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Pittsburgh Pirates: Backup Catcher Options for 2022
By Marty Leap
Targeting catching help in the Rule 5 Draft
One way the Pittsburgh Pirates could address their need for a backup catcher is through the Rule 5 Draft. The organization holds the 4th overall pick in the rule 5 Draft, which is still slated to take place after the work stoppage ends, and they could find a backup catcher at this spot.
Landing a catcher in the Rule 5 Draft and keeping them on a MLB roster for the entirety of a season as is required could be difficult. However, due to the Pirates have a veteran like Pérez who is capable of starting 100+ games in a season makes that easier to do.
One potential fit in the Rule 5 Draft could be Blake Hunt. According to FanGraphs, Hunt has a future value of 50 and ended the 2021 season as a top 10 prospect in the Tampa Bay farm system. Hunt was one of the key pieces who came to the Rays from the San Diego Padres as part of the Black Snell trade.
New York Yankee prospect Josh Breaux is another potential Rule 5 Draft selection to watch when ti comes to catchers. Houston Astro catching prospect Yainer Diaz is one Noah discussed last week is another potential option.
This is an abnormally strong catching class for the Rule 5 Draft. Due to this the Pirates could find a backup catcher for the 2022 season in the Rule 5 Draft. As off the wall an option this may sound to find a catcher to pair with Pérez in 2022 it should not rule out.