Catching options if Bart isn’t answer
With Oakland trading Murphy to Atlanta, remaining alternatives mostly backup types
Free agency is the hot-stove winter obsession, and trade talk takes a back seat this time of year. The San Francisco Giants are looking to the trade market to address some roster issues, though, and the most prominent position is behind the plate.
By the end of last season, rookie catcher Joey Bart wasn’t paired with lefty Carlos Rodón, and Austin Wynns caught three of Logan Webb’s final six starts. Bart’s defense has improved over the past two seasons, but he doesn’t frame pitches as well as Wynns or former backup Curt Casali, and he hasn’t hit well enough to play regularly when he’s not the team’s top option to work with its pitchers.
None of that is for lack of effort. Bart has put in an enormous amount of work on his swing and on all aspects of catching, and his attitude has been terrific. He has said and done all the right things in inheriting a pressure-packed situation, replacing Buster Posey, but he’s not quite where the Giants need him to be. Another catcher in the organization who was a first-round draft pick, Patrick Bailey, hasn’t developed as quickly as hoped, either.
For the Giants to contend, most scouts and executives with whom The Chronicle spoke at the Winter Meetings last week agreed that the team needs more than more outfield help and a middle infielder — a strong allaround catcher is a must. That’s why San Francisco talked to Oakland about Sean Murphy, who was traded to Atlanta on Monday.
Other trade possibilities include Toronto’s Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk and Gabriel Moreno, with Jansen more of a backup type but Kirk an intriguing possibility who is 24 years old, has some power and draws some walks. Among the free agents left on the market are Casali and Tucker Barnhart, whose strength is behind the plate. The Giants have been in contact with Casali about returning.
The Giants were impressed with Wynns in a backup role last year, and the team might be happy to go with a tandem of Wynns and Casali while waiting for Bart to bloom.
The trade market also might help San Francisco find another outfielder as that free-agent market dwindles. Pittsburgh is likely to be asking for a significant haul for Bryan Reynolds, and though the Diamondbacks have fielded many calls on their young outfielders, they might be less likely to send one in-division. Minnesota also has gotten interest in Max Kepler, who is a very good defensive corner outfielder with 20homer power.