December 19th, 2018 at 9:00 am 
by Lauren Jennings After last season’s catching faux pas in the playoffs, the Dodgers parted ways with a certain catcher that fans wanted benched in favor of Austin Barnes. And even though Barnes (sort of) did okay behind the plate, he pretty much proved that he is not what one would consider to be an everyday starting catcher.
Kyle Farmer, Rocky Gale and more recently Keibert Ruiz are all listed as active catchers on the Dodgers current 40-man roster, but none appear to be the right fit for Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman – not yet, at least. As a result, the team, at least in Friedman’s eye, is still in need of a starting catcher.
In his two seasons on the Dodgers major league roster, Farmer has primarily played third base as opposed to catcher, his primary position throughout his entire minor league career. Gale is still young and new to the system in a spot where a veteran catcher is needed to stand up to the fire power of the Dodgers’ starting rotation.
Lastly, 20-year-old Keibert Ruiz was recently added to the Dodgers 40-man, not necessarily to be the Dodgers next big catcher – at least not right away – but to protect him from being snatched up in the just-concluded Rule-5 Draft … and he most certainly would have been.
This leaves the team with the option of exploring players who are free agents; guys like Nick Hundley, Jonathan Lucroy, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and even old friend Drew Butera, all of whom could be good fits but not necessarily the best fit, as the Dodgers await the development of Ruiz and 23-year-old top catching prospect Will Smith.
Of course, soon-to-be former Miami Marlins All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto would be a good fit too, but would cost the Dodgers several of their top prospects in a trade to get, versus spending money for a free agent catcher. Like many, I would prefer to keep the prospects.
Of the 14 remaining free agent catchers still out there, the obvious ‘no-brainer’ – based solely on his success and his ties to the Dodgers – would have to be 37-year-old / 11-year MLB veteran catcher A.J. Ellis, even if it’s just for one season.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
A.J. Ellis was one of my favorites simply because his last name is shared by my mom’s side of the family. I even had a custom double Ellis shirt made to wear while he and former Dodgers second baseman Mark Ellis were on the team together during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
A.J. and Dodgers future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw both made their MLB debuts in 2008. In addition to being batterymates for eight MLB seasons, the pair were and continue to be best friends. But following the 2016 season, Ellis was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies (along with RHP Tommy Bergjans) for Carlos Ruiz and cash. Ruiz would play only 14 games with the Dodgers before being traded to Seattle.
Since that trade, Ellis has been through Philadelphia, Miami and most recently San Diego over the 2017 and 2018 seasons, after each he became a free agent … which he once again is.
If the Dodgers were to consider signing the extremely popular Cape Girardeau, Missouri native – even if for only one season – it would benefit them in several ways. To start, and as I noted earlier, A.J. has been around the organization for a long time and is acutely familiar with ‘the Dodger way.’
He is familiar with the stadium and any potentially tricky spots where the ball may be harder to see or catch. This not only applies to his catching abilities but to his hitting as well. He’d have better knowledge of how far he should or shouldn’t run based on where the ball ends up.
On another important note, with Kershaw having recently signed a 3-year / $93 million contract extension (through the 2021 season), who better to catch for him than his previous batterymate. Ellis knows how Kershaw throws and has been his closest friend since playing together in Double-A.
In his time with the Dodgers, Ellis recorded 385 hits, drove in 213 runs, and threw out 121 would-be base stealers. If he can continue to post similar numbers, again, even if for only one season, then it would be even more of a benefit to the team to sign him. Granted, it’s difficult to predict such things, but there is zero doubt that this would be a baseball reunion to end all baseball reunions.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Unfortunately, since we are ‘just fans’ and have absolutely no say in such matters, we’ll just have to wait and see what the front office decides to do about our beloved team’s current catching situation. But the way I see it is that as long the Dodgers need someone behind the plate that will work well with their very good pitching staff, why not have it be someone with exceptional team chemistry?
Say… like… A.J. Ellis
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AJ has another, critical skill — game planning for pitchers and catchers. Passing that skill along to Barnes, Smith, and Ruiz will only help them become a better catchers. Gale will be 31 shortly after the start of 2019 season and his scouting report basically states that he can’t hit fastballs, curveballs, sliders, or changeups. As soon as Dodgers find a catcher look for Gale to be DFA and assigned to OKC if/when he clears waivers. Farmer seems destined to be at OKC as the emergency backup at 3b and catcher.
“…and his scouting report basically states that he can’t hit fastballs, curveballs, sliders, or changeups.”
lol!
Other than that, how’d you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
May see Gale coaching for Dodgers minor league team sooner than later, but not as a hitting coach 🙂
There’s still the eephus.
I didn’t know Butera was a free agent. He wouldn’t be a bad choice (especially since he learned what to do with his mask during on-field celebrations) but I still think AJ is the best choice.
