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Dodgers: Catcher Upgrades the Team Should Target

By Jacob Rudner

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers chases a wild pitch that allowed Travis Shaw #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers (not pictured) to score in the sixth inning in Game Three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers chases a wild pitch that allowed Travis Shaw #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers (not pictured) to score in the sixth inning in Game Three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 08: Yan Gomes #7 of the Cleveland Indians reacts after striking out in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros during Game Three of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 8, 2018, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

This slide of the article would have gone to Mike Zunino had he not already been dealt to Tampa Bay. So, with him of the block, let’s take a look at Yan Gomes.

Gomes is 30-years old and under contract for two more years with a team option for 2021. Over the course of 2019 and 2020, Gomes is owed $16 million so similar to Perez, his financial price tag is fairly hefty. However, the original price on Gomes was lower than Perez’s ever will be as Gomes is not an extraordinarily good player like the first two options.

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Last season was Gomes’ best since his mid-20’s. At this point you are probably wondering why this move makes so much sense, allow me to explain.

Gomes will not cost much in prospects. With an OPS+ that barely scratches 100 (103) the defensively sound Gomes does not bring too much to the table in terms of offense. Sure, he does have some pop in his bat, hitting 16 homers in 2018 but again, that is not anything special. And to be totally honest, his defense is not overwhelming either. In 2018 Gomes allowed six passed balls and caught just 29% of base runners. But the value in Gomes lies in everything I just said: he is average.

The Dodgers may not need to spend big on a catcher right now because they have two big catchers coming up on the farm right now in Keibert Ruiz and Will Smith. In what could be just half of 2019, the Dodgers will want to have room for either one or both of the young backstops and Gomes’s mediocrity could allow the team to do just that. And, outside of Realmuto or an internal option, the Dodgers won’t find anyone cheaper than Gomes’s $16 million over the next two years anyway. Is Gomes the dream catcher? Not even remotely close. But, will Gomes be cheap and get the job done? YES!

Next. Dodgers: Second Base Upgrades the Dodgers Should Target. dark

In an ideal world, the Dodgers swoop up Realmuto and call it a day. But, with every GM and their grandmother trying to trade for him, the price will be astronomical. The same can be said for Perez leaving Gomes as an awesome option. The Dodgers have work to do behind the plate, and these three catchers could answer the questions that need answering.

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