What’s the Catch?

The Orioles have a lot of questions going into the 2015 season, one of which is What is the deal with the catcher position? In fact, that is a number of questions all rolled into one. Let’s tackle them one-by-one, shall we?

Will Matt Wieters be ready for Opening Day?

This is a good question. All signs point to “no,” as Wieters works on returning from Tommy John surgery. Despite “Dr.” Scott Boras’ assurances that his client would be a go to start the season, the Orioles are taking a more conservative tact, saying that he will be ready “very close” to Opening Day. This may disrupt Wieters’ offseason and Spring Training preparation, delaying further when he would be in prime game shape.

Will Matt Wieters be able to handle a heavy workload throughout the season?

Woof. That’s a good one. From his first full season in the Majors (2010) to the 2013 season, Wieters averaged 1,150 innings behind the plate per season. His value behind the plate – both defensively, as well as a staff leader – has led manager Buck Showalter to lean heavily on Wieters. It’s uncertain at this time whether his arm will hold up to that strain, or if his production will justify such regular playing time.

Will Matt Wieters’ bat return to 2014 levels, or regress to what he’s shown throughout his career?

The real shame of Wieters’ 2014 injury is that he was finally delivering on the hype. You know… all that “Switch-Hitting Jesus in Cleats” or “Mauer with Power” stuff? Yeah, he was just that in the brief time he put in during the 2014 season. 26 games is admittedly a small sample size, but the expectations are high, for two reasons:

• The Orioles have lost some key offensive pieces (Cruz), and without bothering to replace them in the free agent market, the team will depend on big contributions from players like Wieters, who were not a factor in the AL East Champion 2014 squad.

• 2015 is Wieters’ walk year.

How long will Matt Wieters be an Oriole?

Matty Backstop is going to get paid with his next contract. Despite the fact that he never lived up to the offensive hype, he’s still one of the best catchers in the league. His power and defensive abilities will make him one of the most highly sought prizes next offseason.

Wieters is a Boras client, which means that he will be expensive, and he will be advised to test free agency. If the Orioles are unable to come to an agreement with him in-season, they cannot assume they can re-sign him afterward. That makes Wieters a candidate to be moved at the trade deadline. It doesn’t preclude him from returning to Baltimore, and assures the Orioles something for him.

If Not Wieters, then who?

As noted above, Wieters could miss considerable time recovering from injury, his playing time may diminish, or he may be traded. What other assets do the Orioles have at the catcher position, and what does each guy tell us about the Orioles’ plans?

•  Caleb Joseph had an impressive season last year, but faded down the stretch, and disappeared offensively during the playoffs. The former Eastern League MVP has the defensive chops to stick at this level, but the bat is a serious question. After initial success, Joseph failed to respond once the league made the adjustments necessary to silence his bat. He proved himself to be a capable MLB backup, but won’t stand the test of a full season, unless he takes a big step forward. That’s a big gamble for the Orioles to take.

• Nick Hundley became a free agent after the Orioles declined his option. The club had interest in reuniting with Hundley, but he signed with the Rockies on a two-year deal worth $6MM. He was “just OK” at the plate, but made his name behind the dish, where he became Chris Tillman’s personal catcher. The fact that Hundley didn’t return means that the Orioles are either comfortable with Wieters’ timetable, or that the club feels that they can get what Hundley provides at a much cheaper rate.

• Ryan Lavarnway was claimed off waivers, as the Orioles have made it clear that adding catching depth is a priority for them. What does this move mean? It means that the Wieters situation is not set, and requires backup plans. It means that the organization is not sold on Pride of Pigtown, Steve Clevenger. They have to be concerned about Clevenger’s defense, because Lavarnway has not done anything notable with a bat in the 97 games he’s logged at the Major League level.

There are a lot of questions to be answered regarding the catcher position. Unfortunately, all we can do is wait and hope. Wait for Dan Duquette’s frustrating methodical pace to pay off, and hope that Matt Wieters will answer these questions with a productive 2015.