MAKE THE CATCH: Rangers catcher Mike Napoli (above), jettisoned by the defensive-minded Angels, has shown defensive improvement and offensive prowess during a remarkable postseason, something the Yankees should consider before they decide to trade away prospect Jesus Montero. (
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ST. LOUIS — No eavesdropping devices were necessary to learn the main subject at a meeting of Yankees officials that concluded yesterday in Tampa.
The Yankees still are obsessed with their rotation, namely figuring a way to retain CC Sabathia, but also devising how to find another high-end starter regardless of whether their current ace stays or leaves.
We think of Jesus Montero as the trade bait for such a starter in the way we breathe air — by instinct and repetition. It feels as if the Yankees have groomed Montero for no other reason than to eventually acquire a rotation star. He was, after all, the main piece in a trade last year for Cliff Lee that fell apart, and offered to Toronto for Roy Halladay in talks that did not go far.
But before shipping Montero off as a fait accompli, let’s consider the case of Mike Napoli, current frontrunner for the World Series MVP.
For Napoli is again proving that a) a catcher can get better defensively, and b) you can win the biggest games with a receiver who never rises much above adequate as long as he gives you a great advantage offensively. Heck, no organization should know that better than the Yankees: See Berra, Yogi and Posada, Jorge.
As an Angel, however, Napoli was never going to satisfy manager Mike Scioscia, a former major league catcher who sees the position as defense first, second and third. That opinion set off a series of moves that certainly helped decide the AL West and, perhaps, the whole season.
Napoli was traded to Toronto for Vernon Wells, and then redirected to Texas for reliever Frankie Francisco. Wells had a .248 on-base percentage, dead last among the 145 qualifiers for the batting title. Jeff Mathis was a significant defensive upgrade on Napoli, but if you are going to hit a worst-in-Angels history .174 (minimum 275 plate appearances) then you better be the best ever — and even that might not be enough.
Now to be fair, Napoli caught fewer games (61) for Texas than he did in any of five seasons with the Angels, in part because he was on the disabled list for three weeks, and he also played a lot of first base. But he has started behind the plate in 13 of the Rangers’ 15 playoff games.
Texas director of player development Scott Servais, who caught 792 games in the majors, told me the Rangers made some “minor adjustments with [Napoli’s] set up and throwing footwork.” And Napoli clearly is blocking balls in the dirt and throwing better than his Angel days. He has, for example, nailed five of seven trying to steal this postseason, including Allen Craig twice in critical junctures of Game 5 of the World Series.
But make no mistake, Napoli’s strength is offense. He hit 30 homers with a 1.046 OPS this year, a major reason why the Rangers beat the Angels by 10 games in the West. He has been the big-hit star of this postseason, including his tie-breaking, two-run, eighth-inning double that provided the winning margin in a 4-2 Game 5 victory over the Cardinals.
And he is no fluke. He has 96 homers the past four years, the same as Robinson Cano. Plus his .895 OPS in that span is 14th best in the majors (minimum 1,500 plate appearances). Alex Rodriguez (.896) is 13th, Mark Teixeira (.898) 12th.
The Yankees, internally, think Montero is better defensively than Napoli, which hardly is universal. In fact, two general managers told me this week Montero cannot catch in the majors. Period. But there are those outside the Yankees who remember he still is just 21, has improved annually and has a powerful arm. Yankees officials were impressed late in the year with how much he wants to improve.
“Anyone who says he can’t catch is wrong,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman said. “We believe this guy can catch.”
The Yankees manager, however, is Joe Girardi, like Scioscia a former catcher who sees the position mainly through a defensive prism. The switch away from Posada to Russell Martin mainly was about this. But the Yankees have thrived both ways — going from an offensive catcher in Mike Stanley to win championships with Girardi, and transitioning from Girardi to win championships with Posada.
Yankees officials think Montero can be at least as good a defender as Posada, a level of adequacy that plays well if you are going to be an offensive star. And Montero’s late-season cameo did nothing to dim those hitting comparisons to Miguel Cabrera.
Which would make Jesus Montero a higher-evolved version of Mike Napoli. You think the Yankees could use one of those?
joel.sherman@nypost.com