Latest news with #catcher
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Gauging the MLB trade market: Rich in center, poor at 2nd and short, and lacking any aces
Sean Murphy remains one of baseball's best at his position. Well above-average at the plate with strong defensive metrics behind it, Murphy is a rarity in today's game: an everyday, all-star-caliber catcher who's under contract for the next three seasons. He might not be the best player available at the trade deadline, but he certainly could be a unique one. Advertisement The market of available bats and arms will come into greater focus as the July 31 trade deadline approaches, but the potential for strengths and weaknesses is already apparent. There seem to be a lot of mid-rotation arms, but not many middle-of-the-order sluggers or middle-of-the-infield defenders. And there certainly aren't many catchers. Murphy has the seventh-highest fWAR among big league catchers — very close to being tied for fifth — and the catchers ahead of him aren't going anywhere. But the Atlanta Braves' disappointing season, along with the arrival of rookie Drake Baldwin, makes Murphy a reasonable trade candidate owed $15 million each of the next three seasons. The next-best catcher available could be Jose Trevino of the Cincinnati Reds, who's No. 2 on the depth chart and worth less than half Murphy's WAR. For teams in need of everyday help behind the plate, there's one really good catcher and perhaps not much else. It's like that at other positions, too. A lot of this, but not a lot of that. Two weeks before the trade deadline, these seem to be the relative strengths and weaknesses of the market. Even if Alex Bregman is unlikely to move, this trade market should still include Ryan O'Hearn, Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor and Ryan McMahon. All are corner infielders who can make a difference. O'Hearn is an All-Star, Suarez is on track for 40-plus homers, Naylor remains a well above-average hitter, and McMahon is a good defender with some pop. And the market at first base goes even deeper with Carlos Santana and Nathaniel Lowe as Gold Glove winners who have offensive value, and Josh Bell could be a buy-low candidate with double-digit home run potential down the stretch. Ramon Urías and Yoan Moncada could also help a needy team at third base. Advertisement Teams desperate for help at second base or shortstop might have trouble trading for even a replacement-level player. Unless the Twins dangle Willi Castro, the best middle infielder on the trade market might be Ozzie Albies, who's having a disappointing season for the Braves and doesn't even rate as a top 30 second baseman by FanGraphs WAR. One of the Urías brothers — either Ramon or Luis — might be the next-best option at second, but they've typically been utility players rather than everyday guys. Angels infielder Luis Rengifo is having a negative WAR season, but in this market, might some team take a flyer and hope for two months of offensive resurgence? As for shortstops, the only one that's come even close to making our Big Board is Isiah Kiner-Falefa, another utility type who's been at least a sound defender with enough contact ability to have some offensive value. This is especially true if the Red Sox were to move Jarren Duran — a left fielder who's capable of playing center — but even without him as a headliner, the center fielder market could include Cedric Mullins, Harrison Bader, Alek Thomas and Luis Robert. None of these have been massive bats, but Bader is having a resurgent season at the plate and offers above-average offense with some power. Mullins and Thomas have been above replacement level, too, and Robert is an immense talent that might be worth a gamble despite his awful 2025 numbers. Each of these center fielders has a different skillset that might fit a different team. Again, Duran would be a headliner for teams looking to acquire impact in an outfield corner, and his teammate Wilyer Abreu would also provide legitimate impact, but if the Red Sox don't move either of their left-handed corner outfielders, the best bet on the trade market is probably Taylor Ward of the Angels, and even he's not top 25 in wRC+ or fWAR among big league outfielders. The lack of a can't-miss outfield bat could raise the profile of Bryan Reynolds, who has almost $80 million remaining on his contract and started this season slow — he still has a negative WAR for the year — but he has a solid track record and had a better month of June. Even Adolis Garcia, known for his power, has been a below-average hitter the past two seasons. Given such limited supply, quality role players like Ramon Laureano, Austin Hays, Randal Grichuk, Jesus Sanchez and trade deadline staple Tommy Pham could also see their value rise. (Considering Marcell Ozuna has played two games in the outfield the past three years, we're assuming he's locked into a DH-only territory.). Advertisement Are you looking to fill out your rotation to get you to October? Well, you've got a range of options, including three different varieties of Zachary. You can go with Zack Littell, Zach Eflin or eschew every baseball writer's hesitation after typing the first three letters there and go with Zac Gallen. (We should apologize to Littell here; his given name is, in fact, Zack and not Zachary.) The point is, if you feel good about the top of your rotation but uneasy after that, there are plenty of choices here. Mitch Keller can be your