NEWSLETTER
To the extent I can show the ball as much as possible (the opposite of hiding the ball): this is not a sexy rumor.
Chris Gimenez is a career back-up catcher who was, most recently, the very temporary back-up (back-up) in Texas after Geovany Soto went down with a long-term injury. Gimenez’s tenure didn’t last long, as the Rangers had merely claimed him off of waivers so that they could try and outright him to the minors. They did, and he instead rejected a AAA assignment, electing free agency.
Now that he’s a free agent, the Chicago Cubs may have some interest, according to Chris Cotillo. Are you an able-bodied catcher not named George Kottaras? Then the Cubs will be interested in you if you are available. Such is the state of the Cubs’ catching depth right now. (I just lit a candle for Welington Castillo’s various joints.)
Gimenez, 31, has bounced around the majors and the minors the last half-decade, with his most recent time spent in Tampa Bay. He’s always been light with the stick in the majors (.199/.292/.293), though he periodically put together a great season with the bat in the upper minors. In a pinch, Gimenez can also play first base or a corner outfield spot, but that would have to be one hell of a pinch.
Baseball Prospectus pegs Gimenez at just an average pitch-framer, so don’t look for any buried treasure there. Instead, Gimenez looks to be your typical light-hitting, very-capable-catching, long-term back-up. For the Cubs, they might consider him a more appealing reserve option than Eli Whiteside, behind back-up John Baker. Organizations have to make moves like this as they try to plan and protect for the future, so we’ll see what happens. Presumably, Gimenez will be signing a minor league deal wherever he lands.
