When going through all of the rankings and deciding what position should go after starting pitchers, I figured why not go with catchers.
They have the least fantasy value, but if you don’t at least snag a decent one, your team could hurt in the long run.
Rest easy, we have provided our top 10 catchers in fantasy baseball below, which should help steer you toward that special someone who you need behind your team’s dish.
Just remember to manage your expectations when drafting your catcher. Here are some helpful tips to remember before you select, or bid on a catcher:
1. Don’t expect him to be as fat as Pudge Rodriguez
2. Don’t expect him to sing as great as Mike Piazza.
No, it’s not karaoke tonight Mike! Go home you’re drunk!
3. Don’t expect him to be some great soothsayer, like Yogi Berra.
4. Don’t expect him to be as tough as Jake Taylor. Mainly because that guys not real.
5. Don’t expect him to have callused hands. Not everyone enjoys urinating on their hands. Right Jorge Posada?
Guys…I can’t remember if I washed my hands?
6. Don’t expect him to be as ugly as Gus Sinskey.
7. Do expect him to hit better than Gus Sinskey and Jake Taylor.
8. Do expect him to be smarter than Rube Baker.
9. Do expect him to run faster than Hamilton “Ham” Porter.
10. Do expect your catcher to hit homers so far that they should have their own stewardess on them.
Now that we have managed your expectations, let’s take a look at our top 10 catchers for 2014:
1. Buster Posey-Posey experienced regression across the board in 2013. And one of the more troubling skills he regressed and what’s his power. Posey finished the season with just 15 home runs, down nine home runs from 2012. That was not alarming as his drop in power index was (137 in 2012, to 103 in 2013). Now keep in mind that once a player possesses a skill, he owns it. Translation? Buster Posey is still capable of reaching his 2012 power. Expect a bounce back, so bid with confidence.
2. Jonathan Lucroy- Lucroy had a career year in 2013, and continues to be productive by grinding out at-bats. With Ryan Braun out for the better part of the 2013 season, Lucroy found himself shouldering most of the Brewers offense. Lucroy finished 2013 with career highs in home runs (18), RBI (82), and batting average (.280). Also keep in mind that Lucroy is in his peak age, so it would not be a stretch to expect him to surpass, or at least match his 2013 performance.
3. Yadier Molina-Molina would be named the greatest catcher in fantasy baseball if he just had a little more pop. His power regressed in 2013 for one simple reason. His sprained right knee. However, this is something that he can bounce back from. And if he can remain healthy in 2014, look for a repeat of 2012.
4. Wilin Rosario- Rosario proved he was a top fantasy catcher in 2013, with career-highs in RBI(79), batting average (.292), and OBP (.315). With a more disciplined approach at the plate, he could even exceed his 2012 numbers. Bid away!
5. Carlos Santana- Santana is showing his consistency at the plate and behind it with every passing season. Not only is he consistent, he is also improving. In 2013 Santana had career-highs in OBP (.377), OPS (.832), and had 11 more extra base hits than he had in 2012. There is not much downside here, Santana is a solid investment.
6. Joe Mauer- Mauer was having a great 2013 season until he was shelved on the DL after suffering from a concussion. Before the injury Mauer had posted his best OPS (.880) since his breakout season in 2009. In 2013 he had 11 home runs, 47 RBI, a .324 batting average and a .404 OBP. Despite the injury, Mauer was on his way to another productive season. The only cause for concern is his health, but if you can live with the risk he could potentially have a nice bounce back in 2014.
7. Matt Wieters-If you were a fantasy owner that decided to go all in on Wieters in 2013, then you had a quite an excruciating experience. Wieters regressed in 2013 with career lows in batting average (.235), OBP (.287), and OPS (.704). He still has the skills to reach, and even surpass 2012, so look for him to bounce back.
8. Salvador Perez- Perez proved that he is quite the hitting machine (.292 batting average) but disappointed in the area of his power (only 13 home runs). Despite a lack of power, Perez displayed consistent offensive skills over the course of the 2013 season, and is still a solid top 10 catcher.
9. Brian McCann- McCann continues to produce consistently at the plate, and his 2013 season was no different. He is still a lock for at least 20 home runs every season, and his average is decent enough that it won’t hurt your overall team’s performance. But for McCann in 2014, here are two things you need to watch carefully: 1. McCann is now a New York Yankee. Translation? Tons of pressure. 2. He missed 36 days in 2013 recovering from right shoulder surgery.
10. Wilson Ramos- Ramos has several things going for him. He maintains a decent batting average (.270), he can hit for power (16 home runs in 2013), and he plays in a very productive lineup. However, Ramos has yet to play a full season. He has been injury plagued from the moment he was called up. Ramos does possess skills that could lead to a breakout season, or he could miss another half of the season due to another injury. It’s quite simple, risk versus reward. Drafting or buying Ramos your could potentially make or break your season.
Again don’t break the bank over a catcher, but don’t get stuck with a bad one, otherwise it will be a long season for you.
Follow Matt on Twitter: @SprayBall
