CATCHER
- Rankings from March.
Here are the top 25 catchers from our preseason rankings.
Rank | Tier | Player | Team (W-L) | Pos | 10 Team ($) | 12 Team ($) | 15 Team ($) |
1 | 1 | Buster Posey | Giants | C | 21 | 24 | 23 |
2 | 1 | Jonathan Lucroy | Brewers | C | 18 | 21 | 21 |
3 | 2 | Evan Gattis | Astros | DH | 15 | 17 | 15 |
4 | 2 | Salvador Perez | Royals | C | 14 | 17 | 14 |
5 | 2 | Yan Gomes | Indians | C | 13 | 16 | 13 |
6 | 2 | Devin Mesoraco | Reds | C | 11 | 14 | 12 |
7 | 2 | Brian McCann | Yankees | C | 10 | 13 | 11 |
8 | 2 | Yadier Molina | Cardinals | C | 8 | 10 | 9 |
9 | 2 | Wilson Ramos | Nationals | C | 6 | 8 | 7 |
10 | 2 | Matt Wieters | Orioles | C | 6 | 8 | 7 |
11 | 3 | Miguel Montero | Cubs | C | 6 | 8 | 7 |
12 | 3 | Travis d'Arnaud | Mets | C | 6 | 7 | 7 |
13 | 3 | Yasmani Grandal | Dodgers | C | 6 | 7 | 6 |
14 | 3 | Derek Norris | Padres | C | 5 | 6 | 5 |
15 | 3 | Wilin Rosario | Rockies | 1B | 5 | 6 | 5 |
16 | 3 | Russell Martin | Blue Jays | C | 5 | 6 | 5 |
17 | 4 | Mike Zunino | Mariners | C | 4 | 4 | 4 |
18 | 4 | Jarrod Saltalamacchia | Diamondbacks | C | 4 | 4 | 4 |
19 | 4 | Jason Castro | Astros | C | 4 | 4 | 4 |
20 | 4 | John Jaso | Rays | DH | 3 | 4 | 3 |
21 | 4 | Chris Iannetta | Angels | C | 3 | 4 | 3 |
22 | 4 | Francisco Cervelli | Pirates | C | 3 | 3 | 2 |
23 | 4 | Carlos Ruiz | Phillies | C | 3 | 3 | 2 |
24 | 4 | Kurt Suzuki | Twins | C | 2 | 3 | 2 |
25 | 4 | Alex Avila | Tigers | C | 2 | 3 | 2 |
BUSTS
Lucroy was hurt all year and the results were awful (.264-7-43-51) for a guy who from 2012-14 averaged .297-14-70-59.
Gomes failed to live up to his 2014 effort (.278-21-74-61). He was pretty much a league-average backstop (.231-12-45-38).
Mesoraco was hurt and stunk. After a breakout year in 2014 where he roped 25 homers and 80 RBIs, he appeared in just 23 games because of a hip issue leading to a .178/.275/.244 line.
Molina played for the most part but his offensive games went in the tank. From 2008-14 he hit .298 with a .775 OPS but this past season he hit .270 with a .660 mark.
Wieters was supposed to be ready to play daily from day one. It didn’t happen and he was in and out of the lineup for most of the season. In 75 games he hit .267 with eight homers and 25 RBIs.
Rosario simply didn’t play and even spent a long stretch in the minors. In the end, he hit just .268 with a .710 OPS and six homers over 231 at-bats.
Zunino can only hit a fastball. In 350 at-bats in ’15 he hit .174 with 11 homers and a .530 OPS.
Jaso was hurt and missed way more time than expected. He only appeared in 70 games but he was really good when he did play (.286/.380/.459).
SURPRISES
Cervelli (ranked No. 22nd) appeared in 130 games, his first season with even 95 games or more than 266 at-bats, and the Pirates got an impressive offensive result including a .295 average and .370 OBP.
Nick Hundley (27) had 10 homers and 43 RBIs with 45 runs scored. Pretty normal stuff for Hundley. The slash line, though, was well above his career norms (.249/.301/.400) as he went .301/.337/.467.
Welington Castillo (45) hit .160 over six games with the Mariners. He batted .163 over 24 games with the Cubs. In 80 games with the D’backs he hit .255 with an .813 OPS. He also went deep 17 times with 50 RBIs in a hell of an effort.
* Stephen Vogt wasn’t listed at catcher since he didn’t appear at the position at least 20 times in 2014.