This Just In: Henry Blanco Opts Out

by Rockkstarr12 on Nov 2, 2011 3:59 PM EDT

Looks like Henry Blanco is following suit to Willie Bloomquist. What am I referring to? Henry has decided to opt out of his $1.15 million deal with the Diamondbacks! In what will be his 15th season in baseball, Henry will be seeking employment elsewhere after spending this year being Miguel Montero's backup.

Article can be found here.

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Well that's a bummer

But in now way does it mean he won’t return to the team. It’s not uncommon for players to opt out of mutual options.

Wear your own fur.

by Marc Fournier on Nov 2, 2011 4:10 PM EDT reply actions

Actually...

I’m kind of glad to hear this. I think we need a backup catcher that’s more capable of filling in for an extended period should something happen to Miggy. I don’t think Blanco would be very useful for an extended period.

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

by sonic barracuda on Nov 2, 2011 4:15 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think many teams have that guy...

With what Blanco does in the clubhouse, he’s just fine.

Founder and Chairman of the Send Dan Some Pizzeria Bianco Commission (SDSPBC). SDSPBC is a totally, definitely for-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 2, 2011 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

eh

it’s not a big deal either way for me

maybe we can go out and pick up Doumit to be the backup catcher

by blue bulldog on Nov 2, 2011 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

You mean the guy

Ranked by Mike Fast as one of the two worst (forget whether he’s the bottom guy or not) catchers in baseball at framing in his big catcher study?

Yeah, no thanks. Doumit’s a RFer, and not a good one.

Founder and Chairman of the Send Dan Some Pizzeria Bianco Commission (SDSPBC). SDSPBC is a totally, definitely for-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 2, 2011 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Jason Varitek?

Chris Snyder even?

"We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees." –Jason Kidd

by blank_38 on Nov 2, 2011 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Snyder was one of the clubhouse cast-offs

So we won’t be bringing him back. I could totally see Varitek, though.

Founder and Chairman of the Send Dan Some Pizzeria Bianco Commission (SDSPBC). SDSPBC is a totally, definitely for-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 3, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

In spite of his mediocrity...

Founder and Chairman of the Send Dan Some Pizzeria Bianco Commission (SDSPBC). SDSPBC is a totally, definitely for-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 3, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

And he is a

true veteran.

"The kingdoms of Experience, In the precious wind they rot, While paupers change possessions, Each one wishing for what the other has got, And the princess and the prince, Discuss what's real and what is not, It doesn't matter inside the Gates of Eden." B. Dylan

by xmet on Nov 3, 2011 5:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I love the idea of Varitek

He’s a switch hitter, could be an awesome clubhouse guy, brings some playoff verve, could fill in as a team leader if something happened to Miggy.

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

by sonic barracuda on Nov 3, 2011 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

oh c'mon

framing catches isn’t everything

Doumit’s a good offensive player, and you only need him for 100-150 PA if Miggy’s healthy, and he has the starting experience to be able to fill in for longer if Miggy gets injured. dude has never had a below replacement level season.

if we can get him for the right price to be a backup catcher, i’d be up for that. if Miggy got injured and was out for an extended period of time, you’d rather have Blanco? we’re talking about an offensive difference of 60-70 wRC+ for Blanco, vs. 100-110 wRC+ for Doumit. there’s no way Doumit’s defense is so bad behind the plate that it makes up for 40 points of wRC+

by blue bulldog on Nov 2, 2011 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

From what I've seen,

you really don’t want to see Doumit behind the plate.

by xmet on Nov 2, 2011 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Hell no!

I got sprayed by Ryan Roberts!!!

by Rockkstarr12 on Nov 2, 2011 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Went back and checked the article

Worst in baseball, -66 runs over the last six years simply through framing pitches. The study might not be 100% accurate, but that’s pretty much his entire career, in which span he has a total of 9.6 fWAR, which doesn’t account for such framing runs. So, basically, he’s accumulated something like 3 wins above replacement in six years. With 95 of his 521 career games coming in the outfield and at first base, imagine how bad his numbers would be if he were a full-time catcher and kept costing himself additional runs behind the plate.

Yeah, no thanks. I’ll take Blanco in a nanosecond, particularly if he’s cheaper.

Founder and Chairman of the Send Dan Some Pizzeria Bianco Commission (SDSPBC). SDSPBC is a totally, definitely for-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 3, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

please no

by rapdawg on Nov 2, 2011 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Blanco

Does he want more money? Maybe this is a move for him to re-sign with the Dback’s for more money.

by Fannatick on Nov 2, 2011 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

I think it's something similar to Shoewizard's point in the Bloomquist thread

What does Blanco have to lose? Worst-case scenario, he gets something like a $100k reduction in pay, whereas best-case scenario he gets a second year or a player/mutual option for a second year. Not much risk, some substantial return if he gets added security.

