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MLB Rumors: Tampa Bay Rays make offer to Matt Wieters

By Joshua Sadlock

Sep 21, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) fields a ground ball in the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) fields a ground ball in the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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All-Star catcher Matt Wieters is still looking for a job, and the Tampa Bay Rays have reached out to the free agent with an offer.

No matter how many times his agent, Scott Boras, tries to convince the league that Matt Wieters is the second-coming of Carlton Fisk, the four-time All-Star is still looking for a contract for the 2017 season. According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays have made an offer to Wieters. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports also confirmed that Tampa Bay had extended an offer but cautioned that the Rays should not be viewed as the favorites to land the catcher.

While Wieters and Boras are still mulling their options over, they may need to soon bite the bullet and accept a one-year pillow contract with the hopes of establishing value for next offseason. A market for Wieters never materialized this winter, with teams preferring to place more weight on pitch framing and other advanced defensive metrics. For example, the Minnesota Twins signed vaunted framer Jason Castro to a three-year deal for $24.5 million despite his underwhelming .232/.309/.390 career batting line. Wieters is viewed as a below-average framer and blocker behind the dish, but his throwing arm still rates well, even after Tommy John surgery.

In his first full season after recovering from elbow surgery, Wieters batted .243/.302/.409 in 124 games with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs. The former top prospect’s bat has never materialized as an elite threat in the big leagues. If he is still looking for a multi-year deal, Wieters may be forced to severely lower his asking price. One team that was expected to consider signing him, the Los Angeles Angels, is reportedly not interested, even as the price continues to drop.

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If the Rays are unable to land Wieters, they will enter the 2017 season with Curt Casali and Luke Maile doing the catching. Free-agent addition Wilson Ramos is still recovering from a knee injury, and is expected to return in May.

Wieters would make a solid fit for Tampa Bay given his familiarity with the division. Adding him could also allow the Rays to use Ramos more frequently at first base or DH. The Washington Nationals have also expressed interest in signing Wieters in recent days. Barring a major injury in camp, Wieters and Boras may be forced to make a decision soon.

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