The Blazers are anxious to add to their catching depth after sending Jake Rising to Boise in the Mahdi deal, but can't afford to pay a veteran big league catcher. They are exploring options for both their AAA club as well as who will fill the role as Calvin Johnson's backup in Montreal. Currently, the left-handed León Rosa is serving as Johnson's backup, but the club would prefer someone with even better pitch framing skills. Always cognizant of the need for depth, they want to be prepared if Johnson gets injured for any length of time. They are said to be in discussions with minor league free agents, as well.
Wynn Kennedy
Drafted in the third round by Louisville in 2044, Kennedy has only tasted a cup of coffee in the big leagues, appearing in five games with the Rocky Mountain Oysters in 2054. Scouts say he is an intelligent backstop and rate him as a 9 in catching ability on a 10 point scale.
Juan Jose Zambrano
The right-hand hitting Zambrano has hit well in his rookie league career so far. This season, he's slashing .274/.352/.516 over 71 plate appearances. In the field, he projects as a solid right fielder with average range but a cannon arm. He was a 7th round pick by the Blazers in the 2055 amateur draft.