Red Sox Face Bleak Catching Market if Victor Martinez Leaves as Free Agent

From 1999-2007, the Red Sox had a luxury that few other MLB teams could boast: an above-average everyday catcher.

Jason Varitek’s lack of offensive production has often drawn the ire of fans in recent years, but for nearly a decade, he was one of the best overall backstops in the game. During that eight-season span, Varitek averaged a .268 batting average, 16 home runs and 64 RBIs per year. He was selected to two All-Star games, won a Gold Glove, was named team captain and even finished in the top 30 in MVP voting three times.

All things considered, it’s not hard to argue that Varitek has been the second-best catcher in Red Sox history, behind only Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk.

But Varitek has seen his productivity decline since 2008 and the Red Sox have tried in vain to find his long-term replacement behind the plate. Kelly Shoppach was cast off in the ill-fated Coco Crisp deal. George Kottaras never lived up to his minor league numbers. And despite having one of the most fruitful farm systems in baseball, the Sox have been unable to produce a homegrown solution at catcher.

When the Red Sox acquired Victor Martinez at the 2009 trading deadline, many fans assumed that Theo Epstein and Co. had finally found their replacement for Varitek. One of the best offensive catchers in baseball, V-Mart averaged a .372 on-base percentage, 18 home runs, and 84 RBIs per season in the five years leading up to the trade, and at 29, was still in his prime.

But thanks to less-than-stellar defensive ability and a potential big contract in the waiting, the Red Sox have failed to lock up Martinez to a long-term deal. In fact, not only have the Red Sox been hesitant to commit to Martinez beyond this season, but they have also prepared for a future without him by acquiring Jarrod Saltalamacchia from Texas at this year’s trade deadline.

It’s true that Saltalamacchia has big-time potential — perhaps more so than any catcher the Sox have had in their system since Varitek himself was imported from Seattle in 1997. But will Boston really head into the 2011 season relying on someone with a career .315 OBP to assume the everyday catching duties?

If the Red Sox are planning on opting for someone other than Martinez or Salty starting for them in 2011, their free-agent options are thin.

Aside from Martinez, the White Sox’ A.J. Pierzynski headlines the class of 2011 catching free agents. In many ways the antithesis of Varitek, Pieryznski hits for high averages but is infamous for clashing with his pitching staff and playing lazy defense. 

Next in line is Toronto’s John Buck, who offers solid power and average defense, but has had a maddeningly inconsistent career.

Finally, the last “everyday” catcher slated to be a free agent after the season is Detroit’s Gerald Laird, a gifted defender who, offensively, makes even the 2008-2010 edition of Varitek look like Johnny Bench.

Miguel Olivo, Yorvit Torrealba and Ramon Hernandez could all potentially become free agents as well, but each is flawed in his own right. Olivo is terrible defensively, and Torrealba and Hernandez are at-best fringe options as starter.

If the Red Sox aren’t content with settling for a free-agent catching option, they could look into potential trading partners.

They recently put in a waiver claim on the Angels’ Mike Napoli, but did not complete a deal with him in the 48 hours they were allotted. While Napoli provides power and can play two positions, he isn’t much better defensively than Martinez.

Chris Iannetta is a talented young catcher who has seemingly fallen out of favor in Colorado, but to acquire him after trading for Saltalamacchia doesn’t make much sense.

The truth is, no matter where the Sox look this off-season, they’ll be hard-pressed to replace Martinez’s production should he take his services to another team.

Quality catchers are to the MLB what quality quarterbacks are to the NFL: there are never enough to go around.

Automatic outs such as Laird, Rob Johnson and Humberto Quintero all entered the season with starting gigs. Unsurprisingly, none has hit above .225 this season.

And while exciting young catchers like Carlos Santana, Buster Posey and Wilson Ramos all made their MLB debuts this year, they’re simply replacing some of the best catchers from the generation before them, like Varitek, Jorge Posada and Ivan Rodriguez.

It’s true that Martinez is not a perfect catcher. He frequently struggles with the opposition’s running game, he’s going to want a big paycheck, and he’s nearing the end of the prime of his career.

That being said, though, V-Mart is still one of the best offensive catchers in the game. He has multi-position versatility and is renowned for being a leader in the clubhouse – something the Red Sox may miss if Varitek, Mike Lowell and Tim Wakefield all retire after the season.

The Red Sox may not be in love with all facets of Martinez’s game, but it may be because they’ve been spoiled for too long by Varitek’s all-around excellent play.

Martinez is far and away the best option on the 2011 catching market, and if the Sox elect to go in another direction this off-season, it’s a decision that another team will surely thank them for.