MESA, Ariz. -- Shea Langeliers enters 2024 as the unquestioned everyday catcher for the A’s. He earned that title after appearing in 123 games behind the plate last season and displaying durability.

But who begins the season as the backup to Langeliers? That picture is a bit more complicated.

With less than a week before Opening Day, the backup catcher job remains one of Oakland's biggest roster battles. Tyler Soderstrom, the only other catcher currently on the A's 40-man roster, was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas last week, leaving non-roster invites Carlos Pérez and Kyle McCann as the only options in big league camp.

It’s a situation not too different from a year ago. Last spring, Pérez -- who signed a Minor League deal during the final week of camp -- and McCann both left Spring Training in Arizona and traveled back to the Bay Area with the club for the final two-game Bay Bridge exhibition series against the Giants. After much deliberation between A’s coaches and front office members, Pérez was named the backup just two days before Opening Day.

This time around, the decision figures to be equally as tough.

“It’ll be a continued discussion all the way up until Tuesday,” manager Mark Kotsay said prior to the A’s split-squad 8-6 win over the Reds and 8-2 loss to the White Sox on Friday. “We’re going to sit down as a group and talk about it. There’s not a real separation in both guys this Spring Training, so it won’t be an easy decision.”

Pérez seemingly has the edge for the backup role. He performed it admirably last year in his first Major League season since 2018, slashing .226/.293/.357 with six homers and 20 RBIs in 66 games in addition to providing solid defense. He was particularly good against left-handers, hitting .286 with a .742 OPS.

“He was huge,” Langeliers said of Pérez. “He’s somebody I could go to with anything. It doesn’t even have to be baseball. We can just talk and hang out. Catching is a difficult position, so when we’re out there practicing blocking or receiving and everyone is getting gassed, you want those guys who are almost having fun through the pain. He has that type of mentality.”

McCann has been in the conversation to receive his first call to the Majors for a couple of years now. A fourth-round pick by the A’s in the 2019 MLB Draft, McCann brings plenty of power as a left-handed hitter. Spending all of ‘23 with Triple-A Las Vegas, he hit .270 with a .825 OPS, 17 homers and 57 RBIs in 97 games.

The A’s knew of McCann’s hitting capabilities since his college days at Georgia Tech. But his improvements on defense over the past year are what have helped him reach the cusp of the Majors.

“He continues to get better,” Kotsay said of McCann. “There’s a lot of growth in his game-calling. His receiving has gotten better each year. He seems more confident about being here.”

While Langeliers is the primary backstop, the importance of his No. 2 can’t be overstated. Both are essential to the success of the pitching staff, which the A’s hope can vastly improve this season after its struggles over a 112-loss season in ‘23.

“Catchers in general are just so important to the team,” Langeliers said. “We’re constantly being there for pitchers as a sounding board for their ideas and what they like to do. Even if you’re a backup catcher, you’re catching bullpens every day and working with pitchers every day. It’s really essential to the team in keeping those guys confident and executing stuff.”

Susac’s big day
Daniel Susac, Oakland’s 2022 first-round Draft pick and top catching prospect, is hoping to find himself in the Major League catching mix soon. For now, the 22-year-old backstop will enter the Minor League season on a high note.

Called up from Minor League camp for Friday’s home game against the Reds at Hohokam Stadium, Susac launched a pair of homers, his second a walk-off three-run blast off Andrew Moore in the ninth to secure the A’s victory.

Susac won the Midwest League batting title last season after hitting .303 in 99 games with High-A Lansing and finished ‘23 at Double-A Midland, where the No. 6 prospect is likely to begin his 2024 campaign.

“He hit well in Lansing, average-wise, and I think there’s still some power to come,” said A’s director of player development Ed Sprague. “His catching improved as the year went on. He definitely has shown that hit skill that we knew he had coming out of college.”