No. 3 for a half-decade, Nick Martinez for eight weeks. Lucas Giolito, Andrew Heaney, Tyler Anderson, Michael Soroka – they'd improve most every team's fourth- or fifth-starter situation. You know which Zachary isn't available? The one who's as good as any pitcher in baseball in Zack Wheeler. And there's basically nobody in or even near Wheeler's class that you'd feel good about acquiring and penciling in to be a Game 1 or even Game 2 starter in October. Wheeler's old teammate, Seth Lugo, is probably the best pitcher who might move, while former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara might be the one with the highest ceiling in 2025 — if he can put it all together. Does Merrill Kelly change how you feel about your team in a short series? Some of the biggest deadline moves ever have involved ace starting pitchers changing uniforms. Think Randy Johnson or CC Sabathia or David Price or David Price (again) or Max Scherzer. That ain't happening this year. Of course, one alternative to aid a flagging rotation is to shorten games on the back end, and you might have better luck there this July. Interestingly, a lot of the best relief arms that could move have multiple years of team control. David Bednar has shown 2024 to be an aberration; on a Pittsburgh team thinking of trading just about everyone, he looks like a sure bet to move. The Twins probably won't deal both Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax, but either can change the way your team gets the final six outs of a playoff game. The Guardians should at least ponder moving Emmanuel Clase, given the strength they possess throughout their bullpen and the year-after-year weakness their offense remains. Maybe your goals aren't as grand this deadline. Maybe all you want is a guy who helps alleviate the anxiety of seeing Shohei Ohtani or Bryce Harper or Kyle Tucker or Juan Soto coming to the plate in the seventh inning with a man on. Maybe all you want is a good lefty, and like a dozen of those guys move every deadline, right? Advertisement Umm… Aroldis Chapman and Reid Detmers are overqualified for this job description, and it would probably be a surprise if either were dealt this month. But beyond those two, there's not a lot to love on the lefty market. Texas' Hoby Milner, Pittsburgh's Caleb Ferguson, Minnesota's Danny Coulombe and Baltimore's Gregory Soto – you can tell we're reaching because we had to remind you which team they're all on this year – are probably the best of what might move. How good are you feeling with them opposite Freddie Freeman in a big spot? (Top photo of Sean Murphy: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers draft power-hitting C Michael Oliveto with No. 34 pick in 2025 MLB Draft
The Detroit Tigers selected catcher Michel Oliveto from Hauppauge High School in New York on Sunday, July 13, in Atlanta with the No. 34 overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft, in the Competitive Balance Round A. Oliveto is a 6-foot-3 catcher from Smithtown, New York, who attended high school on Long Island. MLB teams were reportedly impressed by his hitting, showing signs of major-league power at an event in Jupiter, Florida, in the fall. Advertisement 'Nobody was on him until the fall,' ESPN analyst Kiley McDaniel said. 'He went to an event in Jupiter, hit against a bunch of good pitching. Immediately, all the SEC and ACC teams line up.' Oliveto didn't opt for any of the baseball powerhouse schools, though, instead committing to Yale. Potentially related: He is a Rubik's Cube whiz. Oliveto didn't hit especially well for power during his senior season. MLB Pipeline ranked him ranked 219th, with doubts about his power-hitting ability . In the spring, when MLB teams tested his bat speed and athleticism at the combine, the evidence was not necessarily there to indicate he could continue it. Advertisement 'They're like, 'We have no evidence this guy can hit velo except for that event in Jupiter, but it looked so good, we're just gonna take a shot at it,'' McDaniel said. 'I don't think anybody really thinks he's got a great chance of being a catcher, but there's a chance he might just be a right fielder, but this is a potential .260 with 30 homers. It's just – you gotta guess. There's a big error bar here. Anything could happen." [ NEW TIGERS NEWSLETTER! Sign up for The Purr-fect Game, a weekly dose of Tigers news, numbers and analysis for Freep subscribers, here. ] Oliveto is the second Competitive Balance Round A pick selected by Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris. In 2023, Harris selected shortstop Kevin McGonigle at No. 37 overall out of high school in Pennsylvania. McGonigle is the franchise's top prospect. With their first pick in the 2025 draft, at No. 24 overall, the Tigers selected Florida high school shortstop Jordan Yost, a late-blooming left-handed hitter committed to the University of Florida, where his brother plays. Advertisement FOLLOW ALONG: 2025 MLB Draft tracker: Every player drafted in first round on Day 1 The Tigers' next pick comes in the second round, at No. 62 overall. The No. 34 pick comes with a recommended bonus slot value of $2,827,300, though teams can exceed that to sign picks as long as they do not exceed their total bonus pool. (The Tigers' first-round slot, at No. 24, featured a slot value of $3,726,300.) If the Tigers sign the No. 32 pick for less than slot, those savings can be applied to picks later in the draft. The Tigers have $10,990,800 to spend on their 21 draft picks this year, the 17th-most in baseball. Celebrate 125 seasons of the Tigers with our new book! Advertisement Teams are allowed to exceed the allotment for picks by 5% before paying a 75% fine on the overage. No MLB team has exceeded the 5% limit since the slots were created. Day 1 of the draft features the first three rounds, with Day 2 on Monday, July 14, featuring Rounds 4-20, beginning at 11:30 a.m. on TRENDING: Tigers players aren't worried about deportation but union suggests they carry documents Follow the best Tigers coverage all-year round at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers pick Michael Oliveto in 2025 MLB Draft at No. 34 overall
