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If I can be frank, if you're keeping a top 4 or 5 rated Dynasty Catcher, your team isn't very good and you should consider a new strategy.
With Buster Posey as the exception, most successful fantasy managers would rather roll the dice and get lucky in the draft. Grab a Sal Perez type breakout instead of using a valuable keeper spot on a backstop.
Moral of the story is, if your poor management has you considering keeping a catcher other than Posey or (maybe) Jonathan Lucroy, just don't expect to win. So without further ado, your top 5 dynasty Catchers.
5. Blake Swihart (BOS, 23)
As the only untouchable in the Red Sox farm system, Swihart is widely considered the top catching prospect in the majors. Drafted #26th overall in 2011, Swihart was considered an offense-first catcher but his defense has progressed steadily. He now projects to be a plus defender with a plus arm and now he’s regarded as the full package.
According to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, who is a full time prospect analyst, says Blake Swihart has the closest mix of tools as the one and only, Buster Posey. Nice compliment.
So far Swihart has struggled terrible in the MLB with a 2.2% BB rate and a 35.6% K rate. He's not contributing much right now, but don't let those numbers fool you...his long term potential is as high as anyone (except the next four guys that is).
4. Devin Mesoraco (CIN, 26)
Mesoraco gets edged out by Perez simply because of my fears that Mesoraco really is closer to the .238 hitter from 2013 than the .273 in 2014. My bet at the beginning of the season was he regresses closer to .240 with around 20 home runs. That wasn't really worth keeping. But now with his hip injury he's completely ruined any chance of producing in 2015. Frankly, I don't know why he is regarded as highly as he is, I just assume others have done the research and I just follow. Mesoraco being in my top 5 proves propoganda works.
3. Salvador Perez (KC, 24)
Is Salvador Perez going to break out? I hope so, but I’m concerned about another second half drop off.
In 2014, after batting .283 for the first half of the season, he struggled over the second half batting only .229.
Despite the drop Perez was still in the top five among catchers with .403 SLG. He was 4th overall among catchers with a 3.1 WAR and also won the AL Gold Glove. Plus he plays on one of the best teams to watch in baseball. There isn’t much better baseball to watch than my favorite young arm, Yordano Ventura, playing catch with Perez. It’s what makes baseball special.
2. Jonathan Lucroy (MIL, 28)
Jonathan Lucroy is a ridiculously good catcher. He is like the NBA's Golden State Warrior, Draymond Green or the NFL New England Patriot's Julian Edelman.
He is underrated. He is incredibly talented, and much more valuable than his contract suggests. He contributes to more than the box score and has intangibles that counting stats don't recognize and makes players around him better.
At 28 years old, he might be one of the most valuable players in all of baseball. At $11 million/year, his 6.2 WAR is a bargain. Especially when you consider the impact he has on the defensive side of the ball, he is a gold glove caliber defender and an elite pitch framer.
If the MLB ever had a real life draft of existing players, he would go top 10. Its really too bad he is on the lowly Brewers.
1. Buster Posey (SF, 28)
What hasn’t been written about Posey? He is the game’s top catcher, boasting a career .308/.374/.488. In 2013, Posey had career highs with 23 HR and 103 RBI but we have all noticed, he has yet to come close to those numbers since. In his age 28 season, at the apex of his physical prime, it could be a good time to own Buster Posey.
If you haven't read my in depth look at pitch framing and it's impact on 2015 fantasy pitchers, please read!
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