Spring Training Update: Buster Posey Opts Out

It was increasingly obvious that Buster Posey was probably not going to be playing this season.  The only question was why and what else was going on.  Now we know.  Buster and Kristen Posey are adopting identical twin girls who are currently in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  Buster evaluated the epidemiology landscape, particularly as it pertains to MLB and decided to put the health and safety of his family first.  We can't not support that.  Wish the Posey family health had happiness.

It seems almost sacrilegious(wow!  That is not an intuitive spelling of that word) to immediately talk about how Buster's decision impacts the roster, but when he is the only catcher on the 40 man roster, it does raise some interesting questions.  He was not the only catcher in preseason camp, so the situation is not dire, but the Giants currently have no catcher in their organization with significant MLB starting experience.

The two guys who were competing for a reserve catcher role, Rob Brantly and Tyler Heineman both have intriguing credentials and could pleasantly surprise but they could also be the catching equivalent of Conner Joe and Michael Reed.  Beyond that, there is Joey Bart, who a lot of Giants fans are understandably excited about but who has played only a handful of games above A ball, and 2020 first round draft pick Patrick Bailey, who has yet to play a professional game. Available catchers on the market include Russell Martin and Jose Lobatan. 

With the entire season in serious doubt to any rational observer, I'll guess FZ sits tight and goes into the season with Brantly and Heineman.  They could be surprisingly good. If not, he might then consider bringing Bart up or going on the market for a veteran.

*********************************************************************************

The Giants played a simulated game yesterday.  Since you want to know, a simulated game is somehow different than modified batting practice which is what the Giants did the day before.  Johnny Cueto reportedly looked sharp in 2 innings of work inducing lots of groundballs.  Joey Bart tagged him for a double to RF.  Evan Longoria hit a long HR to straightaway CF.