Dodgers: Catcher Options to Pair With Austin Barnes

The main attention of Dodgers fans right now is will Bryce Harper end up in Los Angeles?  The more important question might be which other catcher will the Dodgers bring in to backup or compete to start with Barnes?

The Dodgers continue to search for ways to dump some of their outfielders and starting pitchers for prospects, or at least some cash to free up money for other moves.  One of those moves to be made is finding another catcher to pair with Austin Barnes.  Unless Yasmani Grandal comes crawling back or the Marlins drop their demands for J.T. Realmuto, it looks like Austin Barnes will be the Dodgers’ starting catcher for 2019.

Going with Austin Barnes may not be a terrible idea, which says more about the state of catching in Major League baseball rather than what it says about Barnes.  We do know Barnes is a good pitch framer, has surprising speed, and won’t hurt the Dodgers defensively.  The downside is Barnes’ bat was non-existent in 2018 and he will look to revert back to his 2017 form.

Barnes hit .289 in 2017, so if he can bounce back, the Dodgers have a pretty good starting catcher.  Here are three backup options the Dodgers could look into if they roll with Austin Barnes as their starter.