Arizona Diamondbacks: Checking in on the Situation Behind the Dish

The Arizona Diamondbacks will likely send out a platoon role made up of Chris Iannetta and Jeff Mathis behind the plate in 2017.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been a bit of a mess this off-season regarding the catcher position.

In his first winter as the Diamondbacks general manager, Mike Hazen has been hot and cold about who will be the starting catcher on Opening Day.

It started with the departure of Welington Castillo, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles in mid-December. Castillo enjoyed one of the best seasons of his seven-year career with the Diamondbacks in 2016, as he hit .264 to go along with 14 home runs and 68 RBI.

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Castillo provided the Diamondbacks with some pop behind the plate, and it came as a surprise when the team decided to non-tender his contract in early December. For Hazen, the search began for a permanent catcher.

Chris Herrmann appeared to emerge into the driver’s seat for the starting role behind the dish. That didn’t last long though, as they claimed Juan Graterol from the Cincinnati Reds in exhchange for Peter O’Brien. Graterol wasn’t immediately deemed the starter, but it was perceived that he and Herrmann would duke it out for the starting gig.

Also in the mix with Herrmann and Graterol was 33-year old backstop Jeff Mathis. The Diamondbacks agreed to a deal with the veteran catcher in mid-December, so there was another piece thrown into the puzzle.

In 38 games with the Miami Marlins last season, Mathis slashed .238/.267/.333, which is certainly nothing to bat an eye over. But for a platoon role, something that the D-Backs appear to be favoring, it would hold up.

The catching-carousel continued to run its course, as Graterol was designed for assignment by Arizona less than two weeks ago. In what seemed to be a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks signed another veteran catcher, Chris Iannetta.

While it has quieted down recently, it looks as if Hazen will go with a platoon role of Mathis and Iannetta when April rolls around. Herrmann is probably in the mix as well, but having three catchers on the roster is pointless and cluttered.

I urged for the signing of free agent catcher Matt Wieters earlier this off-season, but it doesn’t look like my wish will be granted. The Diamondbacks front office seems set on a split-time role between two catchers instead of going all in on one.

After all, Hazen knows best about the situation of his new team. Instead of bringing back the mighty Beef Castillo, he’d rather go with the one-two punch of Mathis and Iannetta.

Next: Arizona Diamondbacks: Greinke, Miller Play Crucial Roles in 2017

All we can do is trust him, and hope it plays out exactly how we want it to.

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