The Oakland A’s catching situation is complicated. The front office has stated that Bruce Maxwell is the guy at the present moment, but there’s a court proceeding coming up and who knows if or to what extent that might change things.
Even with an available Maxwell, the A’s might be well-suited to see what’s out there. Josh Phegley had a poor 2017 with some injuries mixed in, and while his contract is far from prohibitive, the fact that he’s reached arbitration means it’s time to consider other options. Phegley is only an option against left-handed pitching, and the rigors of catching make sticking to that strict platoon schedule difficult.