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mississippi State baseball lands Seton Hall catcher Kevin Milewski in transfer portal
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball landed what could be its starting catcher for next season out of the transfer portal. Kevin Milewski, a catcher from Seton Hall, committed to the Bulldogs and new coach Brian O'Connor on June 21. He announced the news with a post on X, saying "Home" while tagging the MSU account with photos of him in a maroon Mississippi State jersey. The sophomore started 52 games this season and batted .303 with 16 home runs and 58 RBIs. Advertisement He is not eligible for the MLB draft until 2026. MSU was in need of a catcher with Joe Powell out of eligibility and Ross Highfill in the transfer portal. Virginia's Chone James committed to MSU in the transfer portal as an infielder/catcher, but he mostly played designated hitter last season. Meanwhile, catcher Jackson Owen announced a return to Mississippi State after entering the transfer portal, but he made only one start this season and six appearances. Milewski, a right-handed bat from Wallingford, Connecticut, is the 11th commitment to Mississippi State since the transfer portal opened on June 2. He is one of seven position players, joining Chone, outfielders James Nunnallee (Virginia), Vytas Valinius (Illinois), Aidan Teel (Virginia) and infielder Ryder Woodson (NC State). He's also the second commitment of the day, following South Carolina pitcher Tyler Pitzer. Advertisement MORE: Mississippi State football recruiting: Tracking 2026 commits for Jeff Lebby Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@ and follow him on X @sklarsam_. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Seton Hall's Kevin Milewski transferring to Mississippi State baseball
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mississippi State baseball, Brian O'Connor land George Mason's Andrew Raymond in transfer portal
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball landed a second catcher in the transfer portal on July 10. Andrew Raymond, who was a freshman at George Mason in 2025, committed to the Bulldogs. He announced it with posts on X and Instagram. Raymond started 50 games last season, batting .287 with five home runs and 33 RBIs to make the All-Atlantic 10 Rookie Team. The Middletown, Maryland, native was part of the George Mason team that set an NCAA record with 23 runs in one inning. Raymond doubled, walked, reached on an error, drove in three runs and scored three times in the second inning against Holy Cross. Advertisement George Mason also listed Raymond as a right-handed pitcher on its roster, but he did not pitch in any games in 2025. Raymond joins Seton Hall's Kevin Milewski as the second catcher to commit to MSU in the transfer portal. The two of them could be MSU's top two catchers in 2026, especially with starter Joe Powell out of eligibility and Ross Highfill transferred to Purdue. Jackson Owen, another catcher with eligibility left, withdrew his name from the transfer portal but he only appeared in six games last season with one start. Virginia transfer Chone James is rostered as a catcher/infielder, but none of his 15 starts in 2025 were at catcher. Raymond and Milewski are both not eligible for the MLB draft, which begins July 13. The Bulldogs are now up to 16 commitments from the transfer portal since new coach Brian O'Connor was hired on June 1. Advertisement O'Connor told The Clarion Ledger on July 3 that catcher was one of Mississippi State's remaining needs, also mentioning an infielder and "athletic bat" in the outfield. MORE: Could Oklahoma hire Mississippi State's Zac Selmon as athletic director? Here's what it would take Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@ and follow him on X @sklarsam_. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball: George Mason's Andrew Raymond transfers
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson dodged a tag with insane slide
Catchers aren't known for being the fastest. They also aren't known for being the most evasive. Tyler Stephenson needed to make sure he had one of those skills on Sunday, or the Cincinnati Reds catcher would've been dead meat at second base. Advertisement He certainly didn't have enough speed. Stephenson was thrown out by a bunch. Except, then he pulled out one of the coolest slide-dodge moves you'll ever see. Safe. MORE: Mariners' switch-pitcher shows off both arms at Futures Game To go into the slide itself and manage to bounce right out of it around the tag is really cool. Most of the slide dodges you see come on headfirst slides that feature some kind of swim move with the hands. Not this one. Stephenson just scooted right on by. MORE MLB NEWS:
