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Monday, November 29, 2021

Void behind the dish: How do Giants account for Buster Posey departure? - San Francisco Chronicle

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On July 12, with veteran catcher Curt Casali having launched another home run in a Giants victory, the team sent Joey Bart back to Sacramento. It would be the last Giants fans would see of the catching prospect tabbed to replace Buster Posey.

After starting 27 of 60 games behind the plate during a coronavirus-shortened 2020 season, the demotion was surely a blow to 2018’s second overall pick. But with the Giants surprisingly two games ahead of the Dodgers and Casali and Posey playing well, Giants executive Farhan Zaidi was focused on a National League West title.

Four months later, the Giants have no rings to show for an MLB-best 107 wins, Casali watched his on-base plus slugging percentage take a dive (.740 to .663) and Posey is retired.

Hey, rookie, the big club might need you again.

Posey’s retirement, sudden but not surprising, leaves the Giants with a void behind the plate. The free-agent catcher market is not too appetizing, with Yan Gomes (1.6 Wins Above Replacement in 2021 with exceptional defensive skills) the lone proven starter after Manny Piña signed with Atlanta. Chadwick Tromp, who showed flashes of his power potential in 2020, was designated for assignment and claimed by the Braves.

So where does that leave Bart, who posted an .831 OPS with 10 home runs in 67 games in hitter-friendly Triple-A West last season?

San Francisco could pursue the right-handed-hitting Gomes as Bart continues to develop. Zaidi is willing to spend on starting pitchers (he re-signed Anthony DeSclafani this offseason), but does he value catchers the same way? With the team rebuilding a starting staff hit hard by free agency, is money better spent on a catcher or pitcher?

The Giants could pursue a cheaper free-agent catcher, such as left-handed-hitting Stephen Vogt, and have the right-handed-hitting Bart compete for a platoon spot. Or the Giants could have Bart prove his worth in spring training.

Had Zaidi known how the following four months would unfold, perhaps he lets Bart take his lumps in the major leagues. Or perhaps Bart, whom Zaidi did not draft, isn’t in the cards.

Nick Lozito is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nlozito@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NickHLozito

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Void behind the dish: How do Giants account for Buster Posey departure? - San Francisco Chronicle
"dish" - Google News
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