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Introducing New LA Angels Catcher Geovany Soto

By Ben Cardone
Aug 2, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Geovany Soto (58) hits a solo home run during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 2, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Geovany Soto (58) hits a solo home run during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Angels reached a one-year, $2.8 million contract with veteran catcher Geovany Soto on November 24th, one day after the team lost Chris Iannetta to the Mariners. Soto’s contract includes up to $800,000 in performance bonuses solely based on starts.

The 33-year-old has played 11 Major League seasons for four teams (Cubs, Rangers, A’s, White Sox) throughout his career.

His most impressive season was undoubtedly his rookie year with the Cubs in 2008. The right-handed hitter posted his career bests in at bats, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs, walks, average, and slugging percentage in the year in which he beat out Joey Votto to win the National League Rookie of the Year.

He also started in his only All Star Game and got his only MVP votes in 2008. After a weak 2009 campaign, Soto bounced back in 2010 to have a solid year in which he matched his WAR total from 2008 (3.3) and slashed .280/.393/.497.

Soto was traded to the Rangers in 2012 after a year and a half of unremarkable performance. He backed up A.J. Pierzynski for a season before signing a one-year extension to be the Rangers’ primary catcher. His 2014 season was shortened by injury and an arrest for marijuana possession that would lead to Texas trading him to Oakland where he would only play in 14 games. The Puerto Rican played his 2015 season in the south side of Chicago with the White Sox where he batted .219/.301/.406 with 9 homers in 187 at bats.

Soto has an impressive 27.4 caught-stealing percentage in his Major League career, finishing behind only Yadier Molina, Russell Martin, and Miguel Montero among players with at least 700 games at catcher since Soto’s debut in 2008. He also finished in the top 20 in gaining additional strikes with his pitch framing between 2009 and 2012, but has regressed in that regard in the years since.

Soto will compete with Carlos Perez for playing time behind the plate for the 2016 Angels. The Angels may view Perez, who lost his rookie status in 2015, as their catcher of the future and will very likely give him the first chance at the majority of the starts at catcher. But Soto will surely see his fair share of time during Perez’s off days and in case of injury. Of course, if Perez regresses in his first full Major League season, Soto’s role will become more significant.

Eventually 2015 first-rounder Taylor Ward could be the true catcher of the future.

Fangraph’s Steamer projections see Soto as being a less than 1 WAR player in 2016. He’ll have to perform better than that for the Angels to get their fair share of his $2.8 million contract.

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