Interesting opportunity

[nsacpi]

Major League FA catchers: Yorvit Torrealba, Miguel Olivo, Humberto Quintero
Minor League catchers who might be available: Eliezer Alfonso, John Baker, Jesus Flores, Ronny Paulino
Mexican League options: Francisco Cordoba, Jesus Espinoza, Geronimo Gil

WAR over 2011-2013
Laird 1.8
Torrealba 0.5
Olivo 0.0 (the precise definition of a replacement player)
Quintero 1.4 (almost Laird-like!, better glove, weaker bat)
Alfonso (zero ML AB's since 2011, maybe you know something major league GM's don't)
Baker -0.1
Flores -0.3
Paulino -0.2
Cordoba (has hit a bit in 2013 & 2014, maybe)
Espinosa (40 years old, but you never know)
Gil (didn't do much with the Orioles in 2005 & 2007, but who knows now that he has reached the ripe old age of 39 maybe he has figured it out)

Thanks for at least digging up some names!

[IowaBrave14]

I would be comfortable with Lerude back there. For as little as he would actually have to do. I havent seen what he has been doing in the minors, but he looked pretty solid in the spring.

[nsacpi]

[/B]

You are hung up on improvement. Having a backup C is a luxury to have a hitter (loose term for Laird). On the contrary to your question, how many AAAA catchers couldn't be more than a notch worse (550 ops)? While upgrading the BP pretty significantly? I could argue a nice BP arm would have more effect than the ABs of a guy playing every 5th day getting 3-4 Abs that we don't expect much out of in the first place. Especially the way Fredi uses Bp arms.

Interesting argument. It also applies to what we get in return. For example if we get a reliever, who would he be expected to displace from our pen for the rest of the season and what would be the incremental benefit. I am all for doing a cost-benefit analysis of a trade like this.

The other interesting part of this discussion has to do with what kind of hitter Laird is. Do we give more weight to his .550 OPS in 37 PA's or his 2012-2013 numbers based on 332 PA's.

[Tapate50]

Interesting argument. It also applies to what we get in return. For example if we get a reliever, who would he be expected to displace from our pen for the rest of the season and what would be the incremental benefit. I am all for doing a cost-benefit analysis of a trade like this.

The other interesting part of this discussion has to do with what kind of hitter Laird is. Do we give more weight to his .550 OPS in 37 PA's or his 2012-2013 numbers based on 332 PA's.

The 550 is just what he is at now. I don't put much faith in him getting to 700 or close to it again.

Well, for now Walden is down. You could argue that whoever goes down first is who Patton would be replacing. So better than the AAA arm that comes up? Sure.

[Hawk]

WAR over 2011-2013

I'll readily admit that none of the options I listed are mouth-watering propositions, but that demonstrates exactly how little I value Laird's contributions. I also don't know that I would use WAR to gauge the merits of replacement level back-up catchers (many of whom have bounced around in different leagues/stadiums/countries). And then there's the whole thing about the relative incalculability of a catchers unique defensive skills within the WAR formula.

Cordoba is a really interesting name -- and the Braves have deeps roots in the Mexican League.

But again, I doubt the team does anything. Though they should (along with dumping Doumit and Schafer).

[nsacpi]

If I felt Laird was a .550 OPS hitter and effectively a replacement level or worse player, I'd be for giving him up too. I guess I'm in the minority here in not giving much weight to his 37 plate appearances in 2014.

We're seeing a bit of the same jumping to conclusions with Schafer. He's had 22 plate appearance this year. I didn't get too caught up in his hot streak last year and I refuse to draw any conclusions from his 22 PA's this year. The best picture of someone like Schafer (and Laird) who doesn't play much comes from aggregating their numbers over the past three years. Otherwise, you get all sorts of small sample induced volatility.

[jpx7]

If I felt Laird was a .550 OPS hitter and effectively a replacement level or worse player, I'd be for giving him up too. I guess I'm in the minority here in not giving much weight to his 37 plate appearances in 2014.

We're seeing a bit of the same jumping to conclusions with Schafer.

I'd imagine more than a few posters are like me in this regard: they never liked either of them (or, in Schafer's case, never bought into him in his second tour with the team).

[Dalyn]

Unless Laird's replacement does something to help the team win each game he plays...if not keep Laird.

He (the replacement) removes Laird from the team and adds Patton. That helps the team win on a daily basis.

[Dalyn]

If I felt Laird was a .550 OPS hitter and effectively a replacement level or worse player, I'd be for giving him up too. I guess I'm in the minority here in not giving much weight to his 37 plate appearances in 2014.

We're seeing a bit of the same jumping to conclusions with Schafer. He's had 22 plate appearance this year. I didn't get too caught up in his hot streak last year and I refuse to draw any conclusions from his 22 PA's this year. The best picture of someone like Schafer (and Laird) who doesn't play much comes from aggregating their numbers over the past three years. Otherwise, you get all sorts of small sample induced volatility.

Jumping to conclusions with Schafer? Come on...

350+ games. .225 .309 .309 .618

The dude is terrible.

Laird? Shoddy defense and .246 .307 .358 .665 in 750+ games. It is impossible to jump to conclusions with either of those guys. They suck.

[Tapate50]

If I felt Laird was a .550 OPS hitter and effectively a replacement level or worse player, I'd be for giving him up too. I guess I'm in the minority here in not giving much weight to his 37 plate appearances in 2014.

We're seeing a bit of the same jumping to conclusions with Schafer. He's had 22 plate appearance this year. I didn't get too caught up in his hot streak last year and I refuse to draw any conclusions from his 22 PA's this year. The best picture of someone like Schafer (and Laird) who doesn't play much comes from aggregating their numbers over the past three years. Otherwise, you get all sorts of small sample induced volatility.

Which is part of the nature of part time players and bench guys. Catching them on a heater, milking them for their positive value, and trying to do it all over again...

With both players, there are likely better players in most aspects of the game in AAA right now than in the major league club. Thats real life... CB could play WAY better defense, swing the bat likely as well as Laird right now (although i don't think its the prudent move), and Constanza and Turd sitting in AAA playing better ball (although Turd couldn't play CF, but Heyward can).

[Hawk]

Laird? Shoddy defense.

That's all that really needs to be said.

[Dalyn]

That's all that really needs to be said.

Bethancourt? Fantastic defense.

[Braves1976]

Wren needs to trade Laird where Fredi cannot bat him 5th anymore! Fredi has him batting 5th tonight...

[Dalyn]

Wren needs to trade Laird where Fredi cannot bat him 5th anymore! Fredi has him batting 5th tonight...

Funny, but believable.