Founder and Chairman of the Send Dan Some Pizzeria Bianco Commission (SDSPBC). SDSPBC is a totally, definitely for-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 2, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't tell me he wants a mutli year deal to?

by txzona on Nov 2, 2011 4:56 PM EDT reply actions

too

by txzona on Nov 2, 2011 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions

DBacks

need to resign him, he was great for the team and Miggy this year. Also think they need to pick up some MiLB depth at catcher in case Miggy goes down at some point. I don’t trust May, Schmidt, or Easley to fill that role next year. If they trade Saundo that should be a requirement to get back.

by rapdawg on Nov 2, 2011 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

i wouldn't resign Blanco

for a multi-year deal

by blue bulldog on Nov 2, 2011 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

by txzona on Nov 2, 2011 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

i think

one with an option would be as far as the team would go anyway. he’s not getting a multi-year, he’s 40.

by rapdawg on Nov 2, 2011 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Why Don't You Trust

May or Schmidt? Easley, I can understand.

by Rowdy Rawhide on Nov 2, 2011 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

They're nice catchers

But I’d probably prefer them as third catchers. We were pretty lucky that Montero played so many games this year, but the odds are heavy that at some point we’ll need to use our third catcher (and it won’t be Robby Hammock). Schmidt strikes me as a great third catcher, and if he produces in that role, he’ll get his shot as a #2.

Founder and Chairman of the Send Dan Some Pizzeria Bianco Commission (SDSPBC). SDSPBC is a totally, definitely for-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 3, 2011 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Well

Adios Blanco! Thank you for helping Miggy improve his defense, and I wish you the best of luck wherever you end up!

Oh where oh where have my Dbacks gone? Oh where oh where could they be!

by imstillhungry95 on Nov 2, 2011 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

Don't be so sure he's gone

the guess here is that KT will want to keep him around, and maybe even move him into the organization’s coaching ranks when he does retire.

Is it mid-February yet?

by NASCARbernet on Nov 2, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe

I just hope that we don’t give him a contract that we will live to regret

Oh where oh where have my Dbacks gone? Oh where oh where could they be!

by imstillhungry95 on Nov 2, 2011 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Honestly

whatever money he gets will be chump change by comparison for an experienced major league catcher. He’s a bargain for another season, and may be worth the risk for two. The other thing is he could probably fill in at first base, too, as catchers tend to have that skill (such as it is…).

Is it mid-February yet?

by NASCARbernet on Nov 2, 2011 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Blanco's bat at 1B

would make me cry

by blue bulldog on Nov 2, 2011 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

As would Doumit's

mitt behind the plate.

by xmet on Nov 2, 2011 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I would quite prefer that he not ever see 1B

We already have a RHH there in Goldschmidt anyways. The big reason catchers occasionally see time at first is that they often offer RHH compliments to LHH 1B with big platoon splits.

Founder and Chairman of the Send Dan Some Pizzeria Bianco Commission (SDSPBC). SDSPBC is a totally, definitely for-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 3, 2011 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope both parties are open to him resigning.

Blanco is a solid backup, and it would be nice to retain him.

The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.

by Stupendous Man on Nov 2, 2011 5:19 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

He showed that he likes hitting at Chase

that has to account for something.

Is it mid-February yet?

by NASCARbernet on Nov 2, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe the dude will just call it a career.

He’s like what 40?

by txzona on Nov 2, 2011 6:13 PM EDT reply actions

Not likely

he can still hit fastballs, which is impressive. As long as he can still beat the fastball, he’s a viable ballplayer.

Is it mid-February yet?

by NASCARbernet on Nov 2, 2011 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

It's incredible, really

Dude can still put one in the seats. Have to admire longevity at a position that breaks down some guys in their early-30’s. Guess that’s the benefit of being a career backup.

Founder and Chairman of the Send Dan Some Pizzeria Bianco Commission (SDSPBC). SDSPBC is a totally, definitely for-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 3, 2011 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I suspect the D'Backs have longterm organizational plans for him, too

Is it mid-February yet?

by NASCARbernet on Nov 4, 2011 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope so

He’s be a kickass roving catching instructor. Or, perhaps even better, a great Latin American scouting guy/instructor. He’d make a great add to an organization.

Founder and Chairman of the Send Dan Some Pizzeria Bianco Commission (SDSPBC). SDSPBC is a totally, definitely for-profit organization.

by Dan Strittmatter on Nov 4, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions