Cubs decline Blanco's option

[Wilson A2000]

Hendry better resign him. When a player is given an option and that player has his best year right before the option, resign him. Yeah 3 million is a bit too much, but isn't Blanco the best backup catcher in the league?

[SouthSideRyan]

Hendry better resign him. When a player is given an option and that player has his best year right before the option, resign him. Yeah 3 million is a bit too much, but isn't Blanco the best backup catcher in the league?

 

I don't understand what you're saying with the option part.

 

And no, he's not the best backup in the league.

[CubColtPacer]

Hendry better resign him. When a player is given an option and that player has his best year right before the option, resign him. Yeah 3 million is a bit too much, but isn't Blanco the best backup catcher in the league?

 

That's a really hard question to answer. If you sort by 100 plate appearances, the Cubs are the first team to get 2 catchers on the list (Soto is 4th in OPS, Blanco is 23rd. That's out of 64 catchers that qualify). Cin had 2 catchers as well, but one of them is Valentin who wasn't really used as a catcher much this year. Blanco is also looked at as one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, and had another great percentage at throwing out runners (45.4%). So at least with his arm, that reputation is earned.

 

But best backup? It's hard to say. There are a few catching situations that is hard to pick the starter and the backup. Plus catcher defense is even harder to quantify then other positions. But Blanco has to be right up there. Anytime you can say your backup catcher was an average catcher offensively (for both starters and backups) and probably well above average defensively, that is an amazing combination for a backup.

 

Now-there is a question if he can repeat what he has done the last 2 seasons when he is healthy with the bat. Those were numbers he never put up earlier in his career, and it seems strange for him to finally be figuring it out offensively in his mid 30's. He'll turn 38 next year. So some decline has to be expected for him.

 

Blanco's probably the best catcher floating around in free agency even if he's not the best backup overall. The question becomes if you really want to pay a premium for a backup catcher when you have Soto as your starter. How many resources do you want to pay for a guy who will start 30-40 games in the regular season and is only an insurance policy in the playoffs?

 

The Cubs are at a level right now that they should probably think about how to best utilize their resources both for the season and the playoffs. You don't want to load up too much money balancing your team and creating very little holes during the season, but at the same time end up having 15-20 million dollars locked up in your 5th starter, backup catcher, and 4th or 5th relievers, none of who will play much role in the postseason when you could have made an upgrade to get a star somewhere else.

 

So Blanco could be both worth the money and yet not worth it to the Cubs. It's just how much of a risk the team wants to take. Do they buy one star in the offseason and try to risk it in the regular season, or do they continue to build the best 25 man roster top to bottom, even if it isn't the best 18-20 man squad?

[SpongeWorthy]

The Hank White moniker alone is worth a one year deal at 1-1.5 million.

[chuckywang]

sign Blanco as bullpen catcher and he can mentor Soto all day

 

I don't think Blanco thinks his playing days are behind him.

 

And all this discussion on the best backup catcher in the league ... that's like arguing who's the smartest guy on the shortbus.