Vogt agrees to 1-year deal with D-backs

PHOENIX -- The D-backs believe they accomplished a pair of offseason goals Tuesday with the signing of free-agent catcher Stephen Vogt to a one-year deal with a club option and vesting options for 2021.

Vogt will make about $3 million this season, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

With right-handed-hitting Carson Kelly having shown the D-backs enough last year for them to believe he can handle the bulk of the catching duties, the club looked to add a left-handed complement who also would improve their offense -- two goals reached with the addition of Vogt.

Vogt, who turned 35 on Nov. 1, had a resurgent 2019 with the Giants after missing all of the previous season with a right shoulder injury. He hit .263/.314/.490 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in 99 games and fared particularly well against right-handed pitching (.835 OPS).

“He has a good idea of the strike zone,” D-backs general manager Mike Hazen said. “He has power. And we like his ability to hit. We feel he can do a number of different things with the bat, and certainly being left-handed, much like we’ve had in the past, is a nice compliment to Carson.”

Vogt's vesting option could bring the deal to $7 million, according to Zach Buchanan, the D-backs reporter for The Athletic, citing a source.

The signing means that veteran free agent Alex Avila will not return to the club after two seasons in Arizona.

Avila was a trusted mentor to Kelly, who spent his first full season in the big leagues in 2019 after coming over from the Cardinals in the Paul Goldschmidt trade. The D-backs feel like Vogt, who is also known as a good clubhouse presence, can take over for Avila in that role as well.

“He’s still a younger catcher in the league, although he now has much more experience than he did a year ago,” Hazen said. “We would hope Stephen would continue to help him grow. The catching position is a challenging, demanding one.”

Vogt is known more for his offense than his defense, but the D-backs have had success in helping catchers improve behind the plate after acquiring them.

Catching instructor Robby Hammock has drawn praise over the past three seasons for his ability to help catchers improve their framing and blocking abilities.

“We think he does a good job back there,” Hazen said of Vogt’s defense. “Certainly from a work ethic, from a makeup standpoint, just talking to him, the emphasis that gets placed on the pitcher, it’s a great starting point for all the things we look for. He’s going to get with Robby at some point and then through Spring Training and we anticipate that we’re going to continue to work on a lot of things. We’ve said a number of times in the past that we hold that position to a very high standard and I’m hoping we’ll be able to continue to help him.”

With Kelly and Vogt under contract, it remains to be seen what the D-backs will do with veteran catcher Caleb Joseph.

The 33-year-old spent much of last year with Triple-A Reno, but also appeared in 20 games at the big league level. Joseph is eligible for salary arbitration and it’s possible the team could try to re-sign him to a Minor League deal to provide depth.

The D-backs also have catcher Daulton Varsho, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the organization’s fifth-best prospect, rising quickly through the system.

“I think the depth is starting to round out,” Hazen said. “I think some of our young guys are starting to matriculate to the upper levels of the system. I think we’re in a pretty good spot. It’s a tough position to feel like you ever have enough depth, but we feel like we’re moving in the right direction.”

A two-time All-Star with the A’s in 2015-16, Vogt owns a career line of .253/.310/.426 in seven seasons with Tampa Bay, Oakland, Milwaukee and San Francisco.

The D-backs' 40-man roster now stands at 40.