SF Giants have a clear frontrunner at backup catcher for Opening Day

Since Tom Murphy went down with an injury, it opened up some competition for the backup catcher role. Sam Huff and Max Stassi were the top players in that competition. Huff is the clear frontrunner.

SF Giants have a clear frontrunner at backup catcher for Opening Day

Okay, Huff may have always been the frontrunner. He occupies a spot on the 40-man roster and is out of minor league options. That means the Giants would need to pass him through waivers if he did not make the club.

The waiver wire is pretty full right around the start of the regular season. Teams place all of their out-of-options players on waivers if they do not break camp with the club. Of course, teams could also do the same with players who do have options as well.

While the Giants acquired Huff in the offseason by claiming him from the Texas Rangers, teams are not too keen on losing catching depth around this time of year. It is a long year, and teams want to avoid scrambling to find a catcher in an emergency like the Giants did when they added Curt Casali last year. This is why Huff always had the inside track if Tom Murphy could not go to start the year. That looks more and more likely.

On the other hand, the Giants hope that Max Stassi will stick with the organization on his minor league deal. He does have an opt-out right before the start of the season and then again on May 1 and June 1. Playing in Sacramento allows Stassi to be close to his hometown of Yuba City.

Compared to Huff, Stassi is the better defensive backstop and that is a skill the organization appreciates. Anything he offers with the bat is considered a bonus.

It is important to recognize that the veteran catcher has appeared in just five rehab games over the past two years as he tended to both personal and injury matters. What kind of workload can the Giants realistically expect?

It is also important to remember that the baseball season is a grind. Teams want to preserve as much depth as possible at the start of the year. That means, at times, leveraging options on the 40-man roster before looking elsewhere. In the Giants' case, that is Huff.

The 27-year-old backstop is passable defensively. He is a quality framer with a strong arm, and he hits for power. That is the type of profile that tends to have a long career in the majors, even if it is as a backup catcher.

The Opening Day roster tends to look a lot different than the one that finishes the year. If you are charting out starts behind the plate, Huff may only take a few, especially if he struggles early in the year. However, teams still need to find a way to sketch out 162 games at catcher. Ideally, that player is a competent backstop.

The Giants will want to exhaust that option first before looking at alternatives. It also helps that Huff has done well at the plate this spring. He has tallied five hits, including a home run, and 16 at-bats. This includes six walks and nine strikeouts. The right-handed bat will swing and miss a lot, but he is not allergic to a walk either.

Stassi has two hits in 13 at-bats. Perhaps, if he was hitting better, it might be more of a conversation. There is still time for him to turn the corner at the plate. In the meantime, Huff is the obvious frontrunner not only because of how he is hitting but being on the 40-man roster is a pretty big advantage as well.