MLB Best: Is Buster Posey Still the Best Catcher in the majors?
We will be compiling a list of the top three players at each position including designated hitter leading into Spring Training. These MLB best lists are based on career stats/accomplishments, 2018 statistics, and especially their projections going into 2019. Today we continue with Catchers.
Yesterday I went through the top third basemen’s in the game, and today we shift to the catching position.
Without further ado, there are only three spots on the list, so let’s go through the catchers that were just short:
Just Missed
Yadier Molina (St. Louis Cardinals)
Yadier Molina has been one of the best catchers in the game for a substantial amount of time, but he does not make the top three because he is not getting any younger, and his batting average has been declining every year.
Also, Molina is competing against a lot of young catchers in the game that have had better power years, and are in the prime of their career.
Yasmani Grandal (Milwaukee Brewers)
Yasmani Grandal had a great 2018 season, hitting 24 home runs with nearly 70 RBI’s, but I was not going to put him in the top three after he could not play defense whatsoever in the postseason.
He has a new home in Milwaukee after rejecting a four year, $60 million deal which surprised a lot of people including myself. If Grandal can have another great year at the plate, and play better defense behind the plate, he will be in my top three next off season.
Willson Contreras (Chicago Cubs)
After having a breakout 2017 season, Contreras slowed down hitting just ten homers, but is projected to have a better season, hitting more homers with more RBI’s.
Now let’s get to the list starting with the third best catcher in baseball. This catcher has been highly criticized for his lack of defense, but has plenty of power to make up for it…
3. Gary Sanchez (New York Yankees)
Gary Sanchez hit a whopping .186 in 2018 in just 89 games, which is not a top three catcher, but if you look at his previous years, the numbers show he is a great catcher.
Sanchez battled some injuries, including missing about 4 weeks with a right groin injury, which obviously slowed him down.
Before his batting average went below the ‘Mendoza Line’, Sanchez made his first All Star Game appearance in Miami in addition to winning the American League Silver Slugger.
In 2017, he nearly hit .300 along with 33 home runs and a slugging percentage over .530. He led a Yankees team that held a record of 91-71, finishing second place behind the Boston Red Sox.
Although he had a disappointing season, he was able to hit two home runs in the American League Division Series, but his club fell to the Red Sox.
For this coming season, Sanchez is projecting to have a much better season, hitting 24 home runs, driving in 66 runs, and an OPS over .800.
His projected 2019 season is encouraging, but his surroundings are even more encouraging. He is going to be surrounded by sluggers like Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Judge with Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner at the top of the lineup. Then, don’t forget about Miguel Andujar and Gleybar Torres bursting onto the scene last year, who will most likely be hitting behind Sanchez.
I put Sanchez on the list in front of Yadier Molina because he is younger, and even though his defense is not spectacular, he can hit and I like the lineup around him to boost his numbers for this season.
My #2 catcher may surprise some people, and you could say he has accomplished a few things over his career…
2. Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants)
Buster Posey has been an elite catcher for nine years now, going on ten, and at that is not easy to do at such a hard position to play.
In 2018, he continued to be a great catcher, and produce at the plate. Although he only hit five home runs (lowest HR total since 2011), he still had a .284 batting average and an OPS of nearly .750.
He only played in 105 games last season, which was the least amount of games he has played since 2011. Obviously one of the main concerns from the Giants perspective is to make sure Posey is healthy. So, whether that means he will be playing more games at first base or giving him some more days off like we saw last season, that is San Francisco’s main priority.
Last year he played 13 games and 107 innings at first, and the positive sign was his position switch did not affect him at the plate which is a great sign.
He is the 2010 Rookie of the Year, six time All Star, gold glove winner, four time Silver Slugger, three time World Series Champion, and of course the 2012 NL Most Valuable Player.
With a young Giants team, particularly in the outfield, it is crucial for Posey to stay healthy to lead the club on the offensive side and be reliable behind the plate.
In 2019, he is projected to have a better year, hitting nine homers with 53 RBI’s.
I did not put Posey at #1 because the catcher in front of him has produced great numbers the last few years and just recently got traded to a new club…
1. J.T. Realmuto (Philadelphia Phillies)
J.T. Realmuto was the big topic of discussion when it came to trade talks, and at some points was more talked about than the Bryce Harper and Manny Machado sweepstakes. The reason for it is he is now the best catcher in baseball.
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The catcher position is not one of the best positions in baseball when it comes to production at the plate and behind it. It is either one or other, but Realmuto has been able to do both.
Since the 2016 season, Realmuto has hit at least 11 home runs with at least 48 runs batted in, and an on base percentage of over .330.
Since the 2017 off season, Realmuto has had to deal with every single core player be moved to another team including Giancarlo Stanton going to the Yankees, Dee Gordon to Seattle, Christian Yelich to the Brewers, and Marcell Ozuna to the Cardinals, but he was the one that did not move anywhere, so he did not have much help and protection in the lineup in the 2018 season, but he still produced at a high level.
He had career high’s in home runs (21), RBI’s (74), and OPS (.825), in addition to having to carry a young Miami offense and a very young Marlins rotation.
He was able to make his first All Star Game in Washington, and won his first Silver Slugger Award.
There were many teams that were interested in acquiring the best catcher in the league, but Miami was not helping as their asking price was way too much for teams like the Padres, Reds and Dodgers.
He ultimately got traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for top prospect Sixto Sanchez, young catcher Jorge Alfaro, and pitcher Will Stewart.
I really like Realmuto’s landing spot because he gets to work with a pitching staff that includes newly extended ace Aaron Nola, Jake Arrieta, and David Robertson.
Top third basemen in baseball. dark. Next
Then, he will fit perfectly in a lineup that is flooded with talent like Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen, Rhys Hoskins, and Odubel Herrera (maybe even possibly Harper or Machado).
Those are my top catchers, tell me what you think, and make sure you come back for my top Relief Pitchers list!