Max Stassi and more available catchers for Marlins to consider

In a perfect world, the Marlins would add a veteran catcher for 2024 who also boosts their offense. That doesn't seem realistic, though. The best bat on the market among catchers, Mitch Garver, has seen very limited action behind the plate in recent years and might be out of their price range anyway.

That being said, it is possible to assemble a great team even without run production from the catcher position.

The Tampa Bay Rays are a great example. They made it all the way to the World Series in 2020 with catchers who slashed .176/.265/.330/.594. That trend has continued for them the last two seasons yet still led to postseason appearances.

Looking at the catchers that the 2023 Rays used, Francisco Mejia is most intriguing. It has always felt as if Mejia can be so much better than what he has been in his stints with the Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres and Rays.

A former Top 100 MLB prospect, Mejia slashed .260/.322/.416/.738 with six home runs, 35 RBIs and a 104 OPS+ in 2021 with the Rays. As his strikeout rate increased from 17.7% to 21.7% to 23.8%, his production dropped off.

Mejia struggled to throw out base-stealers in 2023—opponents went 38-for-42 against him. However, so many of those were stolen off the pitchers, according to Statcast, that he rated in the 60th percentile in CS above average. Going by defensive runs saved, Mejia has typically been a league average catcher.

If Mejia does sign with Miami, it should be on a minor league deal where he has an opportunity to make the initial 26-man roster.

On Friday, Los Angeles Angels catcher Max Stassi was dealt along with David Fletcher to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Tyler White and Tyler Thomas.

It's only a matter time until Stassi is on the move again, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan:

Stassi was incredible for the Angels in the shortened 2020 season, but his numbers have come back down to his career averages since then. In parts of 10 MLB seasons, he has slashed .212/.295/.361 with 41 home runs and a 83 wRC+.

Stassi has had surprising reverse platoon splits during his career, performing better against right-handers than lefties. That would make him an interesting match with Nick Fortes, who had extreme splits the other way around in 2023.

Stassi is a consistently good pitch framer, ranking in the 92nd percentile in 2021. The Marlins might appreciate him after seeing Jacob Stallings disappoint in that department.

The tricky part about Stassi is he didn't play any baseball last season. He missed time with a left hip strain, then stepped away from baseball completely to attend to his baby, who was born premature with health complications.

The last time that the Marlins and Braves struck a trade for a catcher, the Marlins came out of in bad shape, exchanging Adam Duvall for Alex Jackson. At least in Stassi's case, with him being owed $7 million in 2024, Atlanta shouldn't be asking for much in return.

Joey Bart is the only other trade target to mention. The former No. 2 overall draft pick has gotten off to a rough start at the major league level and is now out of minor league options. Maybe a change of scenery can help the soon-to-be 27-year-old.

Martin Maldonado is known to be on the Marlins' radar. A one-time Gold Glove winner, Maldonado has earned a reputation for being someone who pitchers like throwing to. At age 37, he would be a cheap, short-term commitment.

I'll wrap up with a name who actually hit decently in 2023, ex-Cardinals catcher Andrew Knizner. He homered 10 times after having done so only seven times from 2019-2022 combined.

Rumor had it that St. Louis pitchers preferred working with Knizner over Willson Contreras, but stats like defensive runs saved and Statcast run value suggest he was a negative defender. Knizner was non-tendered despite being estimated for a $2 million salary in arbitration, so this would be another cheap player for Miami to consider.

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