3 free agent catchers the Baltimore Orioles should target

While much of the offseason attention has been rightfully focused on who the Baltimore Orioles should add to the top of their rotation and discussing who replaces Anthony Santander’s production should he end up signing elsewhere, Orioles GM Mike Elias has also been vocal about the need to bring in another catcher to work alongside Adley Rutschman. 

Veteran backstop Rene Pinto was recently claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay, and while last year’s Opening Day catcher for the Rays has some decent pop and was a league average bat in his very limited sample size last season in the big leagues, he’s not the defensive stalwart the Orioles should pair with Rutschman.

Blake Hunt is also on the 40-man roster, but Hunt has yet to make his MLB debut and while he showed some promise after coming over from Seattle in the Michael Baumann trade, he was dreadful with Triple-A Norfolk after returning from an IL stint (.179/.219/.278 with a 24 wRC+ in 42 total games).

Of course, there’s one of the top prospects in the league in Samuel Basallo waiting in the wings, and a 2025 MLB debut is certainly possible, but he’s just 20 years old with limited experience in Triple-A. The ceiling is enormous, but given his age and position, it’s easy to see the Orioles remaining patient with him.

Free agent options have thinned with the recent signings of Travis d’Arnaud and Austin Hedges, but there are still a few intriguing options that could fill this need for the Orioles.

Carson Kelly's defensive attributes would benefit the Orioles

Strictly looking at free agent options, Carson Kelly is an attractive target. The 9-year MLB veteran split last season with the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, hitting a combined .238 with a .313 on-base percentage and nine home runs. 

He was a league-average bat coming off the lowest strikeout rate of his career, but it’s the defense that stands out. According to Baseball Savant, Kelly was an above league-average blocker who ranked in the 68th percentile in catcher framing and caught 26% of would-be base stealers (21% was league average last season). 

For reference, James McCann ranked near the bottom of the league in terms of blocking pitches and framing. He caught 23% of runners, but also frequently caught Corbin Burnes who was run wild against. Some of that can likely be attributed to Burnes, seeing as McCann caught 34% of baserunners last season with the Orioles.

Kelly would be a solid complement to Rutschman, who is a well below league-average framer, and a defensive improvement over McCann, while at a minimum matching McCann’s offensive output. Potential roadblocks with signing Carson Kelly could include his desire for a multi-year deal considering the current crop of free agent backstops and his willingness to be the clear man behind Rutschman. An opportunity that includes more money and more playing time could very likely be in his future. 

Former Rockies catcher Elias Diaz is a logical target

Elias Diaz won’t match the potential offensive production Carson Kelly would bring, but the 34-year-old catcher would likely be an easier sign and one that possesses the high-level defensive skills the Orioles are likely coveting with this signing. He's also probably much more likely to sign a one-year deal while being the clear number two.

Diaz was an All-Star for the Colorado Rockies in 2023, hitting .267 with 14 home runs in the Mile High City, but was released by the Rockies during the 2024 season. He finished the year with the San Diego Padres hitting a combined .265 with 6 home runs and 20 doubles with Colorado and San Diego.

While he hit 48 home runs across five seasons in Colorado, Diaz wouldn’t give much in terms of home runs in Baltimore, but he’s one of the top defensive options still left on the market. 

Statcast ranked Diaz in the 77th percentile in pitch framing, he caught 27% of baserunners, and despite his age, he’s still got one of the top pop times in the league (the time from when a pitch hits a catcher’s mitt to when it reaches the intended base the catcher is throwing to). 

The Orioles reportedly have interest in Diaz, one of the better options available on the market and a possible upgrade over McCann.

The Orioles want their clubhouse leader back

Speaking of McCann, he should also very much be in the mix. Like Kelly, if McCann is seeking a multi-year deal, the Orioles will probably look elsewhere, but if the opportunity presents itself to bring McCann back for one more year, the Orioles will happily have their leader back in Baltimore.

While a defensive upgrade at the backup catcher position could have a notable impact, McCann's veteran leadership in the Orioles clubhouse is highly respected and something the organization needs. It's not just about having Adley Rutschman continue to learn from an 11-year veteran, but he commanded respect with his work ethic and was not only someone looked up to and respected by fellow hitters, but pitchers as well.

Nothing embodied McCann's leadership and toughness more than taking a fastball directly to the face this season and remaining in the game so Rutschman wouldn't have to catch the full doubleheader scheduled for the day. Some of the more important traits McCann brings to the roster can't be quantified, so it would be interesting to know how much the Orioles value those traits over bringing in a better defender.

With the bat, McCann still brings some value. When the Orioles needed his bat the most, McCann stepped up. After posting a .590 OPS pre All-Star break, he hit .262 with a .785 OPS post All-Star break. That includes a particularly impressive September where he hit .324 with four home runs and an OPS of 1.086.

If the Orioles want to improve the defense behind the plate, Elias Diaz checks that box. If they want to make sure their clubhouse leader is back in 2025, one more year of a Rutschman-McCann duo behind the plate will get the job done.