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Colorado Rockies: A look at three backup catchers on the free agent market

By Noah Yingling

HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 20: Martin Maldonado #12 of the Houston Astros hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Minute Maid Park on August 20, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 20: Martin Maldonado #12 of the Houston Astros hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Minute Maid Park on August 20, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 13: Alex Avila #31 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a solo home run in the second inning during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 13: Alex Avila #31 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a solo home run in the second inning during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Alex Avila

Alex Avila has spent the last two seasons as the backup catcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks and he has also spent time as a backup for the Tigers, White Sox, and Cubs in the past few seasons after he was the starting catcher for the Tigers for a number of years.

Last season, he played in 63 games and only hit for a .207 average but due to having more walks than hits, his on-base percentage was above average at .353. That actually got his OPS+ up to league average (100).

Defensively, he was 6th in the National League in Defensive Runs Saved with 7 (minimum of 400 innings behind the plate) and he was right behind Wolters in that category (and Wolters caught more than double the innings of Avila). Additionally, according to Fangraphs, in pitch framing, Avila was 11th among 25 NL catchers with at least 400 innings caught with a 2.8 FRM. Wolters, in comparison, was third to last in the National League with a -8.2 FRM.

Avila’s most recent contract was a 2-year deal worth $8.25 million so if the Rockies signed him for a one year deal, $4 million should be in the ballpark to get a contract done.

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