December 13, 2011

The Return Of Kelly Shoppach

The Red Sox have agreed on a one year, $1.35MM guaranteed contract with catcher Kelly Shoppach.

The addition of Shoppach likely closes the book on Jason Varitek's Red Sox career. In addition to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the Red Sox have both Ryan Lavarnway and Luis Exposito on the 40-man roster. Shoppach made his debut with Boston in 2005, but was traded to Cleveland in the Coco Crisp deal.

Shoppach, who will be 32 in late April, hit an embarrassing .176/.268/.339/.607 in 253 PA for Tampa Bay last year (and had an equally bad OPS of .650 in 2010), but he can hit lefties - Joe Maddon actually gave him more PA against righties last year against whom he OPSed .431. If used properly, Shoppach and his .909 career OPS against LHP could make a decent platoon with Salty.
OPS
                  2011    2010     2009
Shoppach vs LHP:  .788    .830    1.045
Salty vs RHP:     .786   11 AB     .657
Shoppach also led the American League last year in throwing out base runners: 41%. That talent would be most welcome in Boston - hell, catchers even bothering to throw to second would be exciting - but, oddly, that high percentage came after a season of gunning down only 17%:
Shoppach CS%
2006     37%
2007     36%
2008     21%
2009     23%
2010     17%
2011     41%
Most stats taken from the SoSH thread.

Also: The Red Sox signed Matt Albers to a one-year deal. Bobby Jenks underwent minor back surgery yesterday.

10 comments:

FenFan said...

So what day is Jason Varitek Fan Appreciation Day? Is he going to throw out the first pitch or try to gun down Carl Crawford stealing second?

At least Shoppach will have a chance to erase his 0-for-lifetime batting average with the Sox.

laura k said...

The addition of Shoppach likely closes the book on Jason Varitek's Red Sox career.

Praise the gods.

Jere said...

Funny Jeter story for anyone who missed it.

Jere said...

Lowrie traded! For Astros closer Melancon.

9casey said...

laura k said...
The addition of Shoppach likely closes the book on Jason Varitek's Red Sox career.

Praise the gods.




Really?

laura k said...

Really?

About three years late, but better late than never.

Do you imagine Tek immortal?

9casey said...

laura k said...
Really?

About three years late, but better late than never.

Do you imagine Tek immortal?



No, but I wouldn't kick out him for player less than him.

laura k said...

No, but I wouldn't kick out him for player less than him.

Less than him in what year? Tek is finished - he's a liability. We may not have a great catcher to replace him yet, but he can't just continue playing until we do.

allan said...

Of the 19 AL catchers to have 250 PA last year, Varitek's OPS was 10th - 10 points short of 7th. Salty finished #6.

He was a below-average hitter, but the AL catching pool is fairly shallow. I would not have missed him had he retired 3 years ago, but he was not worthless.

Forget CS%, I'd like to see what % of the time he never bothered to throw to 2nd or 3rd. Gotta be 33% at least.

allan said...

Edes:

... Ben Cherington made clear Thursday that he wants [Tek] to remain with the organization in some role. ... Sources told the Chicago Tribune that the [Cubs have] expressed preliminary interest in both Varitek and Tim Wakefield. ...

Shoppach led the American League by throwing out 41 percent of attempted base-stealers. Varitek threw out just 14 percent. Saltalamacchia threw out about 31 percent. ... Among active catchers, Shoppach's career .909 OPS against lefties is fourth-highest in the majors.

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