Has Rostering Catchers Been Fixed in 26?

hefalumps · 05-01-2025, 12:12 AM

Hi everyone,

I'm still playing OOTP25 and doing an alternate historical universe that I've been running since at least OOTP13, and with this version I have noticed pretty much every spring training while playing out games that at least one team (usually more than one) isn't carrying more than one catcher (basically I noticed that their catcher is exhausted in the lineup screen, then go to find they have no backup). There are usually plenty of catchers on the free agent market (granted usually not very good ones), and teams have plenty of roster space and money, but they don't sign them.

But today, for the first time, I found an organization with ZERO catchers - the 2011 alternate universe Minnesota Twins. Well technically they have two catchers - Jason Kendall and Matt LeCroy, but both of them are currently injured - two and three weeks respectively. There are three two-star catchers available in free agency and the Twins have $43M available so can easily afford a fill-in catcher or two. Instead, the AI has decided to alternate catching duties between Ryan Garko, Chris Coghlan, Brett Lawrie, and Jay Bruce - a left-handed thrower, no less - for the past week until I noticed it.

I'm going to turn on my handy dandy commish mode and go in and sign the Twins a couple of catchers to mL contracts to fill in, but I was curious if people have seen this behavior in 26. I don't recall seeing this happen in earlier versions - can't remember if it happened in 24 but I definitely don't recall seeing it in 22 or 23.

Thanks!

ExpansionManager · 05-01-2025, 12:33 AM

In my save every team tends to have 2 catchers at every level, but minor league teams specifically seem to prefer "if starter tired" over scheduled rest, and alot of times don't even rest the tired starter until they go under 50pct fatigue.

05-01-2025, 12:12 AM	#1
hefalumps All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,371	Has Rostering Catchers Been Fixed in 26? Hi everyone, I'm still playing OOTP25 and doing an alternate historical universe that I've been running since at least OOTP13, and with this version I have noticed pretty much every spring training while playing out games that at least one team (usually more than one) isn't carrying more than one catcher (basically I noticed that their catcher is exhausted in the lineup screen, then go to find they have no backup). There are usually plenty of catchers on the free agent market (granted usually not very good ones), and teams have plenty of roster space and money, but they don't sign them. But today, for the first time, I found an organization with ZERO catchers - the 2011 alternate universe Minnesota Twins. Well technically they have two catchers - Jason Kendall and Matt LeCroy, but both of them are currently injured - two and three weeks respectively. There are three two-star catchers available in free agency and the Twins have $43M available so can easily afford a fill-in catcher or two. Instead, the AI has decided to alternate catching duties between Ryan Garko, Chris Coghlan, Brett Lawrie, and Jay Bruce - a left-handed thrower, no less - for the past week until I noticed it. I'm going to turn on my handy dandy commish mode and go in and sign the Twins a couple of catchers to mL contracts to fill in, but I was curious if people have seen this behavior in 26. I don't recall seeing this happen in earlier versions - can't remember if it happened in 24 but I definitely don't recall seeing it in 22 or 23. Thanks!

05-01-2025, 12:33 AM	#2
ExpansionManager Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Feb 2025 Posts: 38	In my save every team tends to have 2 catchers at every level, but minor league teams specifically seem to prefer "if starter tired" over scheduled rest, and alot of times don't even rest the tired starter until they go under 50pct fatigue.