https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2023/12/19/watercooler-wednesday-115/
WATERCOOLER WEDNESDAY.
Totally Tigers
Jake Rogers, acquired in the infamous Justin Verlander trade, is going into just his 2nd full year as a catcher. He had 2 partial seasons followed by a year out of the game because of Tommy John surgery.
He is in his first year of salary arbitration and a free agent in 3 years. He will be 29 this season.
Rogers is a neutral defender, neither really saving or costing the Tigers runs defensively. He is considered to be a ?defense first? catcher and works well with his pitchers. In today?s game, the defensive talents of a catcher greatly outweigh their offensive skills.
Offensively is where he struggles. While he has slugging power, there are issues with too many strikeouts, too few walks and trouble getting on base. Both he and Javier Baez get on base the least out of all the regular lineup players.
His career offensive totals are .205/.277/.417 which are below average.
In the meantime, the Tigers have created and accelerated a catcher development program. Signing multiple catchers for development and depth while creating a program to speed their development. New coaches who specialize in working with them have been brought in to assist.
Historically, the Tigers have been unable to develop solid catchers in their system. Currently, Dillon Dingler is the closest to reaching Detroit but he, too, is struggling at the plate which has delayed his debut.
The Tigers were also rumored to have received the Dodgers? top-ranked catching prospect if the Eduardo Rodriguez trade had gone through.
All of this info has hinted that the Tigers want something more from their #1 catcher.
But what does this mean for Rogers? future? What do you think?
What is Jake Rogers' future with the Tigers?
1. He is the long-term solution to catcher.
2. It is still too early to say.
3. He is the short-term solution to catcher.
VOTE
