Griffin: Jays acquire Jeff Mathis as backup catcher

Just as they did last winter, the Jays got things going early before the formal sessions started in terms of the trade department. Whereas last season it was a blockbuster with the Brewers, sending staff ace Shaun Marcum to the Brewers for infielder Brett Lawrie, this time on Saturday, GM Alex Anthopoulos reached out to acquire backup catcher Jeff Mathis from the Angels for lefthanded starter Brad Mills. Mathis will have the first chance at replacing Jose Molina as second receiver to starting catcher J.P. Arencibia. Molina signed as a free agent with the Rays, leaving a supplemental draft pick next June.

Coincidentally, Mathis, 28, had stepped in for Molina as the No. 2 receiver for the Angels in '07 and is doing it again with the Jays. Arbitration eligible this year and a free agent after 2013, Mathis is not an offensive threat, but is respected for his game calling. The righthanded hitter batted .174 with the Angels in 93 games in 2011, with a paltry .484 OPS. His career batting average is .194, while throwing out 27-percent of baserunners attempting to steal for his career. Strangely, Mathis in 10 post-season games with the Angels batted .450 with a 1.150 OPS.

The Jays have the 25-year-old J.P. Arencibia as the starting catcher, who was named the team's rookie-of-the-year. His 23 homers in 2011 tied for fourth all-time among rookie catchers. Super-prospect Travis D'Arnaud, 23, was named Eastern League MVP in 2011, but is expected to start the season at Triple-A Las Vegas. 

Mathis earned $1.7 million in arbitration in 2011 and is eligible again, although his statistics will keep him in the $2.0 million range. Molina earned $1.0 million as the backup in 2011. The Jays will have to make a roster move before adding Mathis to the 40-man, likely waiving the current backup catcher, Brian Jeroloman.

 

Comments

[JT]

Seems like a bit of a silly trade. Granted Mills is not likely any more than a AAAA player, he is still an asset. Mathis was going to be non-tendered anyways so why give up anything for him? And now, you have to pay him closer to $2mil because he's arbitration eligible. Mathis is seriously a no-hit backup. There's no way he should even be a major leaguer. Jeroloman would have been a fine backup making the league minimum of less than $500k.

[Richard Fine]

Mathis for $2 million instead of Molina for $1 million-plus?

[Bruce Spurrier]

I never liked Molina & was glad to see him go, but this seems like an odd deal to replace him. Maybe the hope is that Mathis will help J.P. with his skills at blocking pitches in the dirt (Molina certainly didn't excel in that area)?

[Paul]

Seems like a very pointless move. Many vet. catchers around that can call good games.

[Greg]

Of everyone that has ever played in the major leagues and accumulated as many PAs as Mathis has, he ranks 5th last in batting average and 14th last in OPS+. Over 100+ years of professional baseball. For some perspective, Mario Mendoza topped a .200 batting average (the infamous "Mendoza line") 4 times in 8 seasons... Mathis has done it twice in his first 6.

And to comment on the new CBA a little, apparently that's a $2 million dollar player... yet there's no way that we could allow teams to pay teenaged prospects that much money! Cause they're obviously not worth as much as a proven veteran like Jeff Mathis that can't hit at all. It feels sort of mean writing this... I'm sure he is a great guy and works really hard and gives his all when he's out there. But if he can in fact hit at even a reasonable AAA level he'd better start doing it soon, for his career's sake.

[frizzer1]

How many games can a .175 hitter play regardless of his defence?