Can returning catching tandem duplicate 2019 numbers?

As spring training fast approaches, it's time to break down the state of the Nationals roster, position by position. The series continues today with the catching corps ...

The Nationals knew they needed a major catching upgrade last winter, and they could've attempted to achieve that with one big acquisition. Instead, general manager Mike Rizzo decided to add two veterans and hope their combined production would get the job done at a fraction of the cost.

How'd it work out? Not bad at all. Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes combined for 29 homers, 106 RBIs and a .753 OPS. And they did all that for a combined $11 million.

So in assessing the position after the season ended, Rizzo came to a simple conclusion: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Suzuki was already under contract for $6 million in 2020. Gomes, after having his 2020 option bought out for $1 million, was re-signed for $4 million, leaving the grand total allocated to the catching tandem this season once again at $11 million.

Can the Nationals expect the same production this time around? On the whole, yes. But it may have to be more equally spread out between the two.

Suzuki did most of the heavy lifting at the plate last season. Even though he accounted for only 46 percent of the plate appearances, he produced 59 percent of the homers and RBIs by Nats catchers. And the numbers were even more skewed before he suffered an elbow injury in early September and Gomes took over everyday duties and finally got hot after a sluggish opening five months to his season.

The Nationals can't count on Suzuki, who turned 36 in October, duplicating his numbers. Perhaps he can pull it off, riding the late-career swing change that has turned this once-below-average hitter into a pull-hitting, consistent power threat. But they have to at least be prepared for the possibility his numbers go down. Or that he suffers another injury.

The good news is that Gomes underperformed last year, and at age 32 he should still have a turnaround in him. That September surge - he produced a .900 OPS over his final 26 games - is evidence he's still got it in him.

And the fact Gomes wound up catching Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg in the postseason (after watching Suzuki team up with the two aces the vast majority of the time during the regular season) also bodes well. Manager Davey Martinez shouldn't hesitate at all to start Gomes with any member of the rotation.

The Nationals' catching depth beyond the two veterans last season was shaky, and they were fortunate not to need to tap into it much at all. Other catchers accounted for only 13 plate appearances and 24 innings behind the plate.

But it's dangerous to count on two veteran backstops to make it through the entire season in one piece, so Rizzo did attempt to bolster his depth chart this winter with the signing of Welington Castillo to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Castillo, 32, owns a solid .254/.313/.426 slash line during a 10-year career with five different franchises, though he hit a paltry .209/.267/.417 in 72 games for the White Sox last season. Still, he's more accomplished than anyone else the Nats currently have in their system. The trick will be convincing Castillo to report to Fresno or Harrisburg at the end of the spring and not opt out of his contract if he doesn't make the opening day roster.

Two younger catchers who reached the majors last season do remain in the organization. Raudy Read hasn't gotten much of a chance at the big league level, but he hit 20 homers with an .863 OPS at Fresno last season. Club officials are more concerned with seeing defensive improvement out of the 26-year-old. Tres Barrera, meanwhile, made his major league debut in September, going 0-for-2. The 25-year-old has average offensive numbers in four professional seasons but is seen as a better defensive catcher than Read.