2020 Fantasy Baseball: Top 10 Catchers
Who are the top 10 catchers to target for 2020 Fantasy Baseball?
With the calendar turning to 2020, it means it’s a brand new year. New opportunities. Time to make a better you right? It’s also time to think about getting your 2020 fantasy baseball roster together and get yourself ready to draft in mid-March as your March Madness bracket goes up in flames.
We here at Call to the Pen will help you try and win your league this year. Today, we are going to look at the top 10 catchers that you should target for your 2020 fantasy baseball roster. Catcher is a tricky position in fantasy baseball. It’s a position where guys tend to come out of nowhere and become factors. Who had Mitch Garver or Travis d’Arnaud breaking out the way they did in 2019? I certainly didn’t. 2019 saw some of the old guard start to really decline, while a new wave of talent began to crop up and look like some of the best in the game.
Catchers are players who aren’t going to play every single day because of the wear and tear that they take. It’s also a position where you may have to reach and get a couple of elite players at the position as compared to outfield or even shortstop, where there is a ton of depth. Many teams start multiple catchers or have some sort of platoon. It’s a position that had some movement this off-season, but players like Robinson Chirinos, as of this posting, are still unsigned.
Last year, I had J.T. Realmuto as the number one catcher going into the season. Will that remain this year? Let’s begin our look at the top 10 catchers for 2020 fantasy baseball, with the number 10 catcher, who was a bit higher going into last season.
10. Wilson Ramos-New York Mets
2019 stats: 141 games: .288/.351/.416 14 homers 73 RBI
2020 Steamer: 99 games .274/.332/.447 15 homers 56 RBI
In 2019, Ramos played in a career-high 141 games, which is probably something that the New York Mets can’t bank on in 2020 given his injury history. However, when he plays, he’s certainly productive and is the clear cut starter on his team, which plays a part in his ranking for 2020 fantasy baseball among catchers.
Ramos will be a part of what should be one of the better offenses in the league on paper with the New York Mets. If you are looking for a catcher with pop and is a clear cut starter that you can probably wait a bit on, then Ramos should be the catcher for you. He’s also someone who can go on an absolute tear, like last August when he hit .434 with three homers and 20 RBI.
Ramos will also be going into a contract year in 2020, which could give him a little extra motivation to go out and himself a big year, or even get his 2021 option picked up by the New York Mets.
If Ramos is the catcher for your 2020 fantasy baseball team, you should be in a good spot at that position.
9. Omar Narvaez– Milwaukee Brewers
2019 stats: 132 games .278/.353/.460 22 homers 53 RBI
2020 steamer: 84 games: .260/.343/.414 11 homers 40 RBI
Narvaez was brought in to be a part of the tandem that helps replace Yasmani Grandal (more on him later) in a trade with the Seattle Mariners earlier in the off-season. Narvaez crushed righties last year, hitting .289 with 20 homers against them last season. If the Brewers stick with that platoon, plus the fact that he’s now going to be playing his home games in Miller Park, Narvaez could be one of the most effective catchers to have in 2020 fantasy baseball.
The platoon could help him not wear down in the second half, as his production slipped last season, including seeing his batting average drop 40 points. His WRC+ went from 130 to 104 in the second half as well.
Among catchers with at least 100 plate appearances, Narvaez was eighth in homers and seventh in WRC+.
If the Milwaukee Brewers can help fix some of Narvaez’s defensive issues, the bat should play, which could lead to more opportunities for him to play and be a part of your 2020 fantasy baseball squad. He’s also someone who should be available later on if you don’t get one of the higher-ranked catchers.
8. Arizona Diamondbacks- Carson Kelly
2019 stats: 111 games .245/.348/.478 18 homers 47 RBI
2020 steamer: 99 games .249/.339/.428 14 homers 47 RBI
Kelly was blocked by Yadier Molina in St. Louis but finally got his chance to be the guy at the catching position in Arizona with the trade of Paul Goldschmidt. Kelly struggled in the second half, hitting just .207, and because of that, he probably wasn’t on your radar much last season. However, for 2020 fantasy baseball, he should be. His second-half decline could be in part to him hitting a wall in his first full big-league season.
