Stephen Vogt is ready to do whatever he can to take pressure off Buster

Posey as both catchers work to bounce back from surgeries that cut their 2018 seasons short.Vogt is returning to the Bay Area after agreeing to a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.He shared the news in a text message Monday Willie McCovey Jersey , when he arrived in the Arizona desert from his home in snowy Washington state — “14 inches,” he noted saying Arizona felt great already — and headed to the club’s spring training complex in Scottsdale, where pitchers and catchers report Tuesday.San Francisco also agreed to a minor league deal last week with catcher Rene Rivera.“I definitely believe it presents a good opportunity. Obviously Buster, he’s the guy. If he’s not going to be 100 percent then hopefully we can pick up the slack and hold the fort down until he’s ready to go 100 percent,” Vogt said by phone from Phoenix. “For me, too, I have to get healthy first as well. I know Rene Rivera is going to play a big part in that as well and I’m excited to work with him. I played against him for a number of years as well. It’s going to be fun the three of us talking and putting our heads together.”New Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said Friday he was still seeking depth at the catcher position behind Posey, who is recovering from right hip surgery.Vogt grew up in California’s Central Valley, and the Giants were his favorite team. He used to pretend he was Will Clark in the backyard and loved Barry Bonds. Vogt attended the final game at Candlestick Park and the first at the franchise’s new waterfront ballpark when it opened in 2000.“Just getting a chance to talk to Farhan and chat everything out, it was very exciting for me, because not only is it back to the Bay and back where Alyssa and I had our kids and spent a bunch of years, it was my childhood favorite team, as well,” Vogt said. “So growing up a Giants fan http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-mel-ott-jersey , this is going to be so incredible.”Vogt and Zaidi knew each other before Zaidi left the A’s for the Dodgers, where he spent the past four years as general manager.The 34-year-old Vogt had surgery on his troublesome right shoulder last May and didn’t play for Milwaukee last year. He says he feels great now and is throwing, but throwing from the catcher’s crouch remains a step he must complete.A career .251 hitter with 57 homers and 218 RBIs through parts of six major league seasons, Vogt played for Oakland from 2013 through part of ’17.The A’s designated the fan favorite for assignment in June that year. Vogt was so likable he drew chants of “I believe in Stephen Vogt!”A rookie and playoff first-timer in October 2013, Vogt delivered a game-ending hit against Detroit in the best-of-five division series. He had left the Tampa Bay organization for the Bay Area on April 5 that season, traded back home to his native California, only a couple of hours from where he grew up and still lived in Visalia.Vogt was a minor league journeyman who made it to the major leagues at last at age 28. He needed 33 at-bats to finally get his first big league hit, a home run against St. Louis’ Joe Kelly on June 28, 2013. Rewind to that spring, and Vogt spent six days in Durham, North Carolina, wondering about his baseball future. He didn’t make the Rays’ opening-day roster and figured to start the season there at Triple-A. Then, Oakland acquired him. The St. Louis Cardinals acquired first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, that was definitely worth the price they paid for.The package that the Cardinals had to put together for Goldschmidt was expensive Hunter Pence Jersey , but he provides them everything that they have been missing for many seasons. He will provide his new team with qualities they haven't had in a long time.Goldschmidt is the type of player the Cardinals have been missing since former player, Albert Pujols, left the team for a big money contract from the Los Angeles Angles. He supply's them with middle-of-the-order power, and great defense at first base.advertisingPaul Goldschmidt is the sort of middle-of-the-order force the Cardinals have lacked since Albert Pujols left. A momentous trade for them. He's got a year left on his deal, and the Cardinals paid handsomely for him.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 5, 2018The six-time All-Star will give the Cardinals a major upgrade just off his offensive capability alone. Last season, Goldschmidt hit 33 home-runs and drove in 83 runs. But that's just the beginning, he also hit for a .290 batting average and a .922 OPS.There's no question that Goldschmidt carried the Diamondbacks offense again for the sixth straight season. Over those six seasons, he has averaged 30 home-runs and 100 RBI's. With his break-out year back in 2013, when he hit for 36 long-balls and 125 RBI's.Goldschmidt will likely be seen carrying the Cardinals offesnse next season as well, which is why he should be hitting in the number three spot in their lineup heading into 2019. Here is what the projected batting lineup will look like for the Cardinals.advertisingMatt Carpenter, Yadier Molina, Paul Goldschmidt, Marcell Ozuna http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-williams-jersey , Paul DeJong, Kolten Wong, Harrison Bader, Dexter Folwer, and the pitcher's spot.Paul Goldschmidt is 1 of 2 position players and 3 players overall with 4.5+ WAR each season since 2013. The others are Mike Trout and Max Scherzer.— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) December 5, 2018The 31-year-old also provides spectacular defense at the first-base position. He is a Gold Glove award winner and has never made more than seven errors in a season. Which will improve the Cardinals from a season ago, because they made a league-leading 20 errors at first-base last season.Carpenter played the majority of last season at first-base. He committed eight of those 20 total errors, while also creating eight errors at the third-base position as well. He has always been known for making errors聽throughout his entire career. Which is where Goldschmidt will look to help clean up that area.advertisingWith Goldschmidt playing at first-base, Carpenter will be able to return to his regular position at third-base. The rest of the Cardinals defense is projected to look as follows; Molina at catcher, Goldschmidt at first-base, Wong at second-base, DeJong at shortstop, Carpenter at third-base, Ozuna in left-field Bruce Bochy Jersey , Fowler in center-field and Hader in right-field.The #Cardinals get Paul Goldschmidt in a painless fashion. It is not often that a club adds an MVP caliber-player like this without it stinging a bit. The three players may help the #Dbacks and the draft pick helps too but the Cards are protected with their depth.— Steve Phillips (@StevePhillipsGM) December 5, 2018The acquisition of Goldschmidt did cost the Cardinals some very valuable assets. They were forced to give up聽Carson Kelly, Luke Weaver, Andy Young and the club's Compensation Round B selection in the 2019 MLB Draft.Kelly and Weaver are the centerpieces of the return going back to the Diamondbacks. Kelly is a very solid defensive catcher, but where he lacks is in his hitting. He will be able to start in games this season for the Diamondbacks, but will likely be hitting at the bottom of the lineup with his .154 batting average in 63 appearances in the MLB.For Weaver, his future as either a starter or a reliever is still undecided. It sounds like the Diamondbacks are going to try him out as a starter heading into next season. Last season, he started 25 games for the Cardinals and also appeared five times from out of the bullpen.The Cardinals were able to include these players because of the depth they have at those two positions. Andrew Knizner is close to as good of a catcher as Kelly is, but he is a way more developed hitter then Kelly as well.They also have Alex Reyes coming back from Tommy John surgery and will likely factor into the role that is left vacant by Weaver next season. Getty ImagesGoldschmidt will only be under contract for this upcoming season. He is scheduled to make $14.5 million for next season. The Cardinals will likely offer him a three or four year extension either before the season or after it.He will only be 32-years-old heading into the 2020 season, so it's very unlikely that he will regress to the point where he is unable to still produce like he is now. Which is why if the Cardinals were able to re-sign him until his mid-to-late 30s, they should be able to still get quality production out of him.The decision to acquire Goldschmidt from the Diamondbacks was definitely the right one for the Cardinals. He is the key piece they have been missing from their lineup. Which is why with the trade now completed, the Cardinals are a team ready to compete for the division next season.