Washington Nationals: Who Is Catching When It Counts?
By Ron Juckett
MATT WIETERS
The second biggest name on this list aside from Ramos, there is considerable interest in bringing Matt Wieters down from Baltimore.
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On the surface, you can understand. After two injury-shortened seasons, his 20 home run power is back. He is a four-time All-Star that throws out baserunners at a 30 percent clip. Wieters fans under 100 times a year and can hit .300. What is there not to like?
He is now 30, missed chunks of two seasons hurt and the Orioles are making no effort to keep him. Although it is not a surprise Baltimore did not tender a qualifying offer of $17.2 million to keep him—afraid he would accept—they gain nothing now on his departure.
Wieters made under $10 million in 2016, but wants closer to Brian McCann’s $15 million per year. Whatever team lands him, he will be the everyday catcher or designated hitter for the length of his contract.
Is that the direction the Nationals want to go? He is not a liability behind the plate and comes close to matching Ramos’ production. If Severino is the catcher of the future, is Wieters the guy to bridge the gap?
The answer is no. You cannot expect Wieters to sign as a throwaway player in the NL as there is no DH role to move too.
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Having said that, if he is behind the plate against the Reds come July 14, the team will be in decent hands. And Severino will be catching elsewhere.