A day after Tampa Bay traded backup catcher John Jaso to Seattle in exchange for reliever Josh Lueke, the Rays have landed free agent Jose Molina for $1.5 million. With below-the-Mendoza line Kelly Shoppach out of the picture, Molina, who will be 37 next season, looks to be the primary catcher for the Rays. Youngster Jose Lobaton only played 14 games at the big league level in 2011, but will be in the mix.

Any topic with the name Jose in the MLB forum is going to give me a mini heart attack.

Would you have preferred "Molina brother who isn't Yadier or Bengie to the Rays?"

Seems like a downgrade for the Rays but I have no knowledge of this besides surface value. I havent looked anything up but isnt Jose Molina the aging veteran as opposed to Jaso who was a youngster on his way up?

Seems like a downgrade for the Rays but I have no knowledge of this besides surface value. I havent looked anything up but isnt Jose Molina the aging veteran as opposed to Jaso who was a youngster on his way up?

 

 

John Jaso was basically John Bakered. He was traded for a reliever, and the Rays can afford to do that because they have promising young catching depth in Jose Lobaton (who they're really high on) and Robinson Chirinos. Kelly Shoppach, last year's main catcher for Tampa Bay, was horrendous. Molina is going to be a veteran presence for sure, but this past season in 55 games for Toronto he hit .281 and posted a .342 OBP, threw out 33 percent of baserunners and committed only one error. He knows what he's doing behind the plate. I'm pretty sure the rookie will get a majority of the playing time, but Molina's not too shabby of a backup.

Plus, he's a Molina.

A catching Molina = awesomeness.

I like the move, gives us the the major league level depth we lacked at that position the past two years.

I like the move, gives us the the major league level depth we lacked at that position the past two years.

 

ALCS and beyond next year?