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The Mariners might have 2 star catchers and a looming decision to make about them
The Mariners already have an everyday, borderline Star catcher. They also have one of the top catching prospects in baseball, and a looming decision to make
If you were someone who had any doubts about Cal Raleigh when he was a newer member of the team, that had to have changed after witnessing his pinch-hit, walk-off home run against the A's in 2022 to clinch the Mariners a spot in the playoffs for the first time in years. As someone who was born in the mid-90s, this was the first time I have really witnessed this team make it to the playoffs, and boy, what a special moment that was. As Dave Sims mentioned on the broadcast, many Mariners' fans shed a happy tear watching this unfold.
That being said, another young stud in the Mariners Farm System could make his way to the big leagues as soon as next year. If you aren't aware of Harry Ford, definitely go do your homework on him. Ford has been working his way through the Mariners system for the last couple of years and even got a chance to play on the National Stage as a member of Team Britain during the World Baseball Classic. Ford is a player who can hit for average, has pop in his bat, and can surprise you with speed, which is uncommon from the catcher position.
Harry Ford - Great Britain (2)* pic.twitter.com/tXY4hhsX7L
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) March 13, 2023
The way I see it, the Mariners have a few different options to choose from when it comes to their future plans at Catcher. One of these options could be out of their control, though, depending on what Cal wants in his future. Let's dive a bit deeper into what decisions the M's could think about moving forward.
Option A: Extend Cal Raleigh, trade Harry Ford
I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to sign Cal Raleigh to an extension and see him continue his career in Seattle for years to come. If Cal intends to sign here long-term, and if Mariner's owner John Stanton is willing to pay for a deal of that magnitude, this could very well be the most realistic outcome.
The Mariners are smack dab in the middle of many trade rumors swirling as we creep closer to the Trade Deadline, as the whole league knows that this team could use some help offensively. Harry Ford is a prospect who could generate enough interest from other clubs to help get a big-name bat into the M's lineup. He likely wouldn't be the only player dealt but would be a nice piece for other clubs.
This does leave a big question, however. Cal is a great catcher and overall player, but he is not a top 3 catcher at this point in his career. Is he going to keep improving with his bat, or is he going to start his downfall sooner than later? That is a question this team would love to know the answer to, but unfortunately, that answer will only come with time. If they think he can keep improving, and keep producing for many more years, trading Harry Ford to immediately upgrade the big-league team could be the way to go.
Option B: Move on from Cal Raleigh, keep Harry Ford
With how little money this team has shown to pay players, along with the future contracts coming sooner for players like Logan Gilbert and George Kirby, letting Cal move on from Seattle could be another option that the Front Office may be considering. If you've been living under a rock, the Mariners do not operate with the same payroll flexibility as teams like the Yankees or Dodgers. Signing Logan Gilbert and George Kirby would not be cheap by any means, although those extensions would be worth every penny.
If the Mariners explore the idea of adding Harry Ford to eventually replace Cal Raleigh at catcher, this move would give them more payroll flexibility for years to come. I'd almost guarantee this would be ideal for John Stanton and his thin wallet.
As well-liked as Harry Ford is, Cal is arguably one of the most-liked players by fans and the team itself. They could always explore trades for Cal, but that would only hurt fans even more. If this is the route they do indeed go forward with, I think this would not happen until Cal becomes a Free Agent in 2028. Cal will be going into year one of Arbitration next season as well.
Option C: Keep both Cal Raleigh and Harry Ford
And now to the third and possibly final option the M's could consider. This is my favorite option and I'm sure many feel the same. I do believe that both Cal and Harry can coexist on this team together. Whether that be a combination of the two at Catcher with the other at DH, or ideally find a way to get Harry Ford some reps at 2nd Base or Outfield depending on the teams' needs down the road. Did anyone say Craig Biggio 2.0?
As Cal is only going to get older, it may be beneficial for him to see more time at DH in the next couple of years to ensure that his legs don't give up on him completely. Not to mention the beatings he has endured the past several seasons. It's not easy being a catcher in this league, and if they were able to prolong his career, that may be beneficial to both sides.
The big question that lingers is if Cal does want to stay in Seattle long-term. Only he knows the answer to that. The M's have only had Harry be a catcher so far, and you have to wonder if maybe they are doing that to increase his trade value. That, or if they are thinking they could replace Cal with him. Given Ford's athletic ability, you have to think that he would be open and able to play multiple positions on the field. This would also give the team a backup plan if Cal's numbers start to dip as he ages.