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MLB Best Players: Past calendar year studs and duds

By Bobby Mueller

ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 01: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels warms up before the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on June 1, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 01: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels warms up before the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on June 1, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – JUNE 29: J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins in action against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on June 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Catcher

The plate appearance requirement for catchers was set at 300 plate appearances. This produced 25 catchers, almost one per team.

Studs
#1. J.T. Realmuto, Miami Marlins
.291/.342/.501 in 570 PA, 5.2 WAR

#2. Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs
.288/.377/.489 in 482 PA, 4.2 WAR

#3. Kurt Suzuki, Atlanta Braves
.303/.357/.559 in 392 PA, 3.7 WAR

Nope, it’s not Buster Posey or Gary Sanchez or Willson Contreras, although he’s second on the list. Over the last 365 days, the top catcher in baseball has been J.T. Realmuto. He’s an easy guy to overlook. He plays in Miami on a team that traded away everyone who had value after new ownership took over, except for Realmuto. The Marlins have the worst run-differential and worst record in the NL.

Based on Fangraphs Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Realmuto has been a win better than the next-best catcher on the list, Willson Contreras. He gets on base at a solid clip and hits for power while being good behind the plate. Unfortunately for Realmuto, when it comes to the all-star team voting, he’s in fifth place, more than 500,000 votes behind Buster Posey.

Of course, fans don’t look at the past calendar year when they vote. They vote for guys based on this year’s stats and how well known they are. That being said, Realmuto leads all catchers in WAR this season. He won’t be voted onto the all-star team as a starter, but should make the Final Five ballot. He’s deserving.

The other surprise on this list is Kurt Suzuki, who has been incredible with the Atlanta Braves. In the first 10 years of his career, Suzuki hit .256/.311/.372. Then he signed as a free agent with Atlanta Braves before last season and has hit .286/.352/.516 over the last year-and-a-half. Maybe he really likes boiled peanuts, a Georgia delicacy. Nice signing, Atlanta.

Duds
#23. Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
.223/.259/.413 in 475 PA, 0.7 WAR

#24. Christian Vazquez, Boston Red Sox
.256/.295/.361 in 401 PA, 0.6 WAR

#25. Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays
.194/.314/.340 in 371 PA, 0.5 WAR

This is the ugly portion of the program. Salvador Perez was a big part of the Royals back-to-back World Series teams, but his on-base percentage has been awful for five seasons now. This year, he’s not hitting for power either. He had a late start to the season after injuring his knee during spring training and hasn’t come around. He’s also owed $39.6 million over the next three years.

Speaking of money owed, Russell Martin is making $20 million this year and will make another $20 million next year. Over the last 365 days, he hasn’t hit his weight. About the only thing he’s done well offensively is draw walks (13.5 percent walk rate over the last year).

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