Free agent backstop Stephen Vogt has scheduled a workout this week, according to ESPN.com’s Jeff Passan (via Twitter). Back in December, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reported (Twitter link) that Vogt was planning to play in 2019.
Uncertainty had arisen in the wake of major shoulder surgery that cost the 34-year-old the entirety of the 2018 season. With at least seven clubs reportedly showing some level of interest, and Vogt’s recovery evidently going well, he obviously decided to proceed with a comeback attempt.
The outlook remains unclear for Vogt, a late-blooming performer who was for a brief stretch among the game’s best-hitting catchers. Though he was never considered a standout defender, and generally struggled against left-handed pitching, Vogt thrived against righties (in 2014 and 2015, particularly) with the A’s. He landed with the Brewers after a rough opening to the 2017 season, ultimately turning in a solid run — .254/.281/.508 with eight home runs in 129 plate appearances — to end the year.
The Milwaukee organization thought enough of Vogt’s prospects to agree to a $3.065MM salary with him for the 2018 campaign, though that did fall well shy of his projected arbitration earning capacity. It seems likely that Vogt will have to settle for a minor-league deal after his long layoff, particularly since it’s still not clear whether he’ll be ready to be a full participant in camp, though his workout will assuredly go a long way toward determining the offers he receives. Vogt will presumably hold the most appeal to teams that like the idea of bolstering their bench with a powerful, lefty hitter who is capable of suiting up behind the dish.
A’s
Get that money!
Giants
perhaps the Phillies might be looking for a backup behind Alfaro if they think Knapp is regressing and/or not ready.
i wouldnt be against a Minor League deal. id rather have him than Knapp at the current time.
plz A’s i don’t trust Hermann
But you trust a guy who didn’t play last year and the last year he did play was not good by any means?
I’d take a flier on him if I need a backup catcher/bench bat. Or if I was rebuilding, since he could have some deadline value if he’s healthy
At this point there’s no risk.
Replace Gary Sanchez.
Vogt is one of those guys who is hurt by the huge bullpens now. I remember when team carried three catchers – the starter, his defense-minded backup and then a guy who could hit and do a passable job behind the plate. Vogt was that kind of guy. Teams almost never carry three catchers anymore and bat-first catcher like Vogt get shut out because of it. I’m truly hoping for roster expansion in the next CBA, not just to improve player salaries but also to increase on-field strategy and flexibility.
When did the bulk teams carry 3 catchers at a time? I am 23 years old and have been watching/following baseball as far back as I can remember and I don’t remember a time where it was normal. In fact, more teams carry 3 catchers now than when I was growing up.
I don’t recall either.
“I am 23” is all you needed to type. It was in the 90s and late 80s that most teams carried three catchers. Before then, it was common.
The giants carried 3 last year posey Hundley and Sandoval(more super utility) don’t think Sandoval had to catch but he did end up pitching a perfect inning !
Look at the teams projected to carry 3 catchers this year: RedSox: Vazquez/Leon/Swihart
Diamondbacks: Carson Kelly, JR Murphy, Alex Avila,
Reds: Tucker Barnhart, Curt Casali, Conner Joe
Rockies: Chris Iannatta, Tony Wolters, Tom Murphy
Brewers: Yasmani Grandal, Manny Piña, Erik Kratz
Giants: Buster Posey, Aramis Garcia and Cameron Rupp
The Brewers will probably not carry 3 catchers. Kratz or Pina will most likely be dealt or stashed in AAA. Not sure about the other teams, but just because they have 3 catchers on their 40-man rosters doesn’t mean they will carry all 3 on the 25 man MLB roster.
Doubt any of those teams carry all three, honestly. Unless the catcher can cover another position it’s just too hard to pull off. I mean, in the AL teams carry 9 starting players, 5 starters, 7 bullpen pitchers, that leaves 4 bench slots – I can’t imagine they’d use two of those slots on backup catchers.
Connor Joe on the Reds isn’t even a catcher. In fact, he has never played a single inning at catcher. I’ve seen more than one person list him as a catcher and I’ve never understood why that is.
It’s winter,most of those teams will not end up with 3,I do like the thought of Posey,Garcia,Vogt for the Giants
Giants?
Does he play the OF? Wait a minute….he has played a handful of innings in the OF! Farhan?? We need someone!
I think most Bay Area fans wouldn’t complain much if Vogt’s showcase goes well. I/we probably fondly remember him from his time with the A’s and this does seem like a Beane/Zaidi move.
I’d vote in a 26-man roster if 3 catchers were mandatory. Some sort of formula would be necessary to stem fudging.
Even with keeping the protected roster at 40, Owners would want a Union trade off which now, officially, ends this grand scheme.
How exactly do you require 3 catchers though? Guys like Biggio, Ibanez, Nevin, Zeile, Sandoval, Donaldson, etc who had been catchers previously in development have all put the gear on and caught when it came down to an emergency catcher situation. Do those kinds of guys then count? Do you require a catcher has caught “X” number of innings either at the pro or MiLB level the years prior? Be fun to see position guys sent down to AAA to catch enough innings to become 3rd catcher eligible…..
Yeah, I would love to see 27 or 28-man rosters, because it would allow minor leaguers more opportunity to make real money and increase things that are fun strategy – double-switches and pinch-runners and such. But I fear teams would just carry three more pitchers for matchup purposes, and it would be sort of clumsy to limit the number of pitchers a team can carry to something like 12 or 13.
All around good dude. Would have loved to see him with the Brewers as an advisor/coach. Dude still had plenty left to give. Hopefully someone picks him up
Are we talking about Vogt or The Big Lewbowsky???
Lebowski* last day to watch on Netflix as it’s disappearing on February 1st.. Nihlist! Cheers
Rangers? Are you paying attention?
late bloomer yes however wrong side of 30 and is a catcher. He’s a backup at best.
And? Every team needs a decent backup catcher. Especially one who can swing it a bit.
I Believe in Steven Vogt!
Vote Vogt!
Platoon DH
Platoon DH reminds me of Ken Phelps. His last career HR broke up a perfect game with only one out to go.
Breaking up a no-no/perfecto is almost as glorious as pitching one.
Please chime in on the following, to settle a difference of opinion…
A friend believes that if your team is being no-hit going into the ninth, a true baseball fan roots for the opposing pitcher to complete the no-hitter.
I believe a true baseball fan roots for his team to break up the no-hitter.
Opinions?
No question, break up the no-no
Thinking the Cardinals might be his landing spot.
Agreed. Can’t be any worse than Pena and they could still use a lefty bat. It’s going to be a low risk deal nevertheless.
They already signed Pena
To a minor league deal. Pena is garbage. His hitting is terrible and his defense really fell off last year. Vogt would be a better option…even if he was hurt.
If the Pirates are still serious about trading Cervelli, they might consider keeping tabs on Vogt. It wouldn’t hurt to have an experience caddy for Diaz, and if Vogt can still hit lefty hitters love smacking balls off of and over the Clemente wall at PNC.
Tigers
I think we still have Salty in Toledo…no?
Salty just retired so no we do not
Cardinals as backup behind Molina. We only have Francisco Pena as an option.
@Al Greyson Greiner ain’t gonna cut it
I’d grab him to add to the mix if I was the Astros- cheap and solid
Hopefully this isn’t a miscommunication and his workout isn’t just a spin class session at the 24 hour Fitness – could be very disappointing for all involved