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

Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 23

Riley Mrack lists catchers who are potential fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups or add targets for Week 23. Consider adding or streaming these free agent options at the C position in mixed leagues and two-catcher formats.

As we enter the final month of the regular season we start to see more prospects getting the big league phone call as rosters expand. The September call-up season can muddy up the waters even more for fantasy baseball's already most volatile position, which further adds to the frustration of managers. With that being said, we need to keep on top of the landscape of the position just in case a few new faces start to take over the position or if too many foul tips off the mask start adding up as the year wears on.

If you are not one of those fortunate souls who are privileged with a high-caliber catcher, we'll go through a few tiers of backstops who will fit your specific league format. Every season the waiver wire is full of potential league-winning gems and to be a successful fantasy player you need to be an active fantasy player. Some people may believe that catchers are next to worthless for your team, but if you find an unowned superior performer in your league, you'll wind up with a massive advantage over your opponents.

The catching position has the least amount of volume of any other spot on the diamond with the number of platoons utilized by teams, so understand that a part-time backstop can still be productive at the position. Whether you plan to stream this spot on your roster weekly or if you're looking to find a long term option, we'll go through a vast range of backstops who'll hopefully take you to the fantasy promise land.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Top-Priority Adds

This tier is targeted towards single-catcher mixed leagues as they are likely to only be available in these formats. These backstops are also particularly serviceable and could return top-10 value in their respective lineups, making it a mystery why they are unowned in the first place.

Travis D'Arnaud  (C, TB) - 37% Owned

Travis d’Arnaud’s recent offensive tear has catapulted him into the top-10 at the position. He’s racked up hits in six of his last eight contests including clubbing a pair of dingers with five runs and six RBI while firmly planted in the heart of the Rays order. D’Arnaud consistently finds his at-bats hitting anywhere between leadoff and cleanup, which is a gold mine for fantasy production. At age-30, the former top catching prospect is finally living up to his untapped potential, and all that it took was a clean bill of health.

D’Arnaud missed all but four games in 2018 and has just one season of more than 75 games since 2014 after a barrage of injuries has held him away from finding any consistency. Since joining the Rays on May 11, he’s posted top-10 numbers at the position in SLG (.486), OPS (.822), and wRC+ (116). D’Arnaud’s 52 RBI in this span lead all backstops while his 44 runs sit second only to J.T. Realmuto. He remains a safe bat to ride over the final month of the season especially with a favorable hitter-friendly schedule upcoming.

Jorge Alfaro (C, MIA) - 25% Owned

Jorge Alfaro is quietly continuing to put up a top-15 season in his first year with the Miami Marlins. In 106 games the 26-year-old has popped 14 round-trippers, 36 runs, 44 RBI and a respectable .265 BA as the club's everyday catcher. A gaudy 35.2% K-rate and 3.4% walk-rate limit his batting average, but when he does get lumber to the baseball, it’s as efficient as anyone. Alfaro’s outstanding 45.0% Hard Hit% lead all major league backstops, while his 90.8 MPH Exit Velocity sits comfortably in third, helping him compensate for his shoddy plate discipline skills.

Alfaro doesn’t fill out any individual fantasy category particularly well, but he’s become a reliable contributor across all 5x5 columns with the exception of his three stolen bases. The former Phillies prospect is in an excellent spot to keep producing with a six-game slate upcoming this week against the underwhelming pitching staffs of the Pirates and Royals. Two lefties are also on the schedule who Alfaro has punished to a commendable .297/.326/.451 slash line this season. Look for the numbers to keep piling up as the regular season wraps up despite playing on a below-average team

 

Streamers/Players to Watch

The catchers in this group are either in waiver wire limbo as they are likely scooped up in two-catcher and league-specific formats or they are worth streaming for this week depending on your league size. They are not ideal single mixed league targets unless you have a deep bench to stash one of these backstops. These bats, however, have a shot at returning significant value if everything breaks right.

Sean Murphy (C, OAK) - 5% Owned

The Oakland Athletics called up their third-best prospect Sean Murphy to help out behind the dish for their September playoff push. The 2016 third-round selection has been sidelined for the majority of the 2019 season due to knee surgery, but has impressed in 31 Triple-A games earning himself a top-45 MLB prospect ranking. He slashed .308/.386/.625 in Las Vegas with 10 homers and 30 RBI batting primarily out of the cleanup spot as he makes his case to receive steady at-bats at the major league level.

With the A’s currently in a Wild Card spot, the team will go with the player who is helping out the team the most instead of a big-league grooming experiment. Whether that turns out to be Murphy or Josh Phegley remains to be seen, but the former should get an opportunity to prove himself before long. Murphy already possesses a terrific defensive ability which isn’t as common with youngsters, and will have familiar chemistry with the club’s younger hurlers who have also been called up recently. If the 24-year-old can carve out some decent playing time, he could provide terrific value down the stretch.

