Fantasy Baseball: Top 10 Catchers for 2019
Who are the top 10 catchers in Fantasy Baseball for 2019?
Let’s continue our fantasy baseball 2019 preview and go position by position. We are going to start by taking a look at catcher. Around baseball, no less fantasy baseball, offensive production behind the plate is hard to come by. Considering the amount of pitchers every staff has, plus the emphasis there is on framing and game calling behind the plate, there’s a lot of focus behind the dish rather than when they get up to bat.
Many teams are starting to use platoons behind the dish instead of having that one player who may catch 120 games. A perfect example is the Washington Nationals, who this year signed Kurt Suzuki and traded for Yan Gomes. Suzuki’s former team, the Atlanta Braves, brought back Brian McCann to pair with Tyler Flowers. Free agents Yasmani Grandal and Wilson Ramos changed teams in free agency.
You still have those elite names that you can get at the position. As Yadier Molina slows down, other names are starting to emerge.
Those kinds of things you have to keep in mind as you put together your fantasy baseball team. Is it better to spend big on a catcher and wait on that third outfielder. Would you rather have Gary Sanchez or another top bat at a deeper position? Those are some of the challenges and things you have to think about on draft day.
With that being said, as we break the players down, we’ll show the numbers they put up last season, as well as their steamer projections for 2019 to give you an idea of what numbers that player could put up in 2019.
Let’s begin at number 10 with a catcher who will get a chance to be starter for the first time in his young career after breaking into the majors last season.
10: Danny Jansen, Toronto Blue Jays
2018: 31 games: .247/.347/.432 three homers eight RBI WRC+ 115
2019 steamer: 91 games: .256/.335/.423 11 homers 43 RBI WRC+ 108
Danny Jansen isn’t the son of a former big leaguer like Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Bo Bichette or Cavan Biggio, but Jansen was a part of the first wave of minor league talent to come up last season as the Toronto Blue Jays embark on their rebuild. Jansen’s emergence led to the salary dump of Russell Martin to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jansen’s power output increased last season at AAA. In 88 games, he had an OPS of .863.
In terms of fantasy baseball, trusting a rookie catcher may not be the easiest plan, however, the Blue Jays won’t have another option. Reese McGuire and Luke Mailie are the other options behind the plate for the club and won’t impede Jansen’s playing time. This isn’t like the San Diego Padres catching situation with Austin Hedges and Francisco Mejia.
Jansen was able to improve his walk rate, even though his K rate increased over the past couple of years. More experience should help him cut down the K rate and be one of the more effective catchers in fantasy baseball in 2019. You could even wait on him until later rounds.
9. Francisco Cervelli, Pittsburgh Pirates
2018: 104 games: .259/.378/.431 12 homers 57 RBI
2019 projection: 91 games: .256/.357/.383 seven homers 38 RBI
Francisco Cervelli checks in at number nine on our list for catchers for fantasy baseball in 2019. Cervelli battled some injuries in 2018, but managed to post career highs in homers and RBI with an OPS+ of 123 (league average is 100). His WRC+ of 125 tied him was Yasmani Grandal and was only behind J.T. Realmuto and Wilson Ramos at the position.
His walk rate of 12.6% was sixth among catchers in 2018 and he led all catchers in OBP in 2018.
You’re not going to get a ton of power from Cervelli. If you’re looking for that out of your catcher spot in fantasy baseball this year, you have other options you can to, guys who aren’t on this list. However, if you are looking for someone who’s going to get on-base, drive in some runs for you and be pretty consistent when he plays, I would target Cervelli. You’re not going to have spend a premium pick to get him either, which is another advantage. Just be aware that he’s likely to be hurt at some point, so make sure you plan for that on your fantasy team at some point during the season.
8. Yadier Molina- St. Louis Cardinals
2018: 123 games .261/.314/.436 20 homers 74 RBI
2019 projection: 120 games .266/.317/.414 14 homers 57 RBI
If not for a gruesome injury on a foul ball last year, Molina might have had an even better season, but it was still good enough to check in at number eight on our list for catchers in fantasy baseball for 2019.
