The Rays officially announced the signing of catcher Jose Molina today to a one-year deal with a club option. The $1.8MM deal pays $1.5MM for Molina's 2012 salary and includes a club option at the same price for '13 with a $300K buyout. Molina jumps to the top of the Rays' depth chart, as yesterday they traded catcher John Jaso to the Mariners for reliever Josh Lueke and a player to be named later or cash considerations.
With the Rays, the 36-year-old Molina appears to have a shot at topping his season-bests of 297 plate appearances and 737 innings caught, both set in 2008 with the Yankees. Molina is known for his defense (especially in framing pitches), but in 2011 he had one of his best offensive years in a limited 191 plate appearance sample. Molina is "one of the best defensive catchers in baseball over the past decade," in the words of Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. The Blue Jays will receive a supplemental draft pick for their loss. Molina is represented by ACES.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports broke the story on November 17th, with Jon Heyman, Ken Rosenthal, and Jayson Stark adding details today.
Too bad he’s the least talented of the three. Does this means Shoppach’s days are done in Tampa?
So does this make Molina the starter? Who’s going to back him up? I guess this is an upgrade defensively, but offense….
it’s kind of funny reading some of the Ray’s blogs..they’re over the moon excited for his defense. I’m gonna miss Jose..the passed balls? Not so much.
If you had Jaso on your roster then you’d be just as excited.
I wouldn’t say I was “over the moon excited”, but I was happy. It’s a defensive upgrade from Jaso, who wouldn’t be?
Molina´s defense: GOOD
Molina´s offense: BADDDDDD
His career high in walks is 15, I think that says it all
well, that sort of depends on the number of PAs…also Pudge used to have seasons were he walked something like 15 times in 600 PA, but many of htose seasons were considered very good offense production.
What Pudge?
Jaso’s defense: BADDD
Jaso’s offense: BADDDDDDDD
I initially read this as “Rays Sign Jose Lima.” I need to go back to bed.
Lima time baby.
No……not anymore
One thing Molina has over many pitchers is that he is a great teacher…he gets along with pitchers usually and can mold young ones which is what the Tampa Bay Rays need…the guy is slow and getting older and may not be the most successful of all the Molina brothers, but defensively he is an asset
unless you consider getting down to block balls in the dirt important. He was really quite bad last season at getting down to block the breaking balls that he called for.
Jaso was almost just as bad at blocking balls, couldnt throw his replacement out, and framing pitches wasn’t in his vocabulary. Clear upgrade defensively.
I hope this doesn’t mean the Jays will have Jeroloman as a backup.
There goes John Jaso Jingleheimer Schmidt na na na na na na na na.
They obviously did not like Jaso at all.
Molina is not/should not be a starting catcher in the major leagues at this point. His offense is weak, his blocking seems quite poor, and his pudgy old-man body almost certainly wouldn’t hold up for 115-120 games.
(in response to people suggesting/thinking he will be the Rays #1 option behind the plate)
$1.5 mil salary suggests Tampa will give Molina lots of playing. It is unusual for Tampa to pay more than $1mil/WAR. Especially a backup/reserve player.
The only thing this news is really important is that the Blue Jays gets another draft pick for a backup catcher!!!
He looks an awful lot like my brother-in-law’s father, who is like 60.
Jaso’s defense worse
Jaso’s offense also bad
Jose is an upgrade on both sides of the plate BUT not a long term option for obvious reasons (age)
Jose Molina carrier slash line 241/286/344/630, and Jaso 245/340/365/705, Im not sure people understand that Molina is not good. Hes good at throwing runners out and that’s about it (and being a leader to the pitching staff if you put stock in that stuff. Rays fans will come to understand this just wait.
Their offensive stats aren’t that far off Jaso had more power but isn’t a power hitting C and Molina is much better at handling a pitching staff enough to compensate for his offensive short comings….especially limiting runners from stealing….I understand and have no problem w/ the trade Jaso and acquire Molina move….it will help where it’s needed…..
My point was that they are both back ups, Molina is fine as a back up but he would be an awful starter. Also Jaso OBP is 54 points higher that’s a lot.
Youre combining a decade to Jaso’s 1.5 years. Jaso an okay 2010 to a dismal 2011. Along with his defense I’m not sure you understand Jaso isnt really that good either. The Rays didnt get Molina for his offense, nor is that how they play. They win games with their pitching and defense. Even non Rays fans understand that.
Well a good defensive catcher.. A respectable, yet unspectacular, WAR. But yet again he is going to the Rays on the cheap.
Offense included hes 2 wins better than Jaso
This just made it easier to no hit the Rays.
It’s about the same. You’re giving Shoppach and Jaso too much credit.
Molina should be a good fit for the Rays . Will he pop 20 and drive in 85 ? No . They didn’t bring him in for his offense anyways . Now the question is , who is gunna be the other catcher ? Lobaton and Chirinos at this point at trailer trash .
Trash is a really harsh word to define Lobaton and Chirinos. One if not both has higher upside than Jaso.
now who is going to catch morrow
as long as jose doesn’t get more than half the games he should play fine. he doesn’t run well but can play the catcher position as well as his bro yadier. BOL jose
for that money , who cares