Nov. 29: Vogt will be paid $2.5MM in 2020 and has a $500K buyout of a $3MM option for the 2021 campaign, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. That option can trigger automatically depending on playing time, and the contract contains escalators (based on games started) that would boost Vogt’s salary in 2021.
Nov. 26: The Diamondbacks made a low-cost strike on the free-agent market, adding catcher Stephen Vogt on a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday evening. The deal will reportedly promise Vogt a total of $3MM, and it also contains a vesting option for the 2021 season. Vogt is represented by All Bases Covered Sports Management.
Vogt, 35, feared his career could be over following a 2018 shoulder surgery with the Brewers, but he landed with the Giants on a minor league pact and proved himself with a quietly strong rebound season. In 280 plate appearances spread over the life of 99 games, the former All-Star hit .263/.314/.490 with 10 home runs.
Arizona’s need for a backstop isn’t necessarily acute, but Vogt’s left-handed bat will pair nicely with the up-and-coming Carson Kelly, who hits from the opposite side of the dish — and does so quite well (.356/.462/.667 versus lefties in 2019). Vogt will also give the 25-year-old Kelly another veteran mentor under whom to study, replacing fellow free agent Alex Avila, who remains unsigned but now appears destined to land elsewhere.
The D-backs also have veteran catcher Caleb Joseph on the 40-man roster as a third option, and given the fact that they’ve previously carried three catchers at a time even with a 25-man roster, it seems plausible that they’ll do so again now that rosters are set to expand to 26 players for the 2020 season. Alternatively, Vogt’s acquisition could also spell the end of Joseph’s time with the Arizona organization. He’s arbitration-eligible this winter and projected to receive a $1.2MM salary, which the club may feel too steep to pay a third catcher who falls behind both Kelly and Vogt on the depth chart.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the agreement (via Twitter). Joel Sherman of the New York Post (Twitter link) and Zach Buchanan of The Athletic (Twitter links) added details on the financial structure.
That obviously means Avila is moving on hopefully to the Mets
Meta haven’t had a great catcher since Mike Piazza
They cut bait on d’arnaud too soon.
After 4 years? He’ll be a high probability for a bust before that contracts over.
@ geg42 – as a Mets fan who was hoping for big contributions from him I completely disagree. . . .Travis was given every opportunity but was constantly injured and didnt do much in the way of hitting when healthy.
I honestly think he should’ve stayed out of the spot light down in Tampa with the Rays and Braves fans will be thoroughly disappointed when he buckles under the pressure of being on a tea expected to win.
Agreed.
Piazza was obviously a great hitting catcher but defense was borderline awful
Wrek, very few teams have had a great catcher since Piazza (his defense aside). Great catchers are very rare.
No argument there
Avila could end up back in Detroit.
Mama June thinks the Brewers and David Stearns must be sound asleep, they’re missing out on a must-needed catcher left and right.
Avila is available and about as steady as can be. Manages a staff awesome. Works the count awesome. He’ll always be haunted by the shift but what lefty isn’t these days. The Brewers could do worse. And it won’t be hitting that will keep them from getting over the hump. They should go for the gusto and set their sights on Cole. And only Cole.
Anyone who has had Mama June’s sketti, knows shes a genius.
Mike Lvalliere and BJ surhoff are coming out of retirement to catch. Some of these catchers (not Vogt) getting contracts are soooo bad.
Was hoping he would end up back with the A’s.
That’s where I thought he would end up. He would have made a nice #2 catcher, add some depth to 1B as well, and could have been a mentor to Murphy.
100% agree. Lefty platoon for Murphy as well.
Too expensive for an Athletics backup catcher. Have some faith, they will find some diamond in the ruff and you’ll fast forget about Vogt.
@ Ejemp2006 – yep, he’s a 31 year old California native named Austin Romine
No chance. A’s want one thing from catcher: unexpected dingers.
Thank god.It was never a possibility. Research Jonah Heim and you will know why.
You mean the Jonah Heim who’s played a whopping 35 games in AAA. Vogt would of been a great grab for the A’s on a one year deal. A veteran to work with Murphy.
nice pickup
Was last off season the year that a bunch of relief pitchers went off the board quickly and then signings stagnated? Will it be catchers this year?
No, that was two years ago.
Solid move. Catchers are coming off the board quickly
Good move. Wanted the Yanks to grab him to be their backup
The Yanks are busy grabbing other stuff.
Yeah, mens butts
Well, they could always grab ’em by the p….
Nah, Hal and Hank just want a brand new Yacht, which they clearly don’t really need.
I was hoping he would sign in Anaheim. Good luck to him, love this guy
Really like Vogt. Met him briefly at Spring Training this year. He was signing for kids, taking pictures, really going all out to put smiles on their faces.
Solid move – there’s really no other way to view it. This guy’s about as solid as they come in terms of backup/part-time catchers and offers depth at 1B as well! Hopefully he’ll build on last seasons successful comeback and put up solid numbers again this year. He’s a hard guy not to root for!
Like him more as a 1B/LF/PH/3rd string catcher, but he’s the best guy in the game next to Doolittle so it’s a fine pickup for clubhouse reasons alone.
He is not an OF
He did get into LF a few times last year so technically he is an OF. It’s not the best idea but he can catch a ball right at him
He’s as much of an OF as he is a C. You can stick him there and hope he hits….
What’s so great about Doolittle?
Im not doing your homework for you
I had no idea this was school. I don’t know what’s so great about Doolittle still, other than he disrespected the U.S. President and was the lone player not to celebrate a WS championship with his team this year.
I can name a few players who are “great” outside of baseball. Kershaw? Pujols? Any player that gives millions of dollars to charities?
