Having reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with relief pitcher Joe Kelly, the biggest area of concern for the Los Angeles Dodgers lies at the catcher position. As it currently stands, Austin Barnes is on track to be the full-time starter in 2019.
The Dodgers also have Kyle Farmer, Rocky Gale and Keibert Ruiz on their 40-man roster. Farmer has yet to spend a full season in the Majors, Gale has limited MLB experience, and Ruiz is still developing as one of the organization’s top prospects.
Given Barnes had his share of struggles this season, the Dodgers figure to make a signing or trade this winter. They already have been connected to a multitude of backstops, namely J.T. Realmuto, but also Francisco Cervelli, and Yan Gomes before he was traded to the Washington Nationals.
Whereas those three are currently under contract, the Dodgers spoke with free agent Wilson Ramos, according to Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
The Dodgers checked in on Wilson Ramos to talk a one-year deal, but he wants more years, per source. Ramos was here in Vegas this week.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) December 13, 2018
Ramos it a combined .306/.358/.487 with 22 doubles, 15 home runs and 70 RBI en route to an All-Star campaign. He split the 2018 season with the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies.
Although Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the team is open to both long- and short-term options behind the plate, they appear more inclined to find a bridge to Ruiz or Will Smith. Signing Ramos to a one-year deal would accomplish just that.
The 31-year-old has spent the bulk of his career with the Nationals. Over seven seasons with the club he hit .268/.313/.430.
The Minnesota Twins, New York Mets and Oakland Athletics are among the teams that have been linked to Ramos this winter.
