A year ago at this time, catching was by far the weakest position in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization.
The prospects at the position all profiled as MLB defensive backups, at best, and likely third or fourth catchers on the depth chart in Triple-A. I’m not saying it’s easy to find those types of prospects. I’m just saying MLB teams don’t become contenders with only those types of catching prospects.
My, what a difference a year makes.
Pirates’ General Manager Ben Cherington invested heavily in the catching position this past season.
It started when he acquired Endy Rodriguez from the Mets as part of the Joe Musgrove deal with San Diego in January.