Bullpen won't be the only area the Marlins plan to address in the offseason.

 

The organization is strongly considering moving in another direction at catcher. Ronny Paulino recently was suspended for 50 games for violating MLB's substance abuse policy.

 

This year, Paulino made $1.1 million. Through arbitration, he projects to see his salary increase to about $3 million in 2011.

 

Due to the suspension, he is out for the remainder of the season. The organization is cautious about wanting to pay $3 million to a player coming off a suspension. So they will be exploring other catching options.

 

If Paulino were to return, it would be at a marked down price.

 

The other catcher the Marlins expected to have this year faces the strong possibility of arm surgery.

 

John Baker, projected to get majority of the playing time this season, has been on the disabled list since mid-May. Baker visited a doctor on Monday, and chances are likely that he will be undergoing surgery on his right elbow.

 

Because of the situations with Paulino and Baker, the Marlins have made finding catching help a high priority. Adding catching help is up there with solidifying the bullpen.

 

Paulino played in 91 games and he batted .259 with four homers and 37 RBIs.

 

While he was especially solid in May and June, his numbers dropped significantly as he was playing every day. In June, he batted .287, and followed that up with a .174 batting average in July. In August, he appeared in 12 games, and was hitting .171 in the month when he was suspended.

 

Rookies Brett Hayes and Brad Davis are currently handling the catching duties.

 

-- Joe Frisaro

 

http://joefrisaro.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/08/marlins_in_market_for_a_catche.html

I like the baker/paulino platoon.. catchers are hard to find.

if we cant find a better catcher than baker and paulino is a pretty good platoon. both guys are solid with the bat and defensively.

Might as well resign both. Paulino isn't going to be as expensive thanks to his little suspension.

But if Baker has the surgery, won't he miss most of next year ? Skipworth is not a viable option yet, and Hayes and Davis just won't cut the mustard over most of next season (which is what they will have to play if nothing is done). This is just another test for this FO.

If Baker is healthy he deserves a shot at reclaiming the starting spot, keep Paulino only if he comes cheap maybe keep him. I'm in favor of bringing in someone new.

I'm not sure what will be out on the free agent market, but maybe its time the Marlins splurge on a two year deal for someone that can help bridge the gap until Skipworth/Realmuto/etc... are ready to take over.

I believe the Angels are trying to move Mike Napoli since they placed him on waivers. I wonder what it would take to bring him in. Probably not a whole lot. Dude mashes against lefties and he's from Pembroke Pines.

Best way to find a catcher is through your own organization, but sadly we can't...

I believe the Angels are trying to move Mike Napoli since they placed him on waivers. I wonder what it would take to bring him in. Probably not a whole lot. Dude mashes against lefties and he's from Pembroke Pines.

 

 

Doesn't Napoli have only a year left on arbitration eligibility ? Aquiring a player like that usually doesn't fit our MO.

I'm probably crazy, but I think Ianetta still has some potential if a club commits to him .... it seems the rocks bench him whenever he enters a slide and he never recovers

Best way to find a catcher is through your own organization, but sadly we can't...

 

 

Yeah, we needed to have Skipworth progress faster. I guess he'll be ready for 2012 at the earliest. Not one of the FO's best draft picks.

Baker will need surgery and will, therefore, be released.

 

See Mitre.

Baker will need surgery and will, therefore, be released.

 

See Mitre.

 

Didn't he already have surgery?

Best way to find a catcher is through your own organization, but sadly we can't...

 

 

Yeah, we needed to have Skipworth progress faster. I guess he'll be ready for 2012 at the earliest. Not one of the FO's best draft picks.

 

That's if he even amounts to anything =/

Baker will need surgery and will, therefore, be released.

 

See Mitre.

 

 

Mitre was arbitration eligible

 

Baker will be making the minimum

 

Two completely different situations and the chances they do not keep Baker next year are so utterly slim

Baker will be arbitration eligible by the time he is ready to play if he has TJ surgery.

 

Baker isn't much of a catcher, much more of a bat.

 

Marlins do not like to pay folks on the disabled list.

Right - he'll be ready to play when he's actually getting paid. So when he's getting paid, he'll be playing. When he's on the DL, he's making the minimum.

 

And TJ for a hitter is normally a lot shorter recovery time than for a pitcher (Though, since he's a catcher, that might muddle things)

He gets paid $400K if he's on the DL and nothing if he is released.

I love how people predict doom and gloom for some of our 20 year old prospects

If Baker does have the surgery i feel we need to just find somebody else for the 2011 season to tag team with Paulino and not Hayes or Davis, someone out of the organization.

Id say the past two years, even with Baker's injury, we've been quite lucky with the catching duo we have. It kinda feels like we have two part-time starting catchers... instead of the MLB usual of one good productive catcher and an offensively deficient backup who's just there to fill a bench spot and play on Sunday day games.

 

Replacing the production of these two would be difficult. Unless we must, I wouldn't try and replace them unless we're sure we can find the same type of replacements. And I'm afraid thats real tough to find.

I agree that we've had a great catcher situation with Bake/RonPaul but if they're not liking the idea of bringing Paulino back they have to reassess the catching situation. Bake alone isn't going to get it done.

I love how people predict doom and gloom for some of our 20 year old prospects

 

 

 

That's a silly thing to love.