Catchers

Knowing when to draft a catcher in a fantasy draft is always a challenging exercise. Do you draft them earlier or late? Does the decision change if you are in a two-catcher league as opposed to a one catcher league.

We have provided you with 81 names, which should be more than enough players to develop a strategy and then some.

J.T. Realmuto (FA) The total package. Power, speed, and the defensive chops make Realmuto the clear cut choice as the best catcher in the game.
Will Smith (LAD) In 2019, he exploded onto the scene, smacking 15 home runs in his first 170 at-bats. Last year he hit eight homers in 114 at-bats. Don’t be at all surprised if Smith is the #1 Catcher in our game at this time next year.
Salvador Perez (KCR) The power is very real. Betting on a repeat of that 2020 .333 BA/.353 OBP is a fool’s exercise. When you sport a 36/3 K/B ratio, maintaining a plus .300 OBP (something Perez hasn’t done since 2013) will prove to be a challenge.
Yasmani Grandal (CWS) Grandal is one of the safest bets in the game to hit 25 homers, drive in 70 runs, and sport a .240 BA. Consistency counts!
Willson Contreras (CHC) The power has fluctuated, but since entering the league in 2016 Contreras has posted a .357, .356, .339, .355, and .356 OBP. The Cubs are looking at a retool on the fly and Contreras could be on the move.
Sean Murphy (OAK) In 2020, his first full season as the #1 catcher in Oakland, he got out of the gate slow but picked up the pace over the summer, demonstrating the sky-high potential we have been anticipating since the A’s took him in the 3’rd Round of the 2016 June Amateur. Better days and results are in his future.
Christian Vazquez (BOS) Back-to-back solid campaigns gives one pause to believe that three-in-a-row is attainable. The handful of stolen bases are gravy.
Travis d’Arnaud (ATL) We’ve now seen back-to-back healthy seasons from d’Arnaud and the results have been impressive. He led all catchers with 34 RBI in 2020.
Daulton Varsho (ARZ) A full-time outfielder with catcher eligibility? Enjoy the benefits in 2021 as they most likely will not be recurring in 2022. OF-19
Gary Sanchez (NYY) Two-of-the-past-three seasons, Sanchez has failed to break the Mendoza line. The 25+ home run potential comes with a price and it’s one that the Yankees and your Fantasy squad will find challenging.
Austin Nola (SDP) It was a tale of two seasons for Austin Nola. Will we see the Nola that posted a .904 OPS with the Mariners in the first half of 2020 or the Nola that struggled to a .705 OPS when traded to the Padres in the second half?
James McCann (NYM) Timing is everything, and James McCann proved that admirably, inking a four-year $40.6 million deal with the Mets this off-season. Jacob deGrom approves!
Yadier Molina (FA) Heading into his age-39 season there’s still a bit left in the tank. 10-12 homers with a .260 BA will suffice.
Buster Posey (SFG) Who knows what effect taking the 2020 season off will have, but a bounce back in BA/OBP from the career lows posted in 2019 shouldn’t be ruled out.
Carson Kelly (ARZ) After the 18 HR debut and .348 OBP with the DBacks in 2019, expectations were higher and better than the 2020 results. Betting on a bounce back to the 2019 level of production is a decent bet.
Jorge Alfaro (MIA) Mid-teens power combined with a low BA is what you get when looking at a mid-level catcher. Alfaro fits that bill to a “t”.
Sam Huff (TEX) The Rangers are all-in on a rebuild and Huff will be a key component of the youth movement. The power potential is very real. The supporting BA potential…. not so much.
Yan Gomes (WAS) 10-12 homers with a .250 BA makes for a solid option as a #2 catcher in two-catcher sets.
Ryan Jeffers (MIN) I feel more comfortable with Ryan Jeffers as a #2 catcher than I do with Mitch Garver as a #1.
Danny Jansen (TOR) Jansen has some time to demonstrate the hit tool we witnessed in 2017 and 2018 in the Minors can be replicated, but the clock is ticking. 2021 could very well be a defining year for the 25-year-old backstop.
Mitch Garver (MIN) The strikeout rates soared. The power fell off-the-charts. That 31 homer campaign of 2019 is starting to look like an outlier.
Tom Murphy (SEA) The potential we witnessed in 2019 (18 HR) never came to fruition in 2020 as he missed the entire season with a fractured left foot. He has a leg up on the starting gig heading into 2021, but a job share with Luis Torrens (acquired in the Austin Nola trade) can’t be ruled out.
Joey Bart (SFG) The future started to arrive last year for the Giants and as we witnessed it was a struggle for Bart. Having Buster Posey back in 2021 to mentor the young Bart will definitely help with his development.
Omar Narvaez (MIL) After four consecutive seasons of at least a .350 OBP, and a spike in power in 2019, it all came crashing down to earth in 2020. Who is the real Omar Narvaez? 2021 will provide us the answer, but one thing is certain. You won’t be paying the price you did in the Spring of 2020 to find out.
Tucker Barnhart (CIN) The footsteps he is hearing belong to Tyler Stephenson and they are very loud.
Mike Zunino (TBR) 20-to-25 homers is a safe bet. A BA north of .200 should be considered a bonus.
Roberto Perez (CLE) 24 homers in 2019. One in 2020. The glove, not the bat, will always be his calling card.
Tyler Stephenson (CIN) Even in a backup capacity the hit tool should have our attention.
Wilson Ramos (FA) The defensive chops are lacking, and he will most likely struggle to find full-time work, but as a backup that stick can still provide value.
Pedro Severino (BAL) Pedro Severino and Chance Cisco are simply bridging the gap until the eventual arrival of Adley Rutschman in 2022.
Jacob Stallings (PIT)
Martin Maldonado (HOU)
Kurt Suzuki (FA)
Alejandro Kirk (TOR)
Luis Torrens (SEA)
Chance Sisco (BAL)
Max Stassi (LAA)
Andrew Knapp (PHI)
Welington Castillo (WAS)
Jason Castro (FA)
Stephen Vogt (ARZ)
Jose Trevino (TEX)
Austin Romine (FA)
Andrew Knizer (STL)
Elias Diaz (COL)
Austin Hedges (CLE)
Cal Raleigh (SEA)
Grayson Greiner (DET)
Dom Nunez (COL)
Austin Barnes (LAD)
Manny Pina (MIL)
Victor Caratini (CHC)
Kevan Smith (TBR)
Tony Wolters (FA)
Jacob Nottingham (MIL)
Tyler Flowers (FA)
Kevin Plawecki (BOS)
Rafael Marchan (PHI)
Adley Rutschman (BAL)
Curt Casali (FA)
Keibert Ruiz (LAD)
Kyle Higashioka (NYY)
Meibrys Viloria (KCR)
Alex Jackson (ATL)
Cam Gallagher (KCR)
Francisco Mejia (SDP)
Jonah Heim (OAK)
Luis Campusano (SDP)
Ronaldo Hernandez (TBR)
Garrett Stubbs (HOU)
Anthony Bemboom (LAA)
Austin Allen (OAK)
Michael Perez (PIT)
Robinson Chirinos (FA)
William Contreras (ATL)
Chad Wallach (MIA)
Tomas Nido (NYM)
Chadwick Tromp (SFG)
Michael Perez (PIT)
Eric Haase (FA)
Tres Barrera (WAS)

Catchers

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