Free Agents: Bengie Molina and Matt Treanor

The Rangers catching situation was in flux for all of 2010 and is still not settled going into 2011.  The two veteran catchers on the team are both free agents, and seemingly have different futures ahead of them.

Bengie Molina was acquired on July 1, 2010 and received most of the playing time behind the plate during the second half of the season and the playoffs.  He didn't hit much in the regular season, but had multiple clutch hits in the postseason.  He showed that he is still very adequate defensively, works well with pitchers, and runs slower than any other player in baseball.  (But hey, he still hit for the cycle!)

Molina has said he is leaning towards retirement, but has not made a final decision about that yet.  Should he decide to keep playing, he'll want to be a starter, not a back up.  He seemed happy to be on this team and the Rangers would probably strongly consider re-signing him if he doesn't hang 'em up.

Matt Treanor was acquired late in Spring Training 2010, and after his call up early in the season, he made a positive impact for a team that was getting no production from the catcher position.  His playing time decreased later in the season due to the Molina acquisition and time spent on he DL.  The only games he played in the postseason were games that CJ Wilson started.

Treanor fits the role of a Major League back up well, but any team starting him would be sacrificing offensive production.  He's the typical AAAA player, that's a little too good to be a AAA starter, and not quite good enough to nail down a permanent spot in the Bigs.

Since it's starting to look like Taylor Teagarden might top out at Treanor's production level, there's a good chance Treanor goes to another team next year, especially if another catcher, including Molina, is brought in to start.  That's no knock on Treanor, just the fact that the potential of youth and their cheaper contracts tend to outweigh the experience of veterans hitting the free agent market.  I wouldn't be shocked to see Treanor back in 2011, but I wouldn't be shocked if he's gone, either.

What are the other options at catcher besides Molina, Treanor, and Teagarden?  Well, there's always the possibility of a trade, but those moves are hard to predict and analyze before they go down, because we can't truly know who's really on the trading block.  So instead, let's take another look at the free agent list.

• Victor Martinez:  Far and away the best free agent catcher this year.  He's a powerful switch hitter, an OK defensive catcher, could play some first base and DH, and is apparently a good clubhouse guy that works well with pitchers.  He's been linked to other teams already, but when you're that good you get interest from all over.  T.R. Sullivan speculates that the Rangers would be more likely to try to get Martinez if they decide Vladimir Guerrero is not coming back.
• John Buck:  The Rangers had interest in Buck as a free agent last year before he signed with Toronto.  He had a 20 homerun season and is probably looking to cash in after such production.  Like Martinez, his offense is better than his defense.
• Miguel Olivo:  He has put up pretty good offensive numbers in part time roles for not-so-great teams over the last few seasons.  Out of the names on this list, he doesn't excite me much.
• Rod Barajas:  We've had Barajas before during the Showalter administration, and he was a pretty capable catcher.  He was pushed out the door when the Rangers decided to go young at the position with Gerald Laird.  He could be a decent option and would probably provide the same offense as Molina, if not a little bit more.
• Ramon Hernandez:  Hernandez was a good young catcher with Oakland, and lately has been playing with the Reds.  He's a Type A free agent, which means if the Reds offer him arbitration, any other team that signs him would have to give up their first round draft pick.  He's not worth that.  The only other two Type A catchers are Martinez (worth giving up the pick) and AJ Pierzynski (not worth it).
• Gerald Laird:  When he was traded away to Detroit, the word was he didn't get along well with Ron Washington.  Also, after putting up really good numbers his first chance to start with Texas, he got injured and hasn't hit the same since, either with the Rangers or the Tigers.  Pass.
• AJ Pierzynski:  Older catcher, can be a clubhouse distraction, Type A free agent.  Three strikes, no thanks.

To sum it up, I'd love to get Victor Martinez here, and I'd be satisfied with Buck, Barajas, or Molina starting.  I'd be fine having Treanor back as a reserve, but not a starter.  Jon Daniels has some options, and this is the position that needs the most improvement going into 2011.  Keep an eye on this one.