Is The Oakland A's Depth at Catcher About To Become Trade Bait?

Going into the offseason following the 2009 season, the Oakland Athletics' had depth at the outfield position.

The question was what to do with Rajai Davis, Ryan Sweeney, Jerry Hairston, Travis Buck, Aaron Cunningham, Eric Patterson, and Jack Cust.

Then they started a plethora of off-season moves including the signings of Coco Crisp and Gabe Gross, and trading for Jake Fox and Michael Taylor. The question is still the same, only half the outfielders in question are new faces.

Spring Training hasn't yet answered the overall outfield questions, but the depth in the outfield is quite possibly about to impact the depth at another strong position in the A's system: Catcher.

A's broadcasters and fans have been debating all Spring whether Eric Patterson or Jake Fox would make the team. Both are, as noted over and over again, out of options and likely wouldn't clear waivers if optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. Newly acquired infielder Adam Rosales made noise this spring, arguably challenging Pennington for the starting job.

Susan Slusser, of the SF Chronicle, speculates that the answer to the Patterson/Fox dilemma is to keep both in Oakland and send Rosales and catcher Landon Powell to Triple-A to start the season since they both have options remaining.

Such a move would, for the time being, make Jake Fox the backup catcher.

While I like this move because it buys the A's time to find a trade for one of their very capable players, it further complicates the catcher depth. If Fox really is the A's plan for backup catcher, the A's will have a smorgasboard of catching talent in the minors.

Both Powell and Anthony Recker would make more than serviceable backups at the big league level.

Josh Donaldson and Joel Galarraga are both ready for Triple-A but will likely be delayed by Powell's presence at Sacramento and kept at Double-A Midland...where catching prospect Yusuf Carter is said be starting, according to A's Director of Player Development Keith Lieppman (subscription required).

Oh yeah, and in the low levels of the minors we have valuable 2009-draftee Ryan Ortiz and Kurt Suzuki's heir apparent Max Stassi who are sure to climb the ladder quickly.

That is a lot of minor league catching depth if Jake Fox starts the season in Oakland as Suzuki's backup. To me, that just screams that a trade is coming, because valuable and cheap backup catchers, Powell and Recker, would more than help at least 10 different teams at the big league level both offensively AND defensively.

The only question is, who becomes the trade bait? Powell? Recker? Galarraga? Donaldson? Carter? Ortiz?...I'm pretty sure Stassi is untouchable,for now.

Maybe Fox becomes trade bait as they continue to audition him at the big league level for other teams. But the catcher position is pretty crowded. If Fox stays, somebody has to go...

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