The Giants recently acquired two new additions to the upper levels of their catching depth chart: Jesus Rodriguez and Daniel Susac. As it currently stands they will compete this spring for the back up catcher role behind Patrick Bailey C. Let's compare them in a prospect smackdown.
Jesus Rodriguez C. DOB: 4/23/2002. B-R, T-R. 5' 10", 208 lbs. 40-man Roster, 2 Options.
2025(MiLB- 2 teams): .307/.393/.403, 7 HR, 21 SB, 11.7 BB%, 13.8 K%, 565 PA, 1.91 GB/FB.
This kid basically raked every level since the Yankees signed him as an international free agent in 2018. He's listed as a C/3B and has also played LF and DH. After acquiring him in a deadline trade for Camilo Doval, the Giants used him as C and DH and openly hope to develop him as a C. His MLB Pipeline scouting report says he struggles at times behind the plate and needs more reps. He moves "OK" and has solid arm strength and a quick release. Although the hit tool is a plus and he makes great contact, he swings at too many pitches out of the zone and hits the ball on the ground way too often to have usable power.
Daniel Susac C. DOB: 5/14/2001. B-R, T-R. 6' 4", 218 lbs. As a Rule 5 Draftee, must stay on Active Roster all season or be offered back to the A', so can't be optioned this season. Starting next season he has 3 Options.
2025(AAA, A's): .275/.349/.483, 18 HR, 7 SB, 8.6 BB%, 26.8 K%, 407 PA, 1.52 GB/FB.
Scouting reports say he made improvements on defense last season and is more advanced defensively than Rodriguez. He also has more usable power than JRod but is no paragon of plate discipline and has a much higher K rate. He also puts the ball on the ground more than ideal but not nearly as much as JRod.
Smackdown: Jesus Rodriguez seems to fit Buster Posey's vision for a higher contact approach from Giants hitters but may not be ready defensively to step into the reserve catcher role. Susac was probably helped a lot by the hitter friendly environment in Las Vegas and is likely to struggle with contact at the MLB level. He probably has the inside track to the back up catcher role if only because he can't be optioned to the minors. In the long run, JRod's batting issues are probably more fixable than Susac's and has a better chance of being on offensive contributor in some role.
Rodriguez will be useful if one of the catchers gets injured.
ReplyDeleteOperative: "needs more reps"
ReplyDeleteSusac was a fantastic addition. Low risk, high reward. Even if he doesn’t develop into a starter, having him for catcher depth for the next three or four seasons at his age with his potential as a former high first round pick is a huge plus. Acquiring Rodriguez was also a huge get for Posey. Those two guys should have our catcher position set for the foreseeable future and if they hit well enough there’s even a chance at starting over Bailey, assuming of course Bailey continues to be a black hole in the hitting department as one of the (if not THE) worst hitters in the league for a starting player.
ReplyDeleteI get Panda vibes from Rodriguez- minor league catcher who is athletic enough (21 SB!) to be considered at other positions and who rakes at every level. The Giants had to find a way to get Panda in the lineup and had an opening at 3B. They probably won’t have that opportunity with Rodriguez so hopefully he can develop enough defensively to be part of a catcher tandem with Bailey. Susac can hopefully hold that place for him for the next year or two.
ReplyDeleteIt was only a matter of time: Wade Meckler perhaps begins the cleanup of the OF glut. Probably brought up too soon, his lack of power doomed him, although he's not the only one with that problem for a corner OFer.
ReplyDeleteDoc can you make any sense of the Brandon Lowe trade? I am scratching my head wondering how we weren’t able to put together a better package or maybe we weren’t interested. Seems like he would have been a decent fit and the names that were traded for him don’t look like much. I’m still gonna hold out hope until offseason is complete before being disappointed but this guy would have been a nice pull for Posey. Nico Hoerner is another name being floated around what are your thoughts on him?
ReplyDeleteIf you look up Brandon Lowe's Fangraphs stat page and look across his 2025 line to Def you see a -9.3. I think that's your answer right there.
DeleteInteresting 3 team trade. The Bucs traded young SP Mike Burrows and got 3 players back including Lowe. Seems like the Bucs made out like bandits. The Bucs are desperate for offense, Lowe fits the bill. Side note: Bucs DFA'd Marco Luciano after trade.
DeleteWith the Hauser signing as a probable #4 or 5 SP, don't the Giants need to sign a 3?
ReplyDeleteWould that preclude Scherzer or Verlander, if they could sign either, as they might be questionable as a #3 SP?
Who is left as a #3 FA that would not want more than 3 years?
Perhaps Buster is waiting for that, someone that doesn't get the long contract...
Good question. I read Zach Minasian's statement about signing Houser. The headline made it sound like he said Houser was the 5'th starter, but when I read what he actually said, I am not so sure. To me it sounded like he was saying Houser gives them 4 experienced SP's and the kids can compete for the #5 slot. I am starting to put together the Top 50 Giants prospects list. They do have quite a stable of young pitchers who could step forward and be really solid: The two remaining Carsons, Trevor McDonald and Blade Tidwell. I am not sure you want to completely block at path for at least one of them to break out into the rotation.
DeleteDon't think Hayden Birdsong is considered a prospect anymore, but Dave Fleming said something on a podcast that I agreed with that fixing Hayden Birdsong should be a top priority for the organization. He has the stuff to be a top of the rotation starter. It was perplexing that they couldnt fix him last year which hurt them..
DeleteLOL Madison Bumgarner: "I got fixed!"
DeleteThat's amazing that Madbum had mechanical issues that Rags help him fix during the 2014 playoffs. He was so good in that playoff, lol!
DeleteKrukow said that pitchers being designated as 1,2,3,4,5 is meaningless after the first go-round. Whoever picks up the ball on any given day is expected to win.
DeleteSorry, Doc, I guess we have gotten off the topic of J Rod vs Susac! But anyway, the Giants really need to assess what they have in their pitching pipeline, not only for their own staff but for possible trades. And not just as #4/5 starters but as bullpen depth and maybe, just maybe they can unearth a future closer. Sabes was great at figuring out who to keep and who to trade for hitting. What a concept- developing your own pitching instead of paying 8 figures for mediocrity!
ReplyDeleteThis Jrod v. Susac smackdown is something I was wondering about as well. Thank you for the analysis.
ReplyDeleteLet's assume that the Giants do indeed sign a Verlander replacement (possibly including the V-man himself). I think that still leaves us a man down if we want to have a 5 person rotation. Have we already done a royal rumble comparison among the young in-house pitchers (the two remaining Carsons, Trevor McDonald and Blade Tidwell, others?) to see who we think is most likely to get the open chair when the music stops?
Funny you should ask because I was just putting that one together in my head. Webb, Ray, Roupp, Houser, ????
DeleteSP: Webb, Ray, Roupp, Houser, ? or ? or ? or ? or ...
DeleteIt's like the outfield: Ramos, Lee, ? or ? or ? or ? or ...
And maybe 2B: Schmitt or ? or ? or ? or ...
Maybe Buster and Minasian think that the 23 pitchers on the 40-man roster are enough to fill 13-14 roles.
Or maybe that's what Johnson thinks: $202,870,069 (Roster Resource) is enough.
Hope not!
We like to spend OPM!