Did the O's just sign their backup catcher of the future?

[wildcard]

O's sign Nick Ciuffo to a minor league deal.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/12/orioles-sign-nick-ciuffo-catcher-rays-minors.html

Former 1st round pick of the Rays, Nick Ciuffo will play 2021 at 26 year old.   He threw out runners at a 45% rate in the minors.  He does not hit lefties well but here is what he did vs right-handed pitching at AAA.

2018  In 163 at bats,   288/333/423/757 at Durham

2019 in 71at bats   268/333/380/714 at Durham

Ciuffo was the Rays' Defensive Player of the Year for two seasons running and his arm rates a 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale.

However,  he failed a second drug test for using marijuana and (was) suspended 50 games.

(And not too caught up in the irony that had he been put on the 40-man roster in November and not just missed, his January partying wouldn't have cost him, as big-leaguers can smoke weed with no risk of suspension.)

https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/2018/02/13/how-suspended-rays-prospect-nick-ciuffo-had-to-make-toughest-call-ever/

He has 3 options left.

[Can_of_corn]

So did the O's sign him?

Also, wow, over 200 at bats over two seasons, that tells us a lot.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

No. They signed high quality minor league depth, at best. Reclamation project, who fell completely off in Tampa and hasn’t done anything since.

What’s next, is Fernando Abad going to be “the future Zack Britton?”

[Jammer7]

I like the signing. There was talk the Orioles were going to take him with the 22nd pick in the first round. The Rays took him at #21, so the Orioles took Hunter Harvey. When I looked at the first round picks that year, it was a poor draft. Other than Kris Bryant and Tim Anderson, a lot of disappointment. 

 

https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/2013

[wildcard]

11 minutes ago, Legend_Of_Joey said:

No. They signed high quality minor league depth, at best. Reclamation project, who fell completely off in Tampa and hasn’t done anything since.

What’s next, is Fernando Abad going to be “the future Zack Britton?”

Depends on what you think the O's want in a backup catcher to Rutschman when he arrives.   Ciuffo in young, cheap, and a strong defensive catcher that may hit a little vs right-handed pitching.  I don't expect an All-Star as a backup catcher.

Elias is probably not going to pay Severino or Sisco arbitration money to be a backup.  And Wynns is 30.

[Sports Guy]

It’s possible but he can’t hit..I would like some kind of offense out of the position.

[Frobby]

20 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

It’s possible but he can’t hit..I would like some kind of offense out of the position.

Yeah, not sure his good glove will make up for the bat.   But for those who believe defense is all you need in a catcher, they’ll probably like this pickup.  

[Legend_Of_Joey]

49 minutes ago, wildcard said:

Depends on what you think the O's want in a backup catcher to Rutschman when he arrives.   Ciuffo in young, cheap, and a strong defensive catcher that may hit a little vs right-handed pitching.  I don't expect an All-Star as a backup catcher.

Elias is probably not going to pay Severino or Sisco arbitration money to be a backup.  And Wynns is 30.

Sisco shouldn’t be anywhere near the plate unless it’s in the batters box. 
 

Like I said, Cuiffo is a reclamation project. This is the typical “sign a former first rounder who hasn’t done anything and hope they learned to actually produce in the last few seasons of their decline or that we have the magic touch.”

They are slobbering all over Adley. Cool, awesome. But they could develop either Jordan Cannon or Maverick Handley too. Both are solid defensive catchers and could be up in 2 seasons too. Could of kept Cervenka, who was making good strides and would be in AAA this season. 

[Roll Tide]

     Wake me up when they do something that actually moves he needle.

[wildcard]

13 minutes ago, Roll Tide said:

     Wake me up when they do something that actually moves he needle.

You can probably sleep until the 2021 draft.

[ChosenOne21]

Backup catcher of the future...now I've heard everything

[DrungoHazewood]

10 hours ago, wildcard said:

O's sign Nick Ciuffo to a minor league deal.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/12/orioles-sign-nick-ciuffo-catcher-rays-minors.html

Former 1st round pick of the Rays, Nick Ciuffo will play 2021 at 26 year old.   He threw out runners at a 45% rate in the minors.  He does not hit lefties well but here is what he did vs right-handed pitching at AAA.

2018  In 163 at bats,   288/333/423/757 at Durham

2019 in 71at bats   268/333/380/714 at Durham

Ciuffo was the Rays' Defensive Player of the Year for two seasons running and his arm rates a 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale.

However,  he failed a second drug test for using marijuana and (was) suspended 50 games.

(And not too caught up in the irony that had he been put on the 40-man roster in November and not just missed, his January partying wouldn't have cost him, as big-leaguers can smoke weed with no risk of suspension.)

https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/2018/02/13/how-suspended-rays-prospect-nick-ciuffo-had-to-make-toughest-call-ever/

He has 3 options left.

Yes, absolutely.  I'll be stunned if he's not a 10/5 guy with the Orioles eventually.  Not that he'd using those 10/5 rights to vetoing a trade after becoming a fan favorite and a key member of countless excellent teams, the Orioles would never dream of trading him.  He could be the new Jeff Mathis, but instead of playing for five teams it's just the Rays and then 15-20 years with the O's.

[Redskins Rick]

11 hours ago, wildcard said:

O's sign Nick Ciuffo to a minor league deal.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/12/orioles-sign-nick-ciuffo-catcher-rays-minors.html

Former 1st round pick of the Rays, Nick Ciuffo will play 2021 at 26 year old.   He threw out runners at a 45% rate in the minors.  He does not hit lefties well but here is what he did vs right-handed pitching at AAA.

2018  In 163 at bats,   288/333/423/757 at Durham

2019 in 71at bats   268/333/380/714 at Durham

Ciuffo was the Rays' Defensive Player of the Year for two seasons running and his arm rates a 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale.

However,  he failed a second drug test for using marijuana and (was) suspended 50 games.

(And not too caught up in the irony that had he been put on the 40-man roster in November and not just missed, his January partying wouldn't have cost him, as big-leaguers can smoke weed with no risk of suspension.)

https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/2018/02/13/how-suspended-rays-prospect-nick-ciuffo-had-to-make-toughest-call-ever/

He has 3 options left.

You really believe that?

At best, he is catcher depth in the minors. maybe a short visit to the parent club for short term IR backup.

 

[Redskins Rick]

35 minutes ago, DrungoHazewood said:

Yes, absolutely.  I'll be stunned if he's not a 10/5 guy with the Orioles eventually.  Not that he'd using those 10/5 rights to vetoing a trade after becoming a fan favorite and a key member of countless excellent teams, the Orioles would never dream of trading him.  He could be the new Jeff Mathis, but instead of playing for five teams it's just the Rays and then 15-20 years with the O's.

You must be smoking some of the same stuff. LOL

 

[Aristotelian]

44 minutes ago, ChosenOne21 said:

Backup catcher of the future...now I've heard everything

He could be the next Austin Wynns! Genius move by Elias.