X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Top 20 Catchers (C) - Rankings, Tiers and Projections

By SD Dirk on Flickr (Originally posted to Flickr as "Brian McCann") [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

RotoBaller's 2014 fantasy baseball catcher (C) rankings and projections. Detailed draft prep analysis of the top 20 catchers, written by fantasy guru Ryan Rufe.

By SD Dirk on Flickr (Originally posted to Flickr as "Brian McCann") [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsI realize that Catcher is probably the least exciting position in Fantasy Baseball.  It's not sexy at all, but the position is still important and should not be overlooked.  As recently as three years ago, the position lacked depth and a heavy emphasis was placed on drafting an elite catcher early.  Considering there were very few elite options to choose from (namely Joe Mauer and Brian McCann), these players were being drafted as early as Round 2.  Very fortunately, the position has gotten much deeper since then, thus eliminating the "need" to draft a catcher that early.

 

Top 20 Catchers (C) - 2014 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

As you'll come to find via my rankings below, there are plenty of rock-solid catchers to choose from in 2014.  Those of you who participate in leagues that use one catcher should have no problem finding a decent starter for your team that you can be confident with when you set your lineup.  Even those of you who are required to start two catchers should at least walk away with serviceable players for your team.

While my fellow RotoBaller, Shawn Caswell, went above and beyond to include dollar values, a personal Baller Rating (BR) and other statistics (OBP, OPS, SLG) in his Top 25 Outfielders piece, I've limited my catcher projections to the standard 5x5 stats.  Most importantly, I feel that dollar values are too subjective and league-dependent to include them here in my rankings.  Still, the omission of these stats and values does not mean that the forecasting process was easy.  I didn't just make up numbers for each player.  In fact, I used Mike Podhorzer's Projecting X system that uses advanced formulas to account for metrics such BABIP (Batting Average on Balls In Play), GB%, FB%, LD% and HR/FB (Home Runs Per Fly Ball) -- just to name a few.  The forecasting process for each player demanded a considerable amount of time and analysis, so trust me when I say that you're in good hands.  That's not to say that these projections will be 100% accurate-- that obviously won't happen-- but they should be fairly reasonable, nonetheless.

So without further adieu, here are my Top 20 Catchers for 2014 Fantasy Baseball with Tier and Player commentary below:

Tier Rank Player Team G AB BA R HR RBI SB
1 1 Wilin Rosario COL 131 479 0.262 70 26 83 4
1 2 Jonathan Lucroy MIL 150 537 0.298 65 19 81 7
1 3 Buster Posey SF 150 528 0.297 69 15 84 2
1 4 Carlos Santana CLE 151 520 0.256 74 19 76 4
1 5 Joe Mauer MIN 136 532 0.303 72 9 71 3
1 6 Yadier Molina STL 130 481 0.299 63 11 72 4
1 7 Brian McCann NYY 135 476 0.256 62 27 75 1
2 8 Evan Gattis ATL 128 429 0.252 54 26 75 1
2 9 Salvador Perez KC 145 523 0.292 58 15 69 0
2 10 Matt Wieters BAL 147 524 0.247 61 21 78 1
2 11 Jason Castro HOU 135 469 0.257 68 18 73 2
2 12 Wilson Ramos WAS 119 429 0.268 52 19 60 0
3 13 A.J. Pierzynski BOS 129 480 0.266 49 12 63 0
3 14 Yan Gomes CLE 120 395 0.275 53 15 49 1
3 15 Travis d'Arnaud NYM 125 403 0.265 55 13 55 3
3 16 Russell Martin PIT 121 418 0.219 50 14 54 7
3 17 Jarrod Saltalamacchia MIA 125 440 0.219 51 16 60 2
4 18 Mike Zunino SEA 120 392 0.245 57 15 55 1
4 19 Miguel Montero ARI 120 436 0.251 47 11 52 0
4 20 Derek Norris OAK 118 325 0.234 50 12 37 6

 

Tier 1

Tier 1 is DEEP because realistically, any one of these players could finish the 2014 season as the Number 1 overall Catcher.  I won't argue with you if you want to make a case for Buster Posey, Carlos Santana or Joe Mauer as your #1-- that would be fine by me.  That said, I can guarantee you that I won't be the first to draft a catcher in any of my leagues.  I'll let someone else take first dibs because I'll be much happier getting a better value on the similar leftover options.  With his move to New York, Brian McCann is shooting up the catcher rankings again with owners drooling over his home run potential in Yankee Stadium.  He seems like a shoo-in for 20+ homers for what would be the seventh straight season, but don't ignore the injury risk.

