Kratz Re-signed, Latest: Traded to SF

[markedman5]

Terms not disclosed yet

[markedman5]

Only 300 k guaranteed.......happy to have him back as an option. Obviously very well liked by his teammates.

 

[Lathund]

Did not expect that at all tbh. Would have thought for sure that they'd go with Piña + new signing of some kind. But I guess this yet again shows that this regime values the defensive aspect highly, and that they like how pitchers worked with him. I hope it works out, in his short time here so far he has seemed like a really good teammate and good person overall. But I do have my doubts.

[pacopete4]

MVKratz!!

[IntentionalHBP]

Kratz is far superior than Realmuto

[Lathund]

Only 300 k guaranteed.......happy to have him back as an option. Obviously very well liked by his teammates.

 

 

I wonder how does this type of deal work for a player out of options? Will he be signed to a minor league deal and thus not be on the 40-man for now? Or is it a major league contract but where he'll be exposed to waivers every time he gets sent to the minors, but if he accepts being outrighted he'll earn the higher salary negotiated?

[wallus]

This is insurance if there are no better options brought in or if Nottingham is determined to not be ready.

[pogokat]

This is also a "welcome to the coaching staff" deal

[KeithStone53151]

This is insurance if there are no better options brought in or if Nottingham is determined to not be ready.

 

Im ok with the guarantee if that's all it is. Prudent move if that's the case

[IntentionalHBP]

I’m so excited for him

[ClosetBrewerFan]

I would have thought they would sign him to a minor league contract thus saving a 40 man spot. However, the low guaranteed salary is a bonus. Hopefully they can find an upgrade.

[Montezuma]

Kratz is a team guy, I am ok with resigning him...

[reillymcshane]

This is exactly what I expected with Kratz.

 

I'm betting that no one - not even him - expects him to make the roster. But the Crew give him a nice salary (300k) to be in the minors and be ready in case there are injuries (always a concern with catchers).

 

It works out nice for everyone. The Brewers have a trusted veteran down at AAA if the need arises. Kratz gets a guaranteed deal worth at at least $300,000 (probably more as he would have a chance to get called up if there was an injury and in September when rosters expand). He plays a couple of times a week, stays in shape, maybe helps teach Nottingham the nuances of the game. It's a good plan. In the end, Kratz can have one more season with a solid payday and even get some time on the big league club if needed.

 

Not bad for a guy who turns 39 next season.

 

Of course, maybe I'm wrong and the team wants him on the roster all season in 2019. But I doubt that.

[MNBrew]

I really like this. $1.2M for your veteran backup catcher whose game is what Kratz's is is a pretty decent deal. Yeah, he's going on 39, but we'll likely have more money blown w/ guys on the DL anyway than if we're paying Kratz $300k in AAA.

 

You had to figure there would be at least one other catcher beyond Pina with some meaningful MLB experience on the 40-man (in other words, someone else besides Nottingham). Kratz is nothing flashy but he knows the team & the team knows what he can do & what he's about, and there's something to be said for the combination of those factors and the very reasonable cost for them.

 

It may be a moot point, but I'd still be up for giving Stephen Vogt the same money (maybe slightly less) but on a minor-league/NRI/make-good deal, too.

[Mr Southpaw]

I really like this. $1.2M for your veteran backup catcher whose game is what Kratz's is is a pretty decent deal. Yeah, he's going on 39, but we'll likely have more money blown w/ guys on the DL anyway than if we're paying Kratz $300k in AAA.

 

You had to figure there would be at least one other catcher beyond Pina with some meaningful MLB experience on the 40-man (in other words, someone else besides Nottingham). Kratz is nothing flashy but he knows the team & the team knows what he can do & what he's about, and there's something to be said for the combination of those factors and the very reasonable cost for them.

 

It may be a moot point, but I'd still be up for giving Stephen Vogt the same money (maybe slightly less) but on a minor-league/NRI/make-good deal, too.

 

Left handed catchers, 3b, and middle infielders always make me interested, although Vogt had no arm before shoulder surgery.

[Outlander]

Fine with this but would have rather he signed a $300,000 minor league contract with the $1.2 million if he makes the team and put Jon Olczak on the 40 man.

[Boomer5]

If they are using a 40 man on Kratz that means they aren’t yet comfortable with Nottingham.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

If they are using a 40 man on Kratz that means they aren’t yet comfortable with Nottingham.

 

Or that Nottingham is trade capital. I suppose those two conclusions are pretty much one in the same, though.

[MrTPlush]

Kratz as the back-up? I doubt that...I really do. He is an okay insurance policy at AAA, but lets be honest here, he sucks. Still a guy ho OPS+ 69 and has questionable defense. That offense is fine if he is a stud defensively...but not the way he hits.

 

They would be way better off signing Maldonado to backup and just pay a few extra millions. No way they allow Kratz to be the secondary guy going into ST.

[JohnBriggs12]

If they are using a 40 man on Kratz that means they aren’t yet comfortable with Nottingham.

 

Why would they be comfortable with Nottingham? He hasn't hit much at all above A ball except for 200 or so PA in Colorado Springs, a hitter's haven. Even there his numbers were good, not great. It was a given they'd add a veteran.

[Boomer5]

If they are using a 40 man on Kratz that means they aren’t yet comfortable with Nottingham.

 

Why would they be comfortable with Nottingham? He hasn't hit much at all above A ball except for 200 or so PA in Colorado Springs, a hitter's haven. Even there his numbers were good, not great. It was a given they'd add a veteran.

 

We are on the same page bro.

[And That]

ho OPS+ 69

Nice.

[And That]

He hasn't hit much at all above A ball except for 200 or so PA in Colorado Springs

This is simply not true. His TAv in 2016 was .248, in 2017 was .264, and in 2018 was .282. TAv baseline is .260, so he's literally been an above average hitter 2 of his 3 seasons above A ball. wRC+ tells the same story, with marks of 87/103/126 in that same time frame.

 

TAv and wRC+ are both adjusted for parks effects (TAv more so than wRC+), which wipes out the Colorado Springs hitters haven argument. It is actually possible for players to get better while playing in a bandbox.

 

Additionally, Nottingham has progressed defensively to the point where he no longer needs his bat to carry him to the big leagues. He can and will provide value defensively.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

He hasn't hit much at all above A ball except for 200 or so PA in Colorado Springs

This is simply not true. His TAv in 2016 was .248, in 2017 was .264, and in 2018 was .282. TAv baseline is .260, so he's literally been an above average hitter 2 of his 3 seasons above A ball. wRC+ tells the same story, with marks of 87/103/126 in that same time frame.

 

TAv and wRC+ are both adjusted for parks effects (TAv more so than wRC+), which wipes out the Colorado Springs hitters haven argument. It is actually possible for players to get better while playing in a bandbox.

 

Additionally, Nottingham has progressed defensively to the point where he no longer needs his bat to carry him to the big leagues. He can and will provide value defensively.

 

But he isn't Khrush Davis

[Thurston Fluff]

Kratz as the back-up? I doubt that...I really do. He is an okay insurance policy at AAA, but lets be honest here, he sucks. Still a guy ho OPS+ 69 and has questionable defense. That offense is fine if he is a stud defensively...but not the way he hits.

 

They would be way better off signing Maldonado to backup and just pay a few extra millions. No way they allow Kratz to be the secondary guy going into ST.

 

From everything I've read or heard about him is his defense is well above average. I know he graded out as one of the best pitch framers in the league last season and threw out 30% of base stealers and four passed balls in just under 500 innings.