Cubs acquire C George Kottaras

[gscool89]

RT @JonHeymanCBS: catcher George Kottaras has been traded to the #cubs

[Guest]

Julie DiCaro says that the Cubs are sending cash and that's all.

 

As far as adding backup catchers go, this one is a slam dunk. Kottaras will make a million bucks like most any backup that's externally acquired, he's a great compliment to Castillo as a LH hitter who grades out well defensively, and he's even under team control through 2015 to boot.

[Guest]

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today acquired catcher George Kottaras from Kansas City for a cash consideration.

 

Kottaras, 30, last season served as the Royals back-up catcher after he was claimed off waivers from Oakland in January. He started 29 games behind the plate, hitting .180 (18-for-100) with four doubles, five home runs and 12 RBI. He drew 24 walks in just 126 plate appearances, the most in the majors among players with 150 plate appearances or fewer. Kottaras’ .349 on-base percentage was sixth-highest among A.L. catchers (min. 40 games).

 

The left-handed hitting Kottaras, who was designated for assignment by the Royals on November 22, has batted .214 (148-for-692) with 40 doubles, three triples, 29 home runs and 96 RBI in 295 major league games with Boston (2008-09), Milwaukee (2010-12), Oakland (2012) and Kansas City (2013). He has a .324 on-base percentage, thanks in part to 115 walks in 820 plate appearances, and a .991 fielding percentage (13 E/1,422 TC) in 231 games behind the plate.

 

In 2012, Kottaras tied his career mark with nine home runs (first done in 2010 with the Brewers) between Milwaukee and Oakland, including six long balls in 27 games for the Athletics following a July 29 trade. In his final full season with Milwaukee in 2011, he hit for the cycle, September 3 at Houston, becoming just the third catcher to accomplish the feat in the live ball era.

 

Originally selected by San Diego in the 20th round of the 2002 draft, Kottaras is a native of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. In 2004, he played for Greece in the Olympic Games in Athens.

We got our very own greek god of walks.

[bukie]

Ugh to all the morons on twitter making cracks about this being the move to win the world series.

 

Double ugh to all the morons on twitter going off batting average.

[bukie]

Kottaras' career numbers at Wrigley: .364/.417/.909

[bukie]

One other quick stat comparison:

 

Career numbers compared...

George Kottaras: .214/.324/.406, OPS+ 96

Dioner Navarro: .251/.313/.371, OPS+ 82

[apete6]

Another excellent 2nd tier position player signing by Jed. Goes along well with Navarro, Schierholtz, Valbuena, Ransom, DeJesus, Reed Johnson, Baker, Murphy, Bogusevic, and Sweeney. Not to mention solid record with 2nd tier SPs (Wood, Maholm, Feldman, Arrietta, even Baker wasn't terrible when he finally pitched).

 

Now, if they could just make some superstars appear out of thin air and figure out how to not have an atrocious bullpen, they'd have something. Hopefully the minor league guys are those superstars at some point.

[HoopsCubs]

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today acquired catcher George Kottaras from Kansas City for a cash consideration.

 

Kottaras, 30, last season served as the Royals back-up catcher after he was claimed off waivers from Oakland in January. He started 29 games behind the plate, hitting .180 (18-for-100) with four doubles, five home runs and 12 RBI. He drew 24 walks in just 126 plate appearances, the most in the majors among players with 150 plate appearances or fewer. Kottaras’ .349 on-base percentage was sixth-highest among A.L. catchers (min. 40 games).

 

The left-handed hitting Kottaras, who was designated for assignment by the Royals on November 22, has batted .214 (148-for-692) with 40 doubles, three triples, 29 home runs and 96 RBI in 295 major league games with Boston (2008-09), Milwaukee (2010-12), Oakland (2012) and Kansas City (2013). He has a .324 on-base percentage, thanks in part to 115 walks in 820 plate appearances, and a .991 fielding percentage (13 E/1,422 TC) in 231 games behind the plate.

 

In 2012, Kottaras tied his career mark with nine home runs (first done in 2010 with the Brewers) between Milwaukee and Oakland, including six long balls in 27 games for the Athletics following a July 29 trade. In his final full season with Milwaukee in 2011, he hit for the cycle, September 3 at Houston, becoming just the third catcher to accomplish the feat in the live ball era.

 

Originally selected by San Diego in the 20th round of the 2002 draft, Kottaras is a native of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. In 2004, he played for Greece in the Olympic Games in Athens.

We got our very own greek god of walks.

 

Tim,

Don't yet rule out the other Greek God of Walks coming here.

 

Hoops

Edited November 26, 2013 by HoopsCubs

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Ranks 33rd out of 87 catchers (min. 50 projected PAs) on Steamer for OPS.

[Tyrant]

:wink:

[jersey cubs fan]

ew a Canadian?

[seanimal]

it worked in blazing saddles

[Sammys Boombox]

My favorite ridiculous stat of the 2013 season.

 

http://www.northsidebaseball.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=60908&p=2974127&hilit=kottaras#p2974127

[Cubswin11]

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today acquired catcher George Kottaras from Kansas City for a cash consideration.

