the Marlins. He’s of comparable worth to Jansen however is available in a little bit of a unique package deal: Fortes offers quite a bit much less offense however far more protection.

Crucially, as a result of these are the Rays, he additionally comes with a lighter wage and three extra years of membership management earlier than he hits free company. It’s unlikely that Fortes will assume the beginning job, as Tampa Bay will most likely use him and Matt Thaiss in a comparatively even timeshare. I additionally suspect that neither catcher will likely be on the roster subsequent yr. As a substitute, I feel there’s a superb probability the group will take a severe take a look at Dominic Keegan in 2026, at the least as the pinnacle of a catching tandem. Keegan’s no elite prospect, however he appears like he’ll stick at catcher, even when he most likely received’t acquire any Gold Glove awards. He’s hit wherever he’s been because the Rays drafted him within the fourth spherical in 2022, and he has a 118 wRC+ for Triple-A Durham throughout 140 plate appearances this yr. Downside is, he additionally missed a lot of the first two months of this season with an elbow damage. Contemplating this, it makes extra sense to offer him as a lot improvement time as attainable in a full-time position within the minors this yr, reasonably than calling him as much as be a part-time participant within the majors. Fortes isn’t an inspiring catcher, however the Rays know what they’ll get from him, and he’s exactly the kind of participant they want as they stability contending within the quick time period with long-term success.

The Marlins don’t prefer to spend cash, particularly not after they’re within the early phases of a rebuild, and Fortes was more and more wanting just like the odd man out and a attainable non-tender candidate this fall. Miami has a number of issues, however catching isn’t actually certainly one of them. With the Marlins going nowhere this season, they’re rightly all in favour of giving the power-hitting Agustín Ramírez as many alternatives as attainable behind the plate to see if he can deal with catching on the main league degree. Joe Mack is correct behind Ramírez, and there’s no query that he can deal with the defensive necessities of the place. And behind Mack is Ryan Ignoffo in Double-A, who appears like a extremely competent defensive catcher whose offense has but to hit a wall as he will get promoted by way of the minors.

Heading to the Marlins for Fortes is outfielder Etzel, a 2023 Orioles draft choose who was traded at the least yr’s deadline, together with two different prospects, to the Rays for Zach Eflin. Etzel is a little bit of an extended shot as a full-time starter, as his energy hasn’t actually developed, and for a participant who depends on having a strong batting common, he has reasonably mediocre contact numbers. However he does boast above-average pace and might at the least credibly play heart subject even when it’s not his forte. It’s not out of the realm of presumably that he exhibits up for the Marlins in just a few years and will get some enjoying time as a reserve outfielder.