MLB: Starters for the “All-Overrated” Team by Position

 Catcher: Travis d’Arnaud – New York Mets

Playing the strenuous positon of catcher usually leads to more of those previously mentioned maintenance days than other positions. However in the case of Travis d’Arnaud, those maintenance days usually lead to prolonged disabled list visits, and as a matter of fact, that is where he resides as of now.

Since 2014, the year in which d’Arnaud played in 108 games and emerged as a potential Rookie of the Year candidate, the Mets catcher has played only 90 games total between the 2015 and 2016 seasons and hasn’t done much to improve on that productive season from more than two years ago.

The fact that d’Arnaud’s  name seems to appear on every prognosticator’s preseason list of “breakout” players, combined with the fact that he plays in a market with the capability of making just about anyone seem overrated, hasn’t done much to help the young catcher. What also really doesn’t help is the fact that he was tied for 81st in dWAR at -0.8 last year, while little known backup Kevin PIawecki came in at eighth in dWAR with a 1.1.

Optimistic fans, positive this would be the year d’Arnaud would return to form, were met with a cruel reality when he went on the disabled list only 13 games into the season. Even more discouraging than that might be the fact he was only batting .196 at the time.

Next: Staying in New York City