Even with that, Kelly was 12th in WAR among all catchers with more than 100 plate appearances. Kelly’s 18 homers were tied for ninth. His 13.2% walk rate was fourth among all catchers and his .478 slugging percentage was 10th.
If Kelly can keep his high OBP and slugging percentages, there’s no reason to think he can’t be one of the more promising catchers to have on your 2020 fantasy baseball team. There could be a real breakout here for a team that is looking to compete in 2020.
7. Salvador Perez– Kansas City Royals
2019: DNP due to injury
2020 steamer: 128 games .252/.291/.465 27 homers 81 RBI
Salvador Perez was one of the more productive catchers to have in fantasy baseball, but not last season due to injury. 2020 fantasy baseball should be a different story. Even though the on-base percentage isn’t going to be there with Perez, but the power and production should be there. Due to the Tommy John Surgery, Perez could even find himself at first base a decent amount in order to help protect his elbow.
Back in 2018, his 27 homers led all catchers as well as his 80 RBI. His .439 slugging percentage was eighth. His 52 runs scored were tied for fourth.
Perez may fall under the radar due to him not playing at all last year and the fact that the Kansas City Royals probably won’t be very good this season. There is some risk in coming back from the surgery, however, if you are looking for pop out of your catcher position and are willing to sacrifice some OBP, depending on how your league is set up, look no further.
6. Mitch Garver- Minnesota Twins
2019 stats: 93 games .273/.365/.630 31 homers 67 RBI
2020 steamer: 90 games .253/.333/.464 16 homers 51 RBI
Steamer clearly isn’t a believer in Mitch Garver’s 2019 breakout. Garver broke out as the Minnesota Twins Bomba Squad hit 307 homers to set a new major league record. Garver’s catching partner, Jason Castro, just signed with the Angels, so the job is going to be Garver’s which makes him a better target for your 2020 fantasy baseball team.
Among catchers with at least 100 plate appearances, Garver was second in homers, third in runs scored, seventh in RBI, first in slugging percentage at .630 and WRC+ at 155. He only had a BABIP of .277 but was fifth in hard-hit rate among all catchers at 47.4%. That’s a good sign moving forward that he consistently made such hard contact.
If Garver can continue making hard contact, his BABIP should improve. Could this lead to an uptick in his numbers? Sure. It’s certainly possible he doesn’t hit 31 homers again, but maybe some more extra-base hits and run production? Sign me up to have him as my catcher for my 2020 fantasy baseball squad.
5. Will Smith– Los Angeles Dodgers
2019 stats: 54 games .253/.337/.571 15 homers 42 RBI
2020 steamer: 98 games .225/303/.439 19 homers 49 RBI
The new Fresh Prince of Bel-Air made his debut in 2019 and is a strong candidate to have a breakout season in 2020 fantasy baseball as the Los Angeles Dodgers number one catcher. Smith was the Dodgers first-round pick back in 2016 but was given a chance this past year behind the dish with Yasmani Grandal gone, and the struggles of Austin Barnes and Russell Martin.
Among catchers with at least 100 plate appearances, Smith was second in WRC+, wOBA, slugging. His 44.6% hard-hit rate was 10th.
I think Steamer’s projection is a bit low. I think he’ll play more than 98 games as the starting catcher. If he has any competition within the Dodgers organization, it’s going to be from prospect Keibert Ruiz, who hit AAA last year. If he does maintain that starting role, he should be able to put up better numbers than that as a part of the core of the Dodgers. If he can maintain what he did in terms of hard-hit rate and run creation, he can be a weapon in 2020 fantasy baseball.
4: Willson Contreras– Chicago Cubs
2019 stats: 105 games .272/.355/.533 24 homers 67 RBI
2020 steamer: 98 games: .257/.341/.457 16 homers 56 RBI
The Chicago Cubs have had a quiet off-season thus far. There have been trade rumors surrounding Contreras all winter, though as of this posting, he still resides in the Windy City. No matter where he ends up for the 2020 season, the 27-year-old will be a popular catcher for the 2020 fantasy baseball season.
