Flash back to April 30, 2010, and this column from Randy Galloway:
But for those multitudes who have angrily asked via e-mail, here's the deal at catcher:
Blame Nolan.
Mr. Ryan knew all along it was best to re-sign Pudge Rodriguez after last season. Daniels, his GM, wanted no part of that. He wanted Salty to be the front-line catcher, apparently without the pressure of Pudge looking over his shoulder.
Pudge asked the Rangers for a two-year deal, $3 million total. Daniels told me he didn't want to go the second year. This had nothing do with the Hicks-inflicted payroll disaster. It was just Daniels' love of Salty.
A team that was billing itself as a contender (Nolan said 92 wins) left itself amazingly short at catcher.
Out of nowhere, the Washington Nationals came along and offered Pudge a deal of $6 million for two years, doubling his asking price from the Rangers. Pudge didn't want to leave Arlington, but for that money, there was no choice.
Ryan should have stepped in early in the process, overruled Daniels, and secured Pudge, who has had a strong April for the surprising Nats. Pudge and Treanor sharing time could have been enough to get it done here.
Pudge Rodriguez's wOBA this season: .298
Matt Treanor's wOBA this season: .298
Bengie Molina's wOBA this season: .295
And since that column was written, Pudge has put up a .236/.256/.315 line, and had a stint on the disabled list.
The problem with Pudge is the same problem as with Treanor...neither of them are going to be able to physically handle the pounding of being an every day catcher right now. Either one would be fine as a backup, but a Pudge/Treanor arrangement, as Galloway proposes, would have resulted in stretching both guys beyond what you should reasonably ask from them.