Austin Allen (C, SD) - 0% Owned

Another catching prospect recently getting the call to the big leagues was Padres backstop Austin Allen. The 25-year-old has smashed Triple-A pitching this season with 21 homers, 67 RBI, and a .330 BA in 67 games played. He’s now hit 20 or more long balls in three-straight minor league campaigns, an impressive feat for any positional player. We know Allen can handle the bat, the only concern lies in how much playing time he’ll receive down the stretch.

With Francisco Mejia on the shelf for possibly the remainder of the campaign, Allen is now the primary backup for Austin Hedges. The journeyman has failed miserably at the plate once again this season with an abysmal .194/.262/.347 slash line in 85 games for the Friars. It’s been hard to knock Hedges out of top catching duties, however, with him sporting a position-leading 23 defensive runs saved (DRS). A best-case scenario would have a platoon situation moving forward with Allen’s left-handed bat getting the majority of starts against right-handers. Until we see how this timeshare shakes out, he’s a player to keep on your two-catcher league radar who can help with a few counting stats through September.

 

Two-Catcher League Options

This tier meshes catchers that may still be available in two-catcher leagues, as well as league specific setups. They may carry some single-catcher mixed-league value at some point, but for now, they can stay on your watchlist. They aren’t necessarily going to win you a category, but they won’t hurt your overall production either.

Victor Caratini (C, CHC) - 13% Owned

Until Wilson Contreras returns from the injured list, Victor Caratini will remain the top backstop for the Cubs. He’s batted like it as well with multi-hit games in four of his last six starts and a .288 BA in August with four big flies. The switch-hitter has also shown his versatility with starts coming at first base to keep his bat in the lineup, especially when a lefty takes the hill. Caratini holds a .308/.438/.500 slash line versus southpaws with a 148 wRC+, a number that ranks seventh-best across the major leagues.

Caratini also impresses in Statcast metrics with a 41.8% Hard Hit%, 91.3 MPH Exit Velocity and 10.1% Barrel%, all numbers that are just a shade lower than his teammate Contreras. His success this year is no fluke either after establishing himself as an elite hitter in the minors posting a career .332 BA and .920 OPS in 119 career Triple-A games. The 26-year-old failed to do much in his 76 games with the North Siders in 2018 but has nearly doubled his walk rate to 11.7% this season while showing an ability to hit the ball to all fields, something he did a lot of as a minor leaguer. Caratini makes a formidable option in two-catcher formats and is worth riding as long as he’s receiving regular at-bats.

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




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

Travis Etienne Jr.

Needs to Bounce Back in 2025
Wan'Dale Robinson

Wants More Downfield Opportunities this Season
Quinshon Judkins

Arrested on Saturday for Battery and Domestic Violence
Terry McLaurin

Could be a Holdout at Training Camp
Roger McCreary

a Candidate for a Contract Extension?
Max Fried

Exits Start With Blister
Mike Evans

Buccaneers Could Have Difficult Time Retaining Mike Evans
Charles Cross

Could Sign Extension Before Training Camp
Xavier Restrepo

One to Watch Going into Training Camp
Calvin Ridley

Appears Re-Energized
Mark Andrews

Still a Key Piece in Ravens Offense
Ndamukong Suh

Officially Announces his Retirement
Jaylen Waddle

Motivated After Disappointing Season
Tre Harris

Still Unsigned
Hunter Dobbins

to Miss Rest of Season With Torn ACL
Nolan Arenado

Held Out of Lineup on Saturday
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Carlos Correa

Sitting on Saturday
Austin Riley

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Nolan Arenado

Exits Friday's Contest With Sprained Finger
Jake Burger

Expects to Play on Saturday
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Wyatt Langford

Records Four-Hit Night
Cal Raleigh

Homers Twice, Drives in Five
Cody Bellinger

Swats Three Homers in Victory
Jake Burger

Leaves With Quad Discomfort on Friday
Carlos Correa

Exits Game With Mild Ankle Sprain
Edward Cabrera

Dealing with Posterior Elbow Discomfort
Austin Riley

Leaves Game Early on Friday With Abdominal Tightness
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Rafael Devers

Dealing With Back Inflammation
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Returning on Friday
Sauce Gardner

Wants to be Highest-Paid Cornerback
Rhamondre Stevenson

Heading into an Important Season
Minnesota Vikings

Josh Metellus, Vikings Have Mutual Interest in Extension
Tua Tagovailoa

2025 Could be Tua Tagovailoa's Last Season in Miami
Rashawn Slater

has "Full Confidence" a Deal Will Get Done
Byron Buxton

Returns on Friday
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Jake Meyers

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Calf Strain
Brandon Lowe

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Oblique Tightness
Kodai Senga

Reinstated to Start on Friday
Alex Bregman

Officially Activated and Starting on Friday
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Chicago Bears

Bears Extend General Manager Ryan Poles
Dalton Knecht

Avoids Serious Injury
MarShawn Lloyd

in a "Much Better Spot" Heading Into Training Camp
Javon Small

Signs Two-Way Deal
Dustin Hopkins

Browns Still Counting on Dustin Hopkins
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF