TC in Mississippi
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He's not represent by Boras and how do you figure that the Twins aren't a threat to contend? They were a WC team a year ago and could be better this year.
He's not represent by Boras and how do you figure that the Twins aren't a threat to contend? They were a WC team a year ago and could be better this year.
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My favorite teams
IMO, the Twins have little chance to beat the Indians, Red Sox, Yankees or Astros in a seven game series
anotheridiot
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Either way it seems like another Fowler is back deal at spring training. It neither of these guys take these guaranteed deals, will they want to do a one year deal for 30 somewhere.
chibears55
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Avila signs with Dbacks...
Looking more and more im right about Caratini going North
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Looking more and more im right about Caratini going North
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beckdawg
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Think Gimenez is more likely to start the season in the majors than Caratini at this point with or without Darvish. Caratini is potentially a "better" player but as a young player you want him batting every day not stuck on the bench for at least 2/3 of the games and probably more given Contreras isn't particularly bad vs RHP. Gimenez you really don't give a **** about giving PAs to and he's a fairly strong defensive replacement type with his framing.
chibears55
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Ehhh..
i really believe they only signed him for Darvish...
If they dont get Darvish , it wouldn't surprise me if they cut him in ST..
He 35
Caratini being a SH gives Maddon more flexibility with him playing him at C 1B etc...
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CSF77
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Back up catchers are D first. Add to it having a starter learning the trade and a back up knowing less is plain dumb. You want 1 vet out of the two to mentor.
At the end of the day we are talking 100-200 PA’s and that might be a reach with Contreras playing just about every game. Cartiani would be there just in case of injury to Contreras. Same situation. Still a vet back up to help mold him.
anotheridiot
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Yeah, I convinced myself that they signed Ross for Lester, but at the end, the guy that pestered him most about playing in chicago was Rizzo
beckdawg
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Rizzo played 155 and 157 games the past 2 seasons. Unless he gets hurt he's not going to miss many games. You don't really need someone to play 1B and even then you have other guys to do it. The other thing is you don't want 2 catchers under 26. Handling a staff is a big deal so having someone Contreras can lean on for experience is important. Plus, being one of the better framers, Gimenez can help Contreras with that aspect of his game.
CSF77
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Darvish is going to go where he wants to in the end. If he has to take a discount it will be at a place that he feel the most comfortable at.
Having a personal catcher is a small thing when compared to factors that affect his quality of life.
I get why that he would want LAD or the Rangers. Comfort as he has been there. LA has the largest Japanese community in America. Rangers he has lived there and would be no transition.
The Cubs would have to meet his demands for him to sign. There is no personal connection other than signing a catcher. Sure it is a nice offer but we are talking about a major change into a unknown environment for him. Cubs have to stand out or give it up and deal with Cobb IMO
TC in Mississippi
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There is no way they cut him. they signed him to a minor league deal. If Caratini plays to the level where you cannot leave him off the roster, than sure maybe Gimenez ends up in Iowa as a shuttle player, but ideally you want your backup to be a defensive player.
chibears55
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I get the defensive blah blah blah and having a vet and all..
Guy gonna be 35 and yea i get being a back up catcher offense isnt a high necessity but he gotta provide something throughout the year besides catching the ball...
His defense cant be that great..
Maddon likes to keep a short bench so vesatility is good for him and also having a bat on bench who can hit a bit..
We'll see how it works out
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Guy gonna be 35 and yea i get being a back up catcher offense isnt a high necessity but he gotta provide something throughout the year besides catching the ball...
His defense cant be that great..
Maddon likes to keep a short bench so vesatility is good for him and also having a bat on bench who can hit a bit..
We'll see how it works out
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CSF77
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He has also carried 3 catchers. Diffrent animal.
TC in Mississippi
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Again though your statement was that if they don't sign Darvish they could cut him. Unless he flat out blows that makes zero sense since he's signed to a minor league deal. If you figure Caratini makes the club but then struggles at the plate in limited time you have an option in Gimenez hanging out 35 minutes away by air. It's no risk so there's no reason to cut him. That was my point.
chibears55
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I said it wouldnt surprise me...
Yea they can keep him in minors if Darvish dont sign and they prefer Caratini ..
He 35, im sure they can add someone a bit younger to catch there..
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beckdawg
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Cut & paste David Ross over Gimenez's name in this conversation. I mean this is literally the conversation people complained about with Ross. And let's be frank here, it's not like he provides you literally nothing with his bat. He'll hit for a horrible average most likely but even last year he had a .350 OBP and was a 100 wRC+. Caratini in an admittedly short sample only had a .333 OBP and 81 wRC+ in the majors. Now I'm not trying to sell Caratini down the river here. He hit really well in AAA. He's a career .289/.369/.426 in the minors so think it's not really even a question he provides you a better bat. But A) Neither Caratini nor Gimenez is starting and B) Caratini's defense as a catcher still needs a lot of work. He came up through the ranks as a 3B and only converted to being a C when the cubs traded for him in 2015.
Ultimately it doesn't fucking matter. Contreras is probably playing 120+ games at C next year. Gimenez is only going to start vs certain RHP as he hit .229/.368/.385 last year vs RHP and .208/.322/.377 vs LHP. For reference here, Contreras crushes LHP(137 wRC+ last year) and more than holds his own vs RHP(.274/.339/.489 and 114 wRC+) but at 108 wRC+ vs RHP it's not like there's a huge fall off for Gimenez and while you could argue Caratini provides more with his bat, I can't help but point out that without Montero and without Ross the cubs pitching staff had their ERA balloon quite a bit likely because Contreras isn't a particularly great framer. He's not horrid at it but its not a strength either. Caratini would be worse than Contreras.
TC in Mississippi
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All good points. I'll boil it down to this; The cubs have one of the best young catchers in the game who is going to start 120-130 games, Caratini is a nice guy to have and if he performs well and wins the backup role he does provide a nice PH possibility and some positional flexibility, but Gimenez could not be more ideal to have either as the backup or as a shuttle guy from AAA. He fits every measure of that position for this team Darvish or no friggin' Darvish. To say he doesn't is not paying attention.
DanTown
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Caratini is the backup to Contreras in the sense that he would most likely become the starter due to an injury but to have him as a backup on the roster is doing nothing to help the team out. It's better for Contreras to have a veteran catcher to go over game planning, calling a game, etc than it is to have a younger and more inexperienced backup and it does nothing to help Caratini learn the position to sit most games and rarely get any catching.
You're not signing JImmenez or any vet backup C to start them in case of an injury; you're signing them to do the things that you don't see on the field.
You're not signing JImmenez or any vet backup C to start them in case of an injury; you're signing them to do the things that you don't see on the field.
chibears55
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No reason to boil over here...
I just dont think he'll last, especially if they dont land Darvish..
Just my opinion [emoji16]
As far as Ross goes, Ross had a whole lot more connection going on..
Not just with Lester but also the front office...
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anotheridiot
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They even found a way to tie Jonathan Lucroy to the cubs on MLB trade rumors this morning so there are even battier ideas out there.
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