Oakland A’s catching position has improved dramatically in 2020

Allen, Murphy, and Heim Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images The Oakland A’s have developed into a contender over the last few years, but one area of the organization that remained relatively weak was catcher. After All-Star Stephen Vogt left in 2017, and prospect Bruce Maxwell failed to pan out and got derailed off the field, there wasn’t much left in the cupboard.

In 2018 and ‘19 the A’s relied on a series of buy-low veteran stopgaps and career backups, like Jonathan Lucroy, Josh Phegley, Chris Herrmann, and Nick Hundley. That group combined for a 75 wRC+ and 0.3 bWAR over two seasons, far below the MLB team averages of 85 and 2.9, respectively, and ranking deep into the…