Among catchers with at least 100 plate appearances in 2019, Contreras was tied for fifth in homers, tied for eighth in runs, eighth in RBI, fourth in slugging and wRC+, third in wOBA.
What prevented an even bigger season out of Contreras last season was that he didn’t make enough hard contact. His 21.5% soft contact percentage was 11th among catchers. If he can make harder contact in 2020, those numbers could really explode.
It’s hard to believe that Contreras is 27 years old. Even though it seems like he’s been around forever, he’s just entering his prime, and this could be the year he really explodes as one of the best 2020 fantasy baseball options. If he makes harder contact consistently lookout.
3. Yasmani Grandal- Chicago White Sox
2019 stats: 153 games .246/.380/.468 28 homers 77 RBI
2020 steamer: 128 games .243/.358/.459 25 homers 72 RBI
Grandal bet on himself last off-season, taking a one year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers and cashed in this off-season, signing the richest contract in Chicago White Sox history. The switch-hitting Grandal should continue to be a power asset in the revamped White Sox lineup for 2020 fantasy baseball. The DH spot should help, along with the ability to play first base, to keep his bat in the lineup.
Among catchers with at least 100 at-bats, Grandal was third in homers, second in runs scored and RBI, walk percentage, first in on-base percentage, fifth in wOBA and sixth in WRC+.
Grandal has had four straight 20+ home run seasons, and going to Chicago shouldn’t change that. The White Sox are going to be a sexy pick to make some noise in the AL Central this season, and Grandal should play a part of that. He is one of the more consistent catchers to have in fantasy baseball, and there’s no reason to think that’ll change in 2020. Draft with confidence for your 2020 fantasy baseball squad.
2. Gary Sanchez– New York Yankees
2019 stats: 106 games .232/.316/.525 34 homers 77 RBI
2020 steamer: 107 games .241/.324/.515 31 homers 74 RBI
Catchers who hit 30 homers don’t exactly grow on trees. For your 2020 fantasy baseball squad, if you are going to take Gary Sanchez, you’re going to have to get him pretty early. Just be aware that he will most likely end up on the injured list a couple of times during the season. Sanchez rebounded from a lost 2018 season to be one of the main producers in the New York Yankees deep and talented lineup.
Among catchers with at least 100 plate appearances, Sanchez was first in homers, tied for second in RBI, sixth in runs and slugging percentage, seventh in wOBA, and eighth in WRC+.
Sanchez is an elite bat, no matter the position. He does come with that injury risk, but the talent is there, and the 27-year-old seems to have corrected his defensive issues behind the plate, which means more time there and less time at DH for the Yankees. Steamer seems to pretty bullish on his 2020 and so am I, for the team that should be a World Series favorite.
1. J.T. Realmuto- Philadelphia Phillies
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2019 stats- 145 games .275/.328/.493 25 homers 83 RBI
2020 steamer: 127 games .269/.329/.477 23 homers 75 RBI
Now we’ve come to the number one catcher. The guy who’s number one at the position on my board and should be on yours as well for 2020 fantasy baseball. Realmuto may be the best overall catcher in the game today and put up those numbers with a meniscus tear in his knee that he got surgery on in late September.
Realmuto was fourth in homers, first in runs and RBI, seventh in average and slugging percentage, and ninth in wOBA among catchers with at least 100 plate appearances.
Realmuto should have more of an opportunity to put up even better numbers this season, with a healthy Andrew McCutchen and Didi Gregorius a part of the lineup now. Realmuto can really do it all and won’t kill your batting average either. This is what makes him my number one catcher for 2020 fantasy baseball.
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So there you have it. The top 10 catchers to target in 2020 fantasy baseball. Is anyone too high? Too low? Anyone left out that should be on the list? Leave a comment below or let us know on social media.