SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Royals have improved their catching depth, signing catcher Austin Nola to a one-year deal on Friday. Per membership coverage, phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.
Nola, 34, was launched by the Brewers on Thursday to make room for Gary Sánchez, and the Royals moved rapidly to herald the veteran receiver. Nola has 4 years of service time, so he would nonetheless be below workforce management by way of 2025 and does have one possibility remaining.
In a corresponding transfer, left-handed pitcher Kris Bubic was positioned on the 60-day Injured Record.
Nola was on a Minor League take care of a non-roster invite to Spring Coaching with the Brewers, however with the Royals, he might win the backup catching function behind Salvador Perez.
Nola doesn’t carry a lot influence along with his bat, particularly following a 12 months wherein he slashed .146/.260/.192 in 52 video games with the Padres, however he has an excellent popularity as a backstop, and would give the Royals one other veteran voice to pair with Perez as they information the pitching employees.
A fifth-round choose by the Marlins within the 2012 Draft out of Louisiana State, Nola has a profession .696 OPS throughout 5 seasons, two with Seattle and 4 with San Diego. He helped the Padres to the Nationwide League Championship Collection in 2022, when he performed a career-high 110 common season video games.
The Royals lack skilled catching depth on the higher ranges of the Minors, and the addition of Nola helps that space. Freddy Fermin entered camp because the incumbent backup, however final season was his first full 12 months on the Main League degree. He receives excessive marks for his protection and nonetheless offers the Royals an excellent possibility behind the plate if he makes the workforce. It stays to be seen if the Royals would carry three catchers on the 26-man roster.
There aren’t any extra catchers on the 40-man roster behind Fermin on the depth chart. Logan Porter, Tyler Cropley, Sandy León and Rodolfo Durán are all in massive league camp as non-roster invitees, in addition to prospect Carter Jensen and Luca Tresh, each of whom can be within the Minor Leagues this 12 months.
