The San Diego Padres are shopping Nick Hundley and the catcher could be an option for teams like the NY Yankees, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers or the Texas Rangers heading into the summer, as all of those teams have some sort of need at catcher, whether it be for depth or because of injuries suffered this season.
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the team is shopping Hundley around and he could be an option for teams within the division as well, with the Giants and Diamondbacks not getting much this season from the position. The article mentions a number of teams that need a backup catcher and Hundley could fit into that category for the Royals or the Yankees if they are looking to pull off a deal. Hundley is 30 years old and has not played much this season and he is coming into the final year of his contract after signing a three year extension.
Hundley wouldn't cost too much and he has a club option for 2015 that doesn't have a buyout and he hasn't been able to get into the lineup with 25-year-old Yasmani Grandal handling things for the most part. He could be valuable as a backup catcher, including for a team like the Yankees, as they have been dealing with a number of injuries, including to Francisco Cervelli, who was the backup to newly signed catcher Brian McCann.
Hundley had a solid year in 2011 when he hit .288 with nine home runs, but the next season he struggled and since that year he has hit .211, although ESPN.com notes that he is hitting .333 this season in less than 25 at-bats. This season he is making just four million and since he is a free agent next season there are a number of teams that could take that risk. The Rangers were mentioned as an option since they previously lost both Mike Napoli and A.J. Pierzynski and while they had Geovany Soto, he is on the mend and JP Arencibia has not been much of an offensive help either.
The Yankees have John Ryan Murphy coming in as the new backup with Cervelli out and Hundley would be a veteran upgraded from the 22 year old. The Dodgers have AJ Ellis, but they have never gotten much from him and another option is the Nationals, who have Jose Lobaton, but they also are dealing with an injury to Wilson Ramos, who needs hand surgery.