Molina will turn 37 in July, but still managed to turn in one of his more productive years with the bat. He put up his second season ever of 20 or more homers and drove in more than 70 runs for the fourth time in his career. His batting average is trending down, but his OPS continues to be in the mid .700’s.
When you draft Molina on your fantasy team, you know your’re getting a catcher who’s going to be in the lineup most days, even at and advanced age. Over the past three seasons, only Salvador Perez has driven in more runs and only J.T. Realmuto and Buster Posey have scored more runs.
If you are looking for consistency and run production and want to wait on catcher for your fantasy baseball squad this year, you should look to the veteran Molina.
7. Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
2018- 129 games .235/.274/.439 27 homers 80 RBI
2019 steamer- 104 games .251/.288/.452 20 homers 61 RBI
Perez is as durable as they come behind the dish, catching over 125 games for the sixth consecutive season, as the 28 year old checks in at number seven for catchers in fantasy baseball for 2019.
Perez doesn’t like to walk, but you’re drafting him on your fantasy baseball team as a run producer. Even for a team like the Kansas City Royals, who aren’t expected to do much this year, someone is going to have to drive runs in, and they have a ton of team speed, so if they get on base, there will be opportunities.
Over the past three years, Perez leads all catchers in homers and RBI and is top ten in runs and slugging percentage. He’s still fairly young, and is just in the midst of his prime, even though it feels like he’s been in the majors forever.
As I said with Molina, if you want someone who will be there day in and day out, but with slightly more power production than Molina, you can draft Perez and feel comfortable that you are going to get it.
6. Wilson Ramos, New York Mets
2018- 111 games .306/.358/.487 15 homers 70 RBI
2019 steamer projection- 76 games .261/.312/.438 12 homers 48 RBI
If you are looking for power from your catcher on your fantasy baseball roster behind the plate, our number six can give that to you.
Ramos signed a two-year deal this offseason with the New York Mets after spending 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies. A torn ACL toward the end of 2016 limited him to 64 games in 2017, but Ramos managed to appear in 111 games last season.
Since 2016, only Gary Sanchez has a better WRC+ than Ramos does. Only Sanchez has a better slugging percentage than Ramos’ .483. Ramos is tied for seventh in RBI with…Sanchez among catchers in that time frame. He is also in the top 10 in homers. Remember, this includes missing significant time in 2017.
With Ramos, there is that injury risk that you are taking if he is the catcher on your fantasy baseball squad. There is a good chance that he doesn’t catch as much as you think with Travis d’Arnaud backing him up who will see some time as well. When Ramos is in there though, he’s an elite hitter, no matter the position.
5. Yasmani Grandal, Milwaukee Brewers
2018- 140 games .241/.349/.466 24 homers 68 RBI
2019 steamer- 94 games .237/.344/.453 18 homers 51 RBI
Your last impression of Yasmani Grandal may be of him having another meltdown in the playoffs and being a non-factor, but when you are putting together your fantasy baseball roster, don’t let that cloud your judgment. Switch-hitting catchers with pop don’t grow on trees.
Grandal will be joining a powerful lineup in Milwaukee in a better hitting park than he had at Dodger Stadium.
Since 2016, only Salvador Perez has more homers than Grandal as a catcher. Grandal ranks fourth in RBI, slugging percentage and walk rate among catchers in that time frame. He is also in the top 10 in OBP. His walk rate decreased, and his K rate increased, but maybe that was due to the fatigue of appearing in a career-high 140 games.
Grandal is also pretty durable. Since 2014, he’s only failed to catch more than 120 games once. I think that Steamer projection is a bit low for him, and you should see similar production offensively from him that you’ve seen over the past few years, maybe even a little better because of his new home park.
4. Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs
2018: 138 games .249/.339/.390 10 homers 54 RBI
2019 steamer: 112 games .257/.340/.427 14 homers 55 RBI
It was a tale of two halves for the number four catcher on our fantasy baseball rankings list. Willson Contreras‘ first half was among the most productive at the position. The second half? Not so much.
