White Sox: Catcher Position Still Needs to be Addressed
By Matt Manetti
The White Sox have had a successful season thus far. However, catch still remains an area of need. Omar Narvaez remains the best option heading into 2017.
The Chicago White Sox have made a lot of moves to improve this team for the future. They parlayed two key players [Adam Eaton and Chris Sale] into several elite prospects that should contribute in the future. One area this team has yet to address is catcher. Omar Narvaez is the only catcher who saw time last season.
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Matt Wieters is the best available option. This team has already lost out on Wellington Castillo and Wilson Ramos. Wieters would seem like the best option, if the White Sox were uncomfortable with Narvaez as their primary option. He is a switch hitter and has some pop in his bat. He hit .243 with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs last season. What’s even better, the Orioles did not place a qualifying offer on him. Meaning, any team that signs him does not need to forfeit a draft pick.
The biggest question would be if a guy like Wieters fits with a team that is looking to rebuild. At 30 years old, he is definitely nearing the end of his career. But he is an experienced catcher. A veteran behind the dish could help some of these young pitchers develop, even quicker. When you have a good catcher, good pitchers are that much more dangerous. It would be a plus for this team to have a veteran presence at catcher because of some of the youth they have coming in at pitcher.
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Wieters in the end may not be the answer, but it’s clear this team needs to add someone at catcher. It has been an area of need since they traded Dioner Navarro. Narvaez did okay in limited action but a veteran guy would do wonders for a young pitching staff.