Speaking of injury risk, I should probably remind you that ALL catchers face increased risk of getting hurt due to the physical demands of the position.  This is common knowledge, but many fantasy baseball managers still fail to account for such risk in their projections.

 

Tier 2

I contemplated including "El Oso Blanco" himself, Evan Gattis, in Tier 1 since his projections are right in line with McCann's, but Gattis carries a bit more risk.  Who knows?  Gattis could fall flat on his face and be back in the minors in June (which is why the Braves traded for veteran Ryan Doumit as insurance).  Still, the power is legit and Gattis could potentially surpass the numbers that I've projected for him.  I wish I could rank Salvador Perez higher.  He's one of the few catchers who will get full-time at-bats and won't kill your batting average, but until his power fully develops, he merits a lower ranking.  Jason Castro had a breakout season for the Astros last year and was an excellent FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget)/waiver add.  There are some injury concerns with him, but the Astros will bat him third or fourth in the lineup and use him at DH when he needs a break from duties behind the plate.  Count on Wilson Ramos to be the most hyped "sleeper" pick at catcher this year.  I dig the power (16 home runs in 78 games last year), but he, too, can't seem to stay healthy.

 

Tier 3

There are plenty of serviceable options in this tier.  Among my favorites are Yan Gomes, who will be the "starting" catcher in Cleveland this year, and Travis d'Arnaud, whose rookie season was marred by injury and ineffectiveness.  D'Arnaud's ranking might be too high, but his minor league profile suggests he should at least be an average hitter in the majors.  I like his upside, and with John Buck now in Seattle, the path is clear for d'Arnaud to get semi-regular at-bats with the New York Mets.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a nice year for Boston last season, but is due for some regression now that's he's with Miami.  He will have a tough time sustaining his .372 BABIP from last season, which could cause his batting average to plummet back down to the .220-.240 range.

 

Tier 4

 Mike Zunino is an intriguing power option if he can nail down the starting role in Seattle.  I mentioned before that the Mariners signed veteran John Buck, so he will have to earn his playing time after struggling last season as a rookie.  At least he's the far superior talent.  A lot of sites I've frequented are forecasting Miguel Montero as a bounce-back candidate this season, but I'm reluctant to agree.  He had back issues last year and recovering from any injury that affects your core strength is a tall order.  He may never be the same.

 

Ryan Rufe booked his first fantasy sports win at age eleven. He's a RotoBaller through and through and also contributes as an MLB Beat Writer for RotoWire.com. For more from him, follow him on Twitter @RyanRufe.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
Max Scherzer

Cleared to Start on Saturday
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Kodai Senga

Could be "in Play" to Return Before All-Star Break
Ha-Seong Kim

Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim From Injured List
Christian Moore

Placed on Injured List With Thumb Sprain
Luis L. Ortiz

the Subject of Gambling Investigation
Jordan Lawlar

to Miss Multiple Weeks With Hamstring Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Receives Encouraging News on his Hand
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Jacob Monk

Sees Plenty of Work With Starters
Avonte Maddox

has Impressed Dan Campbell
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Chicago Bears

Ruben Hyppolite Shows Notable Improvement
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Daron Payne

Commanders Coaches Impressed With Daron Payne
Danny Gray

Makes Impression During Offseason Workouts
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dane Belton

Should Have a Role in 2025
Kaiir Elam

Flashes During Offseason Workouts
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Jeff Green

Signs One-Year Deal to Remain in Houston
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
Chase Elliott

Ends Winless Skid With Atlanta Victory
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Atlanta Victory
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF