The Rangers announced they’ve acquired catcher Kevin Plawecki for cash in a minor league trade with San Diego. Plawecki had not been on the Padres’ 40-man roster and won’t immediately go onto the roster with Texas. He’ll be assigned to Triple-A Round Rock for the time being.
It’s a sensible depth pickup for Texas. The Rangers just placed All-Star backstop Jonah Heim on the injured list with a left wrist issue. He’ll be shut down for a few weeks before it’s determined whether season-ending surgery is necessary. The best case scenario is that Mitch Garver and Sam Huff will hold down the fort for a few weeks before Heim makes it back.
Texas doesn’t have any other catchers on the 40-man, so an injury to either Garver or Huff would force them to tap into the minor league ranks. None of the Rangers’ Triple-A backstops had any big league experience, so it makes sense to fortify the group with a veteran.
Plawecki is no stranger to the organization. He signed with the Rangers late last season after being released by the Red Sox. Despite his impending free agency, a then-uncompetitive Texas club valued his clubhouse presence enough to carry him on the roster at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old has spent this year in Triple-A with the Nationals and Friars. He has combined for a .268/.341/.400 line over 229 trips to the plate. In parts of eight big league seasons, he’s a .235/.313/.342 hitter.
The flood gates have opened!!! Hahahaha
Not yet.
A huge loss for the TR
Tough to bounce back from
good luck
A tiny bandaid for a massive cut
Snell and Hader are next?
They won’t have to even travel, as they can just show up to the same ballpark and switch dugout (if you know what I mean).
Quick response to the Heim injury!
STOVE IS ON FIRE BABY!
How is it because third one of the day and not one out of no where yet.
Graveman to Houston was a bit out of no where. It makes sense, but nobody had reported anything on KG
He’s been on Astros before and If went to Rangers or Dodgers or so on.
Works great with Eovaldi
Could be pivotal if needed in a wild card
Always liked him with the Red Sox. Solid depth pickup.
Good for Plawecki getting another shot in the big leagues. He won’t hit much but he handles a pitching staff well
He’s going to AAA.
As a non 40-man.
RIP 2023 Rangers
He can’t catch!
Sell sell sell!
Not a terrible hedge. He won’t be called up unless Garver gets hurt, Heim can’t return and/or Huff can’t hold down the No. 2 catcher job. But it’s still good to have some depth just in case.
Garver is never a #1 catcher. Huff is a superior defender. Ask how a mashing catcher that’s a mental midget worked out for the cardInals. Maldonado isn’t a good juco hitter, but he has the rings. You’ve never played or coached past 12U obviously
Garver isn’t Jonah Heim, but he’s not a bad defensive catcher. His issue throughout his career has been staying healthy.
I would bet that Garver and Huff split time pretty evenly behind the plate with Garver DH’ing in a fair number of the games he doesn’t catch.
Soto, Snell, and Hader next!
Great for the vibes and comes out with the best doug out celebrations
THE RANGERS ARE BUYING!!!!
That was a knee jerk reaction wow
Or a smart one as their All-Star catcher is out with injury. It’s a cheap depth move.
not to mention he has experience with Eovaldi which I would say is their ace now. especially when you consider that all the minor league catchers do not have mlb experience let alone playoffs.
Knee jerk? He cost nothing but cash and gives them depth they probably needed anyways.
I had not idea Jonah was a backstop. Lol Catcher but definitely not a backstop. Guess the writer Anthony does not know much about baseball. He wote “All-Star backstop Jonah Heim”
Not uncommon to refer to catchers as backstops. Especially in a written article when you’re trying to avoid using the same word over and over.
You don’t know much about baseball.
Are you being intentionally dense ?
that was densely intentional
Laxatives are best for backstops.
Padres with the BIG bench fodder trade here….more to come
Really think the Rangers should prioritize a big league caliber catcher. Maybe they could see if the Cubs want to trade Yan Gomes.
The Mets are expected to trade Omar Narvaez as well.
Hard pass on him. He’s playing so terribly you know he’s going to pick up that player option and then you’re stuck paying him next year too.
The catching-starved Pades give up a AAA catcher for cash…….how good can he be?
Good enough.
clearly this signifies a late season call up for 17 yr old Salas
Justin Foscue is blocked by Marcus Semien. The Tigers have two starters and at least one good relief pitcher that are available. The Tigers could use Foscue at 2nd base. Maybe there are some possibilities. – hopeful Tigers Fan!!!
You couldn’t get a better catcher than him??? Jesus let’s see some rotation upgrades CY