Honest question, what has Doolittle done to warrant him as “best guy in the game.” Is your criteria simply what the guy believes in? I’m missing something.
Careful, your axe to grind is showing.
Aww he didn’t genuflect to your hero the sentient vanilla pudding filled sausage casings. I like him even more now
But you’re ok with all the disrespect the U.S. “President” has shown to….literally everyone.
Hard working guy very solid
They cornered the market on motivational speakers. As a Dback, it’s appropriate that when he lives in a van down by the river, it’ll be the Salt River.
Another screwup by Farhan….solid player and clubhouse guy….there is nobody decent between Posey and Bart….fan favorite….more non renewals coming up
Maybe it’s time to see what Aramis Garcia can do. He didn’t do much in the bigs last year, but at AAA, he hit .271 with 16HR.
Agreed.
Screw up. Yeah like dumping Melancon’s contract, turning a minor league signing in Pomeranz into a young infield top prospect, and striking gold with Yaz. Yeah the screw ups are piling up..
Underrated comment right here. Too many fan favorites in the past which is why we are where we are. Good Giants aren’t Good Players all the time.
Agreed. I cringe when to this day, I still see fans say the giants need to bring back Lincecum..
You assume that Vogt wanted to be back in SF and that Farhan dropped the ball. With all of the front office and managerial changes going on, its not difficult to envision players in the twilight of their careers not wanting to stick around for another bumpy year in SF.
Avila 52% Caught Stealing, 2 Passed Balls, 11 Wild Pitches .995 Fielding Percentage
Vogt 17% CS, 4 PB,22WP, .998 FP
As a Diamondback fan I am more than happy to see double play strikeout machine hurt half the time Avila MOVE ON
The last couple years have been hard on Avila. He’s still a solid defender (I think, unless Steve says otherwise) and he gets on base at a good clip. He K’s quite a bit though. Always has.
Still remember 2011. He was the second coming of Lance Parrish.
he’ll probably sign with Dodgers and becom the next great player, signed for cheap and really hit after they fix his approach or swing..
Exactly. Vogt’s a terrible defensive catcher; was even as a young player.
BUT, for 3M you get somebody to back up Walker (who’ll probably come back to earth) and be a 2nd-3rd catcher, depending on how they want to do it. And apparently he’s plus-plus in the clubhouse; that helps. And, bottom line, he hits a bit.
It’s a good move.
Great dude. Plays the game the right way, great in the clubhouse. Good get for the D-Backs.
When’s the wedding?
“Plays the game the right way” is closeted racist language for “white”
Not happy for SFG letting Vogt go, Zaidi!!!
Sorry to let you know this, but Farhan isnt concerned with your(or any fans) thoughts on the matter.
Giants dropped the ball here. Vogt’s bat makes up for any defensive shortcomings and he could have received more at bats at First Base (he’s a better hitter than Belt).
At $3M a year and the demand for good hitting catchers I really can’t believe the Giants let him go; oh wait, they’re not really going for it in 2020. Zaidi’s open statement “we’ll go where the market takes us” or whatever non-answer he gave is just a way to say don’t get your hopes up Giant fans. AT THE VERY LEAST, Vogt would have made for great trade bait.
BELT LEATHER BELT
Does he still do that Chris Farley imitation in TV interviews?
Sorry Zaidi didn’t re-sign him, as he was super solid for the Gmen last year. Cool guy too! Zaidi must feel confidant they Joey Bart is going to perform and between he and Buster, we didn’t need Vogt. Good pick up for the Dbacks.
Or Vogt has his own free will and didnt wish to return to SF.
Vogt was waiting to see who the Giants manager was. I wonder if Farhan made any effort to sign him. He delivered some clutch hits last year and would have been a nice complement to Buster.
Not sure why Halos sign him. They gotta get someone behind the plate.
I liked him as an offensive player for the Giants quite a bit but as far as catching goes, not so much.
Alright now someone overpay for Hedges!!
Probably the Rangers , just give them a few days ,
Hedges will never be overpaid he sucks.
Yeah, but at least he is something that Gary Sanchez will never be, a competent defender.
Hard to believe Avila is only 32
Nooo! Figured he was moving on. He almost has more value in the clubhouse than on the field. A pros pro. But dont underestimate his bat. He has a some clutch in his blood. We believe in Stephen Vogt!
I guess they believe in Stephen Vogt.
no, he was cheap just what I would expect from dbacks!
Dust off the trophy shelf Arizona!
So basically, unless he has an amazing 2020, it’s almost guaranteed they buyout his option
I was hoping the Angels would sign him as he would have provided at least some improvement behind the plate.
Maybe reunion with Andrew Romine with the defensive-mind is in play?
Jorge Fabregas
Steve A, “Vogt, 35, feared his career could be over following a 2018 shoulder surgery with the Brewers”. Is that a stated fact or speculation?
Steve B
Scuba Steve!!!
Wow! Can you imagine their lineup with him anchoring it?
No. Please, enlighten us, thy spirit of wisdom.
Addison Russell is a no-brainer to be non-tendered by the Cubs with little chance of him being traded by Monday’s deadline.
As for the White Sox, it’s already been ‘reported’ that Yolmer Sanchez was outrighted and went unclaimed but the team is sure taking it’s time in officially announcing it via a press release or in the transaction section of their website. Same with Ryan Burr who was also reportedly designated for assignment earlier this week to clear a roster spot. Perhaps everyone involved in the process has taken an extended vacation this week or are too busy bargain shopping. Here’s hoping that doesn’t apply to Rick Hahn in regards to the signing of more free agents.