1st half: .279/.369/.449 seven homers 34 RBI
2nd half: .200/.291/.294 three homers 20 RBI
I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle for the 26-year-old. Over the past three seasons, he’s been one of the more productive catchers in the game. He ranks in the top 10 in RBI, homers, and WRC+.
The thing you have to remember about Contreras is he’s only 26 and just entering his prime, after already accomplishing quite a bit in his young career. It’s very possible that this is the year he reaches his full potential and takes off offensively. Maybe he got worn down. Maybe it was a symptom of the Cubs anemic offense down the stretch. Whatever it is, I’d look for him to rebound in a big way in 2019 and he’s someone I’d target in fantasy baseball drafts this season.
3. Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
2018 stats- 105 games .284/.359/.382 five homers 41 RBI
2019 steamer- 121 games .287/.364/.427 12 homers 59 RBI
Posey’s 2018 ended early thanks to hip surgery and the crash of the San Francisco Giants, but when healthy, Posey is one of the best in the game behind the plate and has been one of the best catchers to have in fantasy baseball for years.
There are definitely questions for Posey’s supporting cast. The Giants outfield as currently constituted is Chris Shaw, Steven Duggar and Austin Slater. All young and with questions, not to mention Joe Panik looking to rebound.
Over the past three years, Posey is third in WRC+, tied for first in average, first in OBP, fifth in RBI, and second in runs.
Posey has dealt with some injuries over the past couple of seasons between the hip and a concussion and will more than likely see more and more time at first base, especially with top prospect Joey Bart on his way. I would have no problem ending up with Posey as my fantasy baseball catcher in 2019, but I want to see how he’s moving during spring training before I take the plunge.
2. Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees
2018- 89 games .186/.291/.406 18 homers 53 RBI
2019 steamer- 115 games .245/.322/.480 27 homers 75 RBI
2018 was one the 26-year-old Sanchez would like to forget, but he’s still the number two catcher in fantasy baseball to have in 2019. Multiple trips to the disabled list. Extremely shaky defense. Questions about whether he could be the guy behind the plate. Sanchez couldn’t even reach the Mendoza line after hitting .278 with an .896 OPS and 33 homers in 2017.
2019 should give Sanchez a clean slate. Maybe he needs more DH time to help him. The New York Yankees pitching staff isn’t exactly the easiest to catch, so maybe this offseason gave him time to reflect and move.
For fantasy baseball purposes, when he’s on, this is an elite run-producing bat in a lineup that is loaded with talent. Over the past three seasons, Sanchez is third among catchers in homers, seventh in RBI, first in slugging at .516 and in WRC+ at 124.
I fully expect Sanchez to rebound from last season. I don’t believe he was ever truly healthy during 2018 and his numbers displayed that. Is there risk with this pick for your fantasy baseball team? Sure, but there could be plenty of reward.
1. J.T. Realmuto, Miami Marlins
2018- 125 games .277/.340/.484 21 homers 74 RBI
2019 steamer-125 games .267/.323/.436 16 homers 61 RBI
He may not be a Marlin for much longer. Heck, as your reading this he may have been traded. You never know with them. Nevertheless, no matter where he may end up, Realmuto is the number one catcher in fantasy baseball for 2019. I think you can consider him the number one catcher in the game period.
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Over the past three seasons, Realmuto is fifth in WRC+ and OBP, eighth in slugging, third in average, sixth in RBI and homers and first in runs.
He’s really the catcher who can do it all and should be the first catcher off the board in all fantasy baseball drafts this year. Due to the lack of overall depth at the position, you may have to reach for him.
Of course, you could wait and get any of the other members of this list, but Realmuto will give you the most day in and day out consistent production at the position.
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So there you have it. The top 10 catchers for fantasy baseball in 2019. Anyone left out? Anyone too high? Too low? Leave a comment below.