#catchers

#catchers

Somewhat surprisingly, the Nats signed Riley Adams to a one-year split deal ahead of the non-tender deadline. Adams had been widely considered a likely non-tender, coming off a dreadful season and out of minor league options. The move seemed all the stranger when the Nats traded for Harry Ford just a couple weeks later. Adams was designated for assignment and outrighted to clear a roster spot for newly acquired reliever Gus Varland in late January. He's now in camp as a non-roster invitee.

Those efforts shouldn't be taken as a knock against Carlos Narvaez, who turned in an impressive 2025 season that earned him a sixth-place finish in AL Rookie of the Year voting thanks to a combination of league average offense at the plate and elite defense behind it. It seems likely that Narvaez would remain the primary catcher in Boston even if they were to find another backstop to bring into the mix.

The Blue Jays' catching depth isn't quite as deep as it used to be after trading away Danny Jansen and Gabriel Moreno over the course of past few seasons. That bet ended up paying off for Toronto as the team saw its heights with a catching tandem of Alejandro Kirk and Tyler Heineman in 2025. Both catchers played well, but a large part of the Blue Jays' success on the catching side came from Kirk excellently executing every aspect of his position, from framing to offence. The fact that the Blue Jays always put Kirk in the lineup for almost the entirety of the 2025 postseason run was a testament to their faith in the main catcher.

On Saturday, Blake Snell struggled to get into a rhythm early and dealt with some traffic on the bases. The Padres attempted to steal three times, but Smith threw out all three baserunners. Three of the first four outs the Dodgers recorded were via Smith's arm, and it allowed Snell to end up settling in.

The catching position is such a demanding role. To have two guys that are capable, it can help you in so many different ways.