Marlins catcher upgrade options that can make a huge impact, best free agent catchers

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The Miami Marlins still need to upgrade their catcher position this offseason. Former GM Kim Ng failed at upgrading this position this past trade deadline, even though she made it a point of emphasis. There are things to like about the future of this Marlins team and a few more pieces, if selected right, could change the course of the team. Ng was not that good of a free agent picker in her time so the Marlins need to look at some different options this go around.

As we wrote about before, the Marlins need to part ways with Jacob Stallings and let the younger Nick Fortes stick around. A new GM should easily see that as the thing to do, since Fortes hit .204 with 6 home runs and 26 RBI and Jacob Stallings hit .191 with 3 home runs and 20 RBI. The biggest factor however is that Stallings is 33 and Fortes 26. The free agent catcher market in 2024 is not very stout and so the Marlins will have to make a good examination of available players.

Since that might be the likely course, the Marlins need a veteran catcher behind the dish to guide the development of Fortes but also help lead the pitching staff. Defensive skill upgrades would also be welcome in the Marlins lineup as opposing teams stole bases with ease this past season. If the catcher they can get is a big time defender but not a big bat, it would still be a huge upgrade. Marlins fans will take either as one of those upgrades will be more than they have this season which is a subpar hitting catcher with subpar fielding. So let’s take a look at who could fill that role.

Martin Maldonado - Astros Catcher

The very seasoned catcher for the Astros this past season will certainly be a huge upgrade for the Marlins. Maldonado is not known for his offensive presence certainly. This past season he actually had a power surge and hit 15 home runs and drove in 36. This was true for the year prior as well as then he also had 15 home runs and drove in 45. Maldonado has hit below the Mendoza line for 3 straight seasons so don’t expect anything from the batters box.

Maldonado is known for two things that would be a big time upgrade for the Marlins. Machete is known for cutting down the opposing teams’ base runners. In 2021 Maldonado cut down 40% of runners trying to steal a base and that number has diminished in the past two years but he has done much better prior so it is a possibility.

Most baseball gurus will laud Maldonado’s game management as hit best asset. He does well in calling pitches and working with his pitchers. If Maldonado doesn’t retire or return to the Astros as a backup, he could do well as a starter in Miami. The young Marlins pitching staff could greatly benefit from his pitch calling and it would help them develop. Both his strong arm and pitch calling will be bonus’ for the Marlins and they should consider him if he is available.

Victor Caratini - Brewers Catcher

The Milwaukee Brewers were in the same spot as the Marlins this past season with a quick postseason exit. The Brewers have a lot of roster issues that need to be addressed and Caratini could fall between the cracks while they focus on their other big names. Caratini would be a great upgrade for the Marlins and would provide an offensive spark.

Caratini only had 226 at bats but he hit .259 with 7 home runs and 25 RBI in that half season of work. The Marlins would love that upgrade on offense to add another double digit home run hitter who hits around .250. There were countless steaks at the end of the season that the Marlins had when it was an automatic 1-2-3 inning for pitchers when the Marlins 7-9 hitters came up. It’s not unusual for that to happen on occasion but for the Marlins it was all too much.

Caratini is the youngest catcher free agent this offseason at age 30. He is also a solid all around player but he has no outstanding attributes that would make him a big time target of teams. The Marlins should take advantage of that fact and upgrade that position with a better hitter for average and have another bat that could potentially threaten opposing pitchers. Caratini knows how to catch big name pitchers as the Brewers had a few outstanding pitchers over the past two years of his time there.

Luke Maile - Reds Catcher

Sure the Marlins are a low budget team, but are you really suggesting Luke Maile as an upgrade. Yes I am. Stallings is a veteran but his bat was terrible and his defense worse. Maile is an upgrade and a cheap one compared to Stallings on both of those fronts. Let’s take a look at the numbers and see just why he is, even with a smaller sample size.

Stallings threw out a pathetic 13% of base stealers this past season and Maile 23%. Is Maile’s number amazing, no but compared to Stallings, it’s a huge upgrade and not for a big price. Stallings allowed 58 steals and threw out 9 and Maile 56 steals but threw out 17. Big win and upgrade with Maile.

Maile isn’t know as a good hitter but is he really an upgrade? Easily. In 200 at-bats Maile hit 6 home runs and drove in 25 while hitting .235. All of those numbers best Stallings and he had a decent amount more at-bats. The best part, Maile only made 1.18 million this past season. Seems like he is a no brainer if the other big names don’t work out. Then that would give time to the Marlins minor league system to get prospects up to snuff and take over in the future. I say sign him up for 3 years and 5 million. Not a huge price tag and a better return, and like Maldonado, Maile threw out runners at a high rate in years past.

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Martin Maldonado - Astros Catcher

Victor Caratini - Brewers Catcher

Luke Maile - Reds Catcher

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