 

Kottaras, 30, last season served as the Royals back-up catcher after he was claimed off waivers from Oakland in January. He started 29 games behind the plate, hitting .180 (18-for-100) with four doubles, five home runs and 12 RBI. He drew 24 walks in just 126 plate appearances, the most in the majors among players with 150 plate appearances or fewer. Kottaras’ .349 on-base percentage was sixth-highest among A.L. catchers (min. 40 games).

 

The left-handed hitting Kottaras, who was designated for assignment by the Royals on November 22, has batted .214 (148-for-692) with 40 doubles, three triples, 29 home runs and 96 RBI in 295 major league games with Boston (2008-09), Milwaukee (2010-12), Oakland (2012) and Kansas City (2013). He has a .324 on-base percentage, thanks in part to 115 walks in 820 plate appearances, and a .991 fielding percentage (13 E/1,422 TC) in 231 games behind the plate.

 

In 2012, Kottaras tied his career mark with nine home runs (first done in 2010 with the Brewers) between Milwaukee and Oakland, including six long balls in 27 games for the Athletics following a July 29 trade. In his final full season with Milwaukee in 2011, he hit for the cycle, September 3 at Houston, becoming just the third catcher to accomplish the feat in the live ball era.

 

Originally selected by San Diego in the 20th round of the 2002 draft, Kottaras is a native of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. In 2004, he played for Greece in the Olympic Games in Athens.

We got our very own greek god of walks.

 

Tim,

Don't yet rule out the other Greek God of Walks coming here.

 

Hoops

You saying the Cubs are interested in Youkilis? If they feel the likes of Olt/Watkins/Vitters can't cut it a Valbuena/Youklis/Barney pseudo platoon between 3B/2B wouldn't be the worst thing. Assuming he is healthy (or as healthy as he can be given the stage of his career).

[HoopsCubs]

You saying the Cubs are interested in Youkilis? If they feel the likes of Olt/Watkins/Vitters can't cut it a Valbuena/Youklis/Barney pseudo platoon between 3B/2B wouldn't be the worst thing. Assuming he is healthy (or as healthy as he can be given the stage of his career).

 

I know for a fact that the Cubs are interested in having Youkilis be their back-up 1B/3B and a veteran presence/clubhouse leader. My understanding is that the FO will wait to see if Youkilis gets an offer to start somewhere, and will follow up with him in late December/early January if he's still on the market.

[Guest]

Maybe it's a little irrational but I'm really sick of seeing Darwin Barney play for the Cubs.

 

I can't wait until he's gone forever.

[HoopsCubs]

Maybe it's a little irrational but I'm really sick of seeing Darwin Barney play for the Cubs.

 

I can't wait until he's gone forever.

 

"Really sick of seeing..." is completely understandable.

"Gone forever" is a bit morbid.

 

I think the conventional wisdom on him is that if he's tendered a contract, he will be starting at 2B to start the 2014 campaign, but most expect another player to finish the 2014 season. While it's still possible a team like the Royals could see the value in acquiring him now, I think the Cubs are hoping he gets off to a good start and increases his value for a mid-season deal.

[Cubswin11]

Maybe it's a little irrational but I'm really sick of seeing Darwin Barney play for the Cubs.

 

I can't wait until he's gone forever.

10000000% agree

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I guess the best case is Alcantara rakes in the first half and can come up and replace him... or maybe even Baez.

[Guest]

I guess the best case is Alcantara rakes in the first half and can come up and replace him... or maybe even Baez.

Baez to 3B, Alcantara to 2nd. I'd love to see Barney in a super sub IF role. I think he has value in that role, more than whomever the Cubs would get in a trade for him, anyway. When he gets too expensive they can always non-tender, trade, or DFA him.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm tired of Barney as a starter, but it's not Theriot-bad since he doesn't appear to be a raging asshat...or he just hides it really well.

[ConstableRabbit]

Reminder: Darwin Barney has a flavor savor.

[Backtobanks]

You saying the Cubs are interested in Youkilis? If they feel the likes of Olt/Watkins/Vitters can't cut it a Valbuena/Youklis/Barney pseudo platoon between 3B/2B wouldn't be the worst thing. Assuming he is healthy (or as healthy as he can be given the stage of his career).

 

I know for a fact that the Cubs are interested in having Youkilis be their back-up 1B/3B and a veteran presence/clubhouse leader. My understanding is that the FO will wait to see if Youkilis gets an offer to start somewhere, and will follow up with him in late December/early January if he's still on the market.

 

Assuming he would be cheap enough, Michael Young might be an interesting FA signing. Fits the role of backup 1B/3B (or even middle IF) and a veteran presence/clubhouse leader.

[sneakypower]

as far back as the FG plate discipline data goes (2002), there hasn't been a season (min. 100 PA) where a player has swung less often than Kottaras did in 2013

[Guest]

Heyman and Moody saying that Kottaras signed for 1.075 million plus incentives. I figured he'd be about 1.5 mil, so good news.