2019 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Realmuto's .277 batting average with 21 homers and 74 RBIs doesn't seem all that impressive, but the fact of the matter is that he blew the rest of the catcher scene away with those numbers. Realmuto is as safe as it comes at the position and should produce far above the lousy replacement level once again. This is especially true now that he has been traded to a great hitter's ballpark in Philly. Don't hesitate to reach for him so you don't get stuck with an awful catcher

How why are you willing to take a guy who batted .186 last season? Turns out the answer is pretty high for Sanchez, who's challenging J.T. Realmuto as the top catcher off the board. He did, after all, hit .284/.354/.568 in 754 prior MLB plate appearances. A groin injury also hampered his production, and he additionally underwent offseason shoulder surgery. He struggled mightily against breaking balls, but actually deposited more walks without significant contact declines. The average could easily rise back to .250 with around 30 long balls, but is that enough to justify an investment around pick 60? Catcher is worse than usual, but that's still too steep in one-catcher formats.

Grandal's batting average may not seem all that appealing in the .240s range, but that is actually at replacement-level for the position so he won't hurt you there. He will definitely help in HRs, RBIs and runs, though. Over the last three seasons, he trails only (the injured) Salvador Perez in homers, and that was before he moved from an awful park for hitters in L.A. to a hitter's have in Milwaukee.

Contreras was a major disappointment for fantasy owners in 2018 after starting off his career with 33 HRs, 109 RBIs and a .278 batting average through 629 at-bats in his first two years. He is still young, however, and expected to improve from last season.

Ramos missed most of 2017 and struggled while he was healthy, but that seems to be the outlier, as he was tremendous in both 2016 and 2018, batting over .300 both seasons with plenty of power. Ramos is one of the safest fantasy catchers and may have as much upside as anyone besides Sanchez and Realmuto.

Although Posey isn't likely a .300 hitter anymore, his .280s batting average is the equivilant of a .310 hitter when compared to the replacement-level at his position. Add in a dozen homers, if he can stay healthy this year, and you've got yourself a boring, yet extremely useful top 8 fantasy catcher.

Catcher's don't often get 450 trips to the plate, but Tadi has done it every year since 2008. As you can imagine, the runs and RBIs pile up with extra playing time, and it certainly helps that he increases your team's batting average and may add another 20 homers this season.

After batting .323 across three minor league levels in 2017, Jansen hit .275 with 12 homers and five steals through 88 games in AAA in 2018 before earning an August call-up to the Blue Jays. He hit .247 with three homers over 31 games in Toronto, and it's reasonable to expect him to maintain a similar pace over his first full Big League season with the potential for more. Given the sorry state of the catcher position, it could make sense to take a chance on Jansen's unknown upside once the seven or eight surefire starters at the position are off the board.

Castillo only saw 49 games worth of action last season, but his bat was still quality when he played. Over the last five years, he averages 26 homers with a .261 BA and 85 RBIs per 162 games, so now that he is starting, fantasy owners can expect useful production out of him.

Zunino killed his fantasy teams in batting average last year, but he was up at .251 the year before so you'd have to think he will settle somewhere in between this year. When it comes with 20 homers and 50 RBIs at the catcher position, the batting average is much easier to swallow.

Among all catchers with 200 plate appearances, Cervelli corralled the second-highest wOBA (.355) behind Wilson Ramos. His modest 12 homers comfortably cleared his previous high of seven, but concussions limited him to 404 plate appearances. He's unlikely to turn into a big bopper during his age-33 season, but Cervelli is a fine placeholder while healthy.

Chirinos likely won't get 450 at-bats like some of the other names above him, but he is the starter for Houston which should come with it's share of runs and RBIs. The batting average clearly won't be ideal, but his 15 to 20 HR power off-sets that pain.

Barnhart doesn't have the best bat, but his elite defense will keep him on the field for nearly 500 at-bats again. In a killer Red's lineup, that should be plenty to get him the counting stats he needs to be draftable.

Alfaro is dealing with a knee issue that may keep him out at the start of the season, but he has so little competition in Miami that fantasy owners may still get 350 to 400 at-bats and the counting stats that go with it. Don't be surprised if he hits near his career .270 average once again either.

Catcher is so bad that prospect pedigree has kept Mejia in top-10 consideration despite batting .176 (12-for-69) in the majors. Even his Triple-A production dipped (.279/.328/.426) after getting traded from Cleveland to San Diego, where Austin Hedges is still clamoring for reps behind the plate. Contact and power upside still makes the 23-year-old Mejia a viable dart throw for anyone who missed out on the big names. Those in one-catcher leagues, however, should move on quickly if he's not playing much in April.

Gomes was one of only two catchers last year to bat .266 with 50+ runs scored. That may not feel like much, but the catching position is rough. He'll add 15 homers too, making him a top 10 fantasy catching option this year.

It is tempting to draft everyone's favorite short chubby catcher, but the fact of the matter is that he likely won't even open the season on the big league club. There is some intrigue here if/when he gets called up, but until then, he belongs on the waivers.

Suzuki has been useful the last two seasons with a .276 batting average, 31 HRs and 100 RBIs in 623 at-bats, but his playing time is expected to take a hit as he likely backs up Yan Gomes in Washington. Even so, he is better than punting the position altogether.

 

 

Hedges is no help in the batting average department, but he has enough power (32 homers in his last 700 at-bats) that he warrants a late-round pick if you still need a catcher. If he gets traded mid-season to clear up room for Mejia, Hedges could see a bump in his offensive production away from San Diego's ballpark.

 

 

 

 

There is reason to be excited about Tom Murphy, but as for now, Iannetta is the starter in Coors Field so don't hesitate to add him in two catcher leagues despite his lackluster batting averages.

If you are desperate at catcher, Brian McCann may be better than punting the position altogether. He does still have serviceable power, but he won't play often as the backup in Atlanta and his batting average will likely drag your team back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perez has been a top-eight backstop in standard roto leagues in five straight seasons and was shaping up to be one again, but that was before he injured his ulnar collateral ligament in Spring Training. He is now set for Tommy John surgery that will knock him out for the entire 2019 season.