Tyler Flowers

After declining their club option on Flowers, the Braves re-signed the veteran backstop at a lower salary. Flowers enjoyed a resurgence his first two seasons with Atlanta, but has reverted to previous levels in the last two years, flashing a modicum of pop amidst a bevy of strikeouts. Last season, Flowers fanned 34% of the time, the first time since 2014 eclipsing the 30% level. Flowers' calling card is defense and pitch framing -- he's an excellent framer and staff manager, perfect to handle the Braves' young staff. Following the retirement of Brian McCann, Flowers lines up to split time with free agent signee Travis d'Arnaud. Although stronger than last season, catcher remains weak, putting Flowers in play for two-catcher leagues. Just beware, he's a batting average detriment.

Flowers wilted at the plate in 2018 after showing improvement in both 2016 and 2017. Atlanta used him in an unnatural platoon, picking and choosing the matchups for him or Kurt Suzuki -- both catchers hit from the right side. Flowers has been particularly effective against lefties the past few seasons, but was exceptional in those matchups last season hitting .348/.511/.606 over 88 plate appearances. Those insane numbers will regress toward the mean, but Flowers should find a soft landing given his track record. He is more inconsistent against righties. Flowers rates as an above-average receiver, but he will have to share time in 2019 after the Braves brought back Brian McCann, and thus should only be rostered in two-catcher leagues.

Flowers made a trip to the DL due to a wrist injury and split time fairly evenly with Kurt Suzuki when active, but he did enough at the plate to finish as a top-15 fantasy catcher. Perhaps that speaks more to the lack of talent at the position than it does Flowers' ability, but Flowers has made strides as a hitter over the past two seasons, showing improved patience and contact ability. He trimmed his strikeout rate to a career-low 22.2 percent in 2017 (down from 28 percent) while maintaining a walk rate above eight percent (120 wRC+). His hard-hit rate fell (as did his flyball rate to just 33.3 percent), but a 37.1 percent hard-hit rate is still an impressive mark. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much room for growth in 2018 barring a trade, as Kurt Suzuki re-upped with Atlanta on a one-year deal, and Suzuki's success against lefties means Flowers' chances against them will remain limited.

In a season to forget for the Braves' organization as a whole, Flowers was a bright spot, offensively. After seven below-average seasons with the White Sox, the 30-year-old catcher put together the best season of his MLB career, at least in terms of rate stats. He continued to struggle with plate discipline, striking out in 28.0 percent of his plate appearances, but Flowers hit the ball hard when he did make contact (43.8 percent hard-hit rate). While Flowers is not the team's catcher of the future, his 2017 playing time seems relatively safe with 33-year-old Anthony Recker probably only worthy of two-to-three starts per week. The skills aren't worth paying a premium for, but Flowers is a reasonable second catcher option in 15-team mixed leagues.

Flowers was once known as a bat-first catcher who was a threat to hit 20 home runs at the beginning of every season. He lost some playing time to Geovany Soto during the season, but he still played in more than 100 games and accumulated more than 350 plate appearances. He also posted a sub-.300 OBP for the fourth consecutive season. The White Sox had seen enough, non-tendering Flowers, who then signed a two-year, $5.3 million deal with the Braves. Atlanta may be one of the few organizations where Flowers could conceivably be the primary catcher, as his sole competition is A.J. Pierzynski, but Flowers' track record at the plate still makes him waiver wire fodder in most formats.

Flowers got his longest look as the White Sox's starting catcher in 2014, setting career highs in games played, hits, home runs, and strikeouts. His batting average rose nearly 50 points after hitting .195 in 2013, but his .241 batting average marked a career-best, and it was also buttressed by an unsustainable .355 BABIP. Additionally, he continues to strike out too frequently -- his 36.0% strikeout rate in 2014 was the worst among all batters with at least 400 plate appearances. However, he can hit for some power, which should make him somewhat useful assuming the White Sox do not bring in another viable catcher during the offseason.

The White Sox passed over re-signing A.J. Pierzynski after the 2012 season, deciding to entrust Flowers with everyday catching duties. That did not work out so well. A .208/.260/.372 line through 207 at-bats had Josh Phegley up by Independence Day, and Flowers struggled to earn playing time in July and August before undergoing shoulder surgery in September. Now 28, there are serious doubts as to whether Flowers can be a productive hitter with regular playing time at the big league level. He is expected to be ready for spring training, and he may have to fight for a roster spot depending on the White Sox's ability to bring in additional competition during the offseason.

Flowers finally broke camp with the major league club in 2012 after six seasons in the minors. Because he served as the ever-durable A.J. Pierzynski's backup, Flowers was limited to a game or two behind the plate per week for the entire season. He showed some power in his limited playing time, especially against right-handed pitchers, but he did not exhibit the same kind of patience at the plate we have seen during his minor league run. The spotlight could finally be on Flowers after the White Sox let Pierzynski walk in free agency, and the front office has expressed confidence in his ability to work as the team's primary catcher if needed.

A year ago, it looked like Flowers' prospect clock was running low. But an .890 OPS at Triple-A Charlotte and then some regular playing time in the majors in August and September have us hopeful once again. He only hit .209 and struck out in nearly a third of his 110 big league at-bats, but 10 of his 23 hits went for extra-bases and he walked 14 times. It is not clear if the White Sox will allow him to start the season as A.J. Pierzynksi's backup or if they will want him to receive everyday at-bats at Triple-A, but he could reach double-digits in home runs if the White Sox decide to phase out Pierzynski.

Flowers was supposed to push A.J. Pierzynski for the starting catcher role in 2010, but he took a step back and his standing in the White Sox organization appears much weaker in December 2010 than in December 2009. Flowers only managed a .220/.334/.434 line in his first full season at Triple-A Charlotte, and five of his 16 home runs came in a 10-game window. He played sparingly during a September callup, and he appears destined for another full season in Charlotte in 2011 after the White Sox re-signed Pierzynski to a two-year deal in the offseason.

Flowers’ first season in the White Sox’s organization culminated in a September callup, though he didn’t get much playing time in his first trip to the majors. He posted a decent season split between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, but 13 of his 15 home runs came in his 77 games in Birmingham. He averaged about a strikeout per game again, but that will be palatable as long as the power translates to the majors. The big question is whether he will start 2010 in Chicago or Charlotte? Even if it were the former, then he would serve as A.J. Pierzynski’s backup, which is a pretty worthless short-term role, but he could factor into the DH discussion. Pierzynski’s contract expires at season's end, so Flowers should be behind the plate come Opening Day 2011.

Flowers had a very good year at High-A Myrtle Beach, showing good power (17 home runs) and rare patience at the plate for a catcher (98 walks). It’s not clear if his glove is good enough to keep him behind the plate as he moves through the minors, but that may not be as much of a factor since he can now DH in the American League after being traded to the White Sox from Atlanta in December. He'll likely start next season at Double-A, but could rise quickly -- especially with his path to the majors clearer in his new organization.