Since I believe catcher is a defense first position I never thought it was a good idea to put Grandal ahead of him.
Reminds me of an old saying that I heard many years ago:
“It is always best to pay a man what he is worth rather than to pay him what he thinks he is worth.”
I don’t think AJ Ellis is the panacea you guys seem to think he is. Oh sure, make sure Ellis is on the Christmas Party List, but certainly not on the 2019 Dodgers roster.
There is a reason Ellis has been on three teams since being traded by the Dodgers in 2016. That is, he just isn’t very valuable as a baseball player, even though his salary was only $1.25M in 2018.
In spite of Barnes bad season with the bat in 2018, his numbers against left-handers was about the same as 2017. If we are going the Barnes and ??? route let’s look for someone who can hit righties and not pin our hopes on 38 yr old Ellis. There are many “cheap” better options out there.
I don’t consider him a panacea, only a low cost fill-in until Smith is ready who Friedman said will catch meaningful innings this season for Dodgers. AJ would only catch on average 2 games out of 8 and that would only be until Smith is brought up. AJ is well past his prime as a defensive catcher, but his intangibles would be great with the young catchers in ST and working with Austin Barnes. That being said, I think the possibility of Ellis being signed is somewhere between slim and none – Friedman not likely to embrace that option.
At some point soon, Dodgers then must decide they cannot wait forever to resolve the catching issue. I mean if it’s time to move on from any possibility to get Realmuto because of trade demands by the Marlins then so be it. It looks like a stop gap catcher signing might end up being the case here, but wss. I also believe that FO will not pursue that option to sign Ellis. Unless Dodgers do end up with Realmuto, it is probably a case of them not expecting much in the way of offense from this position in 2019 as it may stand.
Only Dec. 19 — I know if feels much later after a dull Winter Meeting, but we have learned that this Dodgers FO is methodical? patient? restrained? paralysis by analyses? slow? — pick one, or two, or all of them. There is no doubt they have a plan, but they keep that stuff close to the vest, if not closer. Realmuto may not even be the Dodgers primary target, allowing rumors to persist for the benefits of misdirection to other teams.
I agree only December 20th now. What’s the rush to find a backup/improvement to Barnes?
I think Friedman is prioritizing something bigger. Something like grabbing one of the two biggest free-agents out there this year or grabbing some serious quality in exchange for our overabundance of good starting pitchers, outfielders and deep farm system.
Friedman has already stated there are many options regarding catcher. Seems like everyone is in agreement that Realmuto is too expensive. Latest rumors I see are Bellinger or Ruiz and May for Realmuto. I don’t think anyone wants to see either of those happen.
While I haven’t given up totally on Barnes, I’d rather see the Dodgers go for someone like the Red’s 27 yr old Tucker Barnhart the 2017 Gold Glove winner, we’d know the defense would show up. He kicked butt in 2017 and signed a 4 yr $16M contract after that. He didn’t do as good in 2018, Reds got some depth at catcher in the minors. Maybe the rebuilding Reds would like to go a cheaper route.
The Dodgers need a replacement for Grandal, there’s no doubt about that and I wouldn’t want the replacement to be just anyone. They’re looking for someone to fill in for about 1 season. With that said, It seems ridiculous that it seems so hard to do. I’d say just go after offense to make up for what Barnes lacks. I also think that A.J. would be nice to have back for a while.
Wait. Not so fast.
What about the other Padres catcher, Austin Hedges? 4 years ago the Dodgers and Padres traded Kemp for Grandal, perhaps another deal makes sense. Hedges offense is meh, but he is a top notch defensive catcher including framing and will not be a FA until 2023. Why would free agency matter with Smith and/or Ruiz available by 2020? Because prospects do fail, in fact they fail more often than not. And, if one or both become Dodgers regular pairing him with a veteran like Hedges or Barnes makes sense and the other can be traded. What would it take to get Hedges? I think Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer should do the trick. What do Padres do for starting catcher? They sign Grandal.
Austin Hedges or someone similar for 1 year appears to be the best option since Smith and Ruiz will be ready soon enough. perhaps our new hitting coach could be of assistance to him and certainly to Barnes as well. WSS.
wow mannnnnn thats my favourite player!!!!! @AJEllis17 @Cindyluellis id love ti see him back, but i w… https://t.co/Hc9etsyfis
I have a soft spot in my heart for AJ. Dodger Catchers have almost always been my favorite Dodgers (Except for Piazza.) But you’d have to have a soft spot in your head to have him as your day-to-day since his hitting is “meh”. Of course Grandal’s hitting after the early 2018 boom was more bust so maybe it wouldn’t matter. Clayton will be happy and maybe return to juggernaut status with his old buddy, and it would only be for a year. I’m starting to come around!
Check AJ’s stats for last year. I don’t know if there’s a reason for the improvement that would likely continue or not. Just saying.
Besides, we’re not talking about day to day.
Yes!!!!!!!