Astros reportedly surveying market for catcher upgrade

July 27, 2016

Read

For the Houston Astros to take the next step in contending for a title, the answer may ultimately wind up coming from behind the dish.

According to a report by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports on Wednesday, the Astros are surveying the market for an upgrade at the catcher position and have been monitoring Jonathan Lucroy of the Milwaukee Brewers and Derek Norris of the San Diego Padres specifically.

Jason Castro (more of a defensive specialist) and Evan Gattis (more of a power-hitting specialist) have rotated platoon duties at catcher for the Astros this season. Norris, who has improved his previously substandard defense behind the plate but is batting a career-worst .199 in 2016, probably wouldn’t make much of a difference for them, even if the Padres appear intent on moving him. The all-around play of Lucroy, the two-time All-Star, definitely would, but he will come neither cheap nor uncontested.

Rosenthal also notes that the Astros may just opt to keep the status quo for now and wait until next season to pursue another catcher. But it’s at least a positional need to keep tabs on with the Astros currently a mere one game out in the race for the second Wild Card spot in the AL.

Image Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Article Tags

Derek Norris Jonathan Lucroy

Julius Randle pulled petty move after losing to Knicks

Julius Randle wasn’t exactly singing Kumbaya after his Minnesota Timberwolves’ loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday night. Randle’s Timberwolves lost 133-107 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., to his former team. Making matters worse is that Karl-Anthony Towns,…

Jim Harbaugh hit the smelling salts on the sidelines

Jim Harbaugh was not messing around on Thursday night. The Los Angeles Chargers head coach was shown on TV taking some smelling salts on the sideline as his team was facing the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.…

A’s add another ex-Yankees standout in free agency

While the exact goal remains unclear, the Athletics continue to make moves. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Thursday that the A’s have agreed to a deal with free agent infielder Gio Urshela. They are now set to become…

Grizzlies pull petty move on Warriors during 51-point beatdown win

The Memphis Grizzlies got to bust out a favorite pastime of theirs during their absolute thumping of the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. Memphis took care of business at home against Golden State, running their Western Conference rivals out of…

Justin Herbert has one of best touchdown throws of NFL season

Justin Herbert worked some real magic on Thursday night against the Denver Broncos. In the fourth quarter of his team’s Week 16 game, the Los Angeles Chargers star quarterback Herbert went viral for a gravity-defying touchdown throw. Herbert was flushed…

Chargers score on incredibly rare play not seen since 1976

The Los Angeles Chargers scored on Thursday on a rare play that hadn’t been seen since 1976. The Chargers were trailing the Denver Broncos 21-10 just before halftime in their “Thursday Night Football” game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.…