Rays could take chance on former Rangers top catching prospect

The Rays' catching woes are apparent, as they've signed Danny Jansen and traded for Ben Rortvedt right before opening day last year.

They aren't convinced of many of their internal options, and after an average-at-best first year from Rortvedt, they may choose to look elsewhere for backstop help.

Enter Sam Huff, the hard-hitting catcher who was recently DFA'd by the Texas Rangers.

Huff has been consistent in his hitting production over the years, even in his brief stints in the majors. Over 78 games in the bigs, he's got a 115 wRC+ and has done so via his power-first profile, mashing his way to a respectable .455 slugging percentage in the MLB.

However, Huff did miss 3 months in 2021 due to surgery to remove loose bodies from his right knee, but he's bounced back to catch full-time in 2023 and 2024 in AAA and the majors.

The Rays might have to manage his workload in that regard, but as a backup catcher that shouldn't be much of an issue.

In terms of defense, Huff is no Ivan Rodriguez or Yadier Molina, as he's been average in terms of framing and posted a below-average pop time in his 2022 season, where he played 227 innings behind the dish.

Although, Rortvedt is not much better defensively. Perhaps given some more time in the Rays excellent player development system, and his first season was a decent enough starts with a +2 frame rate. With the signing of Jansen, the Rays have shown a willingness to sacrifice a bit defensively for a more thump from the catching position.

Jansen posted a -3 frame rate last year, although he was excellent as a blocker with 14 blocks above average.

What Huff does that Jansen also supplies is hit the ball very hard, as over his 475 plate appearances in AAA last season Huff managed to be one of the hardest-hitting players in the minors, with an 89.3 average exit velocity.

Unfortunately, Huff chases quite a bit both in AAA and in the majors, but his chase rate his rookie year was fine, so if the Rays can get with the catcher and make his plate discipline a bit closer to below-average, they could have themselves quite a player.