Nationals tab veteran Avila for No. 2 catching job

The Nationals appear to have found their backup catcher, one who has a prior relationship with three-fifths of their rotation.

Alex Avila, the 12-year veteran of five organizations (most extensively the Tigers), has agreed to a one-year deal with the Nats, a source familiar with the contract confirmed. Avila, who turns 34 on Friday, still needs to pass a physical before the transaction is official.

In their search for a catcher to replace Kurt Suzuki, the Nationals had no shortage of options when the offseason began. General manager Mike Rizzo faced a pivotal decision: Go after a frontline catcher who could start the bulk of games (J.T. Realmuto or James McCann) but would cost a significant amount, or pursue someone who could share the job with returning veteran Yan Gomes.

After spending the majority of their available funds to address other positions of need (first base, left field, No. 4 starter, left-handed reliever), the Nationals made it clear they intended to give Gomes the starting job and seek a backup for him.

They landed on Avila, who at times earlier in his career with the Tigers was a potent offensive force but who has since settled into a more traditional role as a light-hitting No. 2 catcher with the White Sox, Cubs, Diamondbacks and Twins.

He spent last season in Minnesota, hitting just .184 with a .641 OPS over 62 plate appearances. He enjoyed a more productive year prior to that, hitting .207 with nine homers and a .774 OPS in 201 plate appearances for Arizona in 2019.

Over his career, Avila is a .235 hitter with a solid .348 on-base percentage, 104 homers and a .742 OPS. An All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner in 2011, he's caught 902 big league games.

What may have made Avila particularly attractive to the Nationals was his familiarity with some important members of their rotation. He was a regular batterymate of Max Scherzer's during their time together in Detroit, the two pairing up 107 times from 2010-14. He also caught Jon Lester twice with the Cubs in 2017 and caught Patrick Corbin 14 times with the Diamondbacks in 2018.

The son of Detroit's GM, Avila has a solid defensive reputation. His 30 percent caught stealing rate over his career is better than the league average of 27 percent, and he threw out 11 of 21 runners in 2019 while registering 7 Defensive Runs Saved. In that regard, he will be an upgrade over Suzuki, who provided offensive pop but was among the least effective throwing catchers in baseball.

The Athletic was first to report Avila's agreement with the Nationals.