Houston Astros: Start Evan Gattis At Catcher In 2017?
Evan Gattis will return to the Houston Astros in 2017.
Evan Gattis will return to the Houston Astros in 2017.
It’s official — the burly-slugging catcher/designated hitter will be reuniting with the orange spacemen once again this upcoming season.
Only one week after the final game of the World Series, the Houston Astros have already made some big moves. The first was claiming Nori Aoki off of waivers from the Seattle Mariners.
The second was trading reliever Pat Neshek to the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named later. On the same day of the Neshek trade was the option pick up of catcher/designated hitter, Evan Gattis.
Additionally, Jeff Lunhow and company declined to extend any qualifying offers to the four players that are now considered to be free agents.
These include starting pitcher Doug Fister, third baseman Luis Valbuena, outfielder Colby Rasmus and catcher Jason Castro.
Eric Huysman of FanSided’s Astros blog, Climbing Tal’s Hill just reported Wednesday that the Minnesota Twins have expressed an interest in the long time Houston backstop.
A scheduled meeting with Castro’s agent took place earlier that day. No further updates have surfaced.
With this recent development in Minnesota with free agent Castro comes the move that many considered to be a “no-brainer.”
As part of his first arbitration contract he signed last winter, El Oso Blanco will be making a healthy $5.2 million sum in 2017.
More from House of Houston
- Are you the 2021 FanSided Sports Fan of the Year?
- Houston Texans: 4 reasons Romeo Crennel is right coach right now
- Astros-Twins Wild Card Series: 5 things to know as MLB postseason begins
- Houston Texans: The Most Underrated Sports Drought Ever
- Houston Texans: J.J. Watt’s early case for NFL Hall of Fame
So what exactly will his role be?
Some speculate that Gattis will remain in his backup catcher/DH hybrid responsibility to the team.
That is, of course, dependent on whether or not the team can sign another catcher. Also under consideration: whether the team signs a starter or a backup.
If unable to sign a free agent catcher, could Evan Gattis assume the role of a starting catcher in 2017?
Early indications suggest the team may not be ready for this feat. Gattis certainly has the bat to still be in the starting lineup in some capacity.
After all, he did break some of his own personal single season records in the following offensive categories:
OBP (.319)
SLG (.508)
OPS (.826)
P/PA (pitches per plate appearance) – 3.85
Walk percentage, or BB% – 8.7
WAR – 3.0
The biggest record from 2016 is, of course, the home runs. Gattis hit the 30-home run plateau for the first time in his career.
Ironically, his 30th home run of last season was also the 100th home run of his career.
Both of his first two seasons in Houston saw Evan Gattis lead the team in long balls. 27 of them in 2015 as a primary DH, and 32 of them last season as a backup catcher/DH hybrid. This led him to a wRC+ of 119 in 2016, among the best for catchers.
All of the offensive records come on a season that was one big crash course on both sides of the ball for the bear. The off season sports hernia surgery and lack of a full spring training caused a few early season setbacks.
But once he eased back into his natural role as a catcher, everything changed. His slash line between his two positions was some kind of a puzzle:
As a DH: .219/.298/.410
As a C: .295/.345/.647
His power bat is proven, but Gattis’ defense becomes a tricky sort of “beast.” The most troubling aspect of his defense behind the plate is his blocking. He gave up 42 catcher wild pitches in 55 games behind the dish.
Next: Miguel Cabrera To The Astros?
Gattis also had five passed balls charged to him, causing him to average one every 11 games. Though not a terrible red flag by any means, it is the root cause of the organization’s concern for him being starter.
However, giving Evan Gattis the benefit of the doubt as I frequently do in my own fan blog on him, The White Bear Chronicles, he is actually an average to above average framer and a well above average thrower of base thieves.
He ended 2016 with a oStr % of 8.0 and a RAA of 4.8. His caught stealing ratio of 46.4 percent and a catcher ERA of 3.44 were also among some of the best numbers across the league in those categories.
Evan Gattis has the skills and experience to be the Houston Astros’ starting catcher, despite the doubt casting. The only question that remains is whether or not the team will provide him with the opportunity.