Sure, there’s major league catchers available everywhere, littering the side walk, GMs have to step over them to get in the building. They could have any other catcher just for the asking. The Astros have ruined season after season with the one they have now. To prove it, McTaggart lists the catchers the Astros have employed besides Brad Ausmus,
“Alan Ashby. And Alex Trevino, Tony Eusebio, Eddie Taubensee, Mark Bailey, Joe Ferguson,Bruce Bochy, Pat Borders, Raul Chavez, Ed Herrmann, Milt May, Skip Jutze, John Bateman, Scott Servais, Robbie Wine, Ron Brand, Jerry Grote, Hal Smithy, Mitch Meluskey, Luis Pujols, George Bjorkman, John Mizerock, Ronn Reynolds, Rich Gedman, Gregg Zaun, Alan Zinter, Paul Bako, Randy Knorr and Craig Biggio…”
Dime a dozen, Footer goes into the gory details,
“They’re currently trying to decide if Humberto Quintero can be the frontline catcher. So far, he’s done well, although offensively, he’s not any better than Ausmus. Could they live with “Q” as the main guy? Probably. But I wouldn’t be surprised if the Astros go after a free agent catcher. There are a couple who are getting on in years but still could be pretty serviceable — Pudge Rodriguez is available, as is Gregg Zaun, who sounded pretty ready to get out of Toronto after Rod Barajas took over as the starting catcher. On that note, Barajas is a soon-to-be-free agent as well.
I believe the Astros should spent their dollars on pitching this offseason, but I think it would be wise to get a veteran catcher in here, too, because what they have right now may work out, but it may not.
Yes, we’re going to miss Ausmus.”