Catcher Pedro Severino triggered an opt-out clause in his minor league contract with the Padres, reports Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link). He heads back to the open market after the Friars granted him his release in lieu of adding him to the major league roster.
Severino, 29, has appeared in parts of eight major league seasons. He was a backup with the Nationals for a few years before getting starting run for the Orioles between 2019-21. A capable offensive catcher, Severino never rated highly behind the dish in the estimation of public defensive marks. The O’s cut him loose after 2021 with Adley Rutschman nearing the majors. He signed with the Brewers for 2022 but was suspended before the start of the season after failing a performance-enhancing drug test. He’d appear in only eight games for Milwaukee.
The Friars signed Severino to a minor league deal over the winter. He was assigned to Triple-A El Paso, where he tallied 75 plate appearances over 18 games. The right-handed hitter put up a solid .286/.400/.476 line with three home runs and more walks (12) than strikeouts (10). He threw out only three out of 20 attempted basestealers in 132 1/3 innings of work, however.
San Diego didn’t give Severino a major league look in spite of significant offensive woes from their catchers. The Friars have been without Luis Campusano since mid-April because of a torn ligament in his left thumb. They’ve turned to a combination of Austin Nola and Brett Sullivan behind the dish. Nola is hitting .161/.253/.209 with three extra-base hits over 102 plate appearances. Sullivan has a .176/.200/.324 mark in his first 35 big league trips.
Severino’s .248/.316/.396 batting line going back to 2019 indicates he probably would’ve provided a boost at the plate. The Friars will stick with the more defensively-minded duo of Nola and Sullivan instead. Severino will look for other opportunities in free agency.
The Padres don’t want a hitting catcher (or centerfielder). Defense is more important than offense for AJ Preller. 4 players in the lineup with BA below Mendoza? No problema. Rougned Odor getting daily starts on this world series contender, superstar-juggernaut team? You betcha. Catcher in AAA who can hit the ball. No thanks! We’ll roll with Nola and Sullivan until the wheels completely fall off.
As an Orioles fan, I watched Severino a lot and the guy is pretty awful defensively when he is actually trying, which is only maybe 50% of the time. I’ve never seen another catcher give so few farks about blocking balls in the dirt, like he wouldn’t even move his body to try to stop them from getting by him most of the time.
I’m not sure a .700ish OPS would balance out all of the value he’d give away on defense.
It wouldn’t.
Passed balls are the pits.
@kingfloch
Have you never seen Gary “The Cinder Block” Sanchez attempt to play the position?
Ah-HA! THAT’S exactly who I had in mind. I’ve seen runners score from second on his dribblers through the wickets.
The Padres are very overrated.
The San Diego Padres are a curious, ill fitting collection of Major League Baseball talent; the Los Angeles Dodgers are a TEAM.
A team who lost to the Pads in the PLAYOFFs
@Brew..Enjoy your ONE victory, because the Dodgers go deep into the playoffs EVERY year, usually while the Friars are looking for a new manager. Who ya gonna get to replace Bob Melvin this time?…Another rookie mgr?..Friend of the owner?
One victory? I’m a Giants fan with 3 recent rings (162 GAME seasons). I have nothing against Pads though, love the owner.
The king told you what time it is, creamer…I mean screamer
@bronx yeah he did. Damn. Then you called me creamer. My day is ruined before it even got started. All because I’m sick of watching the Padres fail on offense.
Not sure I understand this. He can’t be worse than Nola.
Offense wise no but this dude was a terrible fielder. Nola can’t throw or hit, this dude can’t catch and doesn’t hit all that well either.
Even with that said I’m still a little surprised they didn’t give him a shot. Guess he wasn’t worth making a 40 man move to bring up.
Pedro can rake but puts forth little effort to improve defensively. He’s really below average behind the plate
Come to Philly, oh wait he isn’t pitcher. Come to Philly anyway.
He needs a backup.
Another catcher, squatting 20-30 feet behind him.
“Whoops there goes another curve ball to drop. But he’s got… high-yi-hopes …”
If they weren’t going to give him a shot with the straight-up awfulness of Nola and Sullivan, why even have him in AAA? If they were worried about an injury, there are always backup catchers on the waiver wire. It’s clearly time for the Padres to send Nola to AAA as it is clear he’s never gotten over the face pitch he received in spring training. They really should get both catchers off the roster and try someone, anyone else at this point.
Have AJ Prellar call Seattle’s Jerry Dipoto. He has ANOTHER backup catcher he’ll trade you, for half your team. This one’s even BETTER than the LAST backup catcher, Austin Nola, that he traded you for half your team.
Fair point Boyd
Brings the ratio of PED users down for the Friars so that is a good thing
Wow. Behind the Giants and only one game ahead of Colorado. I’m no expert, but that’s disappointing, isn’t it?