Yadier Molina (C, STL) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Draft Target Mid-to-Late Rounds in All Leagues ANALYSIS: The catcher position is one where if you can lock up a player that not only appears in most games, but is also solid fantasy producer, then you have to grab that catcher before it’s too late. For 2014, Yadier Molina was a top-10 fantasy catcher even though […]

Jason Castro (C, HOU) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target ~270 ANALYSIS: 2014 was a disaster for Jason Castro. He posted a career-worst .222/.286/.366 line while seeing his BABIP fall 57 points from 2013. A closer look shows an increased K% (29.5%) and lower BB% (6.6%). Furthermore, his GB % rose (44.8%) while his LD % dropped (19.6%). Not good signs at […]

Three Catchers Who Will Outperform Their 2015 ADP: Rankings Analysis

  Draft Patience Is A Virtue Catcher is one of the shallowest positions in fantasy baseball which leads to wide varying opinions in regards to preseason rankings. Look no further than Yan Gomes, who ranges from 4th to 15th in our rankings. My personal rankings have a clear tier 1 (Buster Posey, Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Santana, Devin […]

Devin Mesoraco Out Indefinitely With Concussion

Cincinnati Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering his third concussion as a pro. He suffered the injury in the Red’s Saturday game against the Kansas City Royals. There is no timetable for his return as the Reds start to look for help filling his void to start the season. The 26-year-old […]

Three Catchers Who Will Underperform Their 2015 ADP: Rankings Analysis

Knowing When to Pass I’m not a big fan of a “Do Not Draft” list. Depending on the depth of a league, and how far a player falls, even Jarrod Saltalamacchia can find a loving home. But regardless of how a fantasy manager measures value, some guys just aren’t worth what you’d have to pay. If you’re […]

2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Catcher (C) - February Update

Last month, we brought you RotoBaller's preliminary catcher fantasy baseball rankings. The February update is here. We'll be releasing all the other positional rankings updates this week, with analysis from all the RotoBaller writers on their favorite risers and fallers at each MLB position. Make sure to also check out our MLB Fantasy Baseball Rankings blog, along with all of RotoBaller's catcher rankings […]

Miguel Montero (C, ARI) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as Low-End CA1 ANALYSIS: Miguel Montero is coming off a season in which he fell short of his career averages in HR, R, AVG, OBP and SLG. In the first half, he hit 11 HR, drove in 52 runs and earned his second All-Star appearance, but hit just .212 with 22 RBI and two HR […]

Jonathan Lucroy Injures Hamstring, out 4-6 Weeks

One of the biggest breakout players of the 2014 season will be limping into Spring Training. Brewers Catcher Jonathan Lucroy injured his hamstring, according to the team's Twitter page. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy is expected to miss 4-6 weeks of Spring Training with a mild strain of his right hamstring. (continued) — Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February […]

Yasmani Grandal (C, LAD) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as High-End CA2 ANALYSIS:  Despite the pedigree of a top prospect and nearly 90 games of experience at the major league level, Yasmani Grandal disappointed in 2014, batting an anemic .225/.327/.401 with 49 RBI and 47 runs scored through 128 games. Some have written him off as a bust, but Grandal’s rare combination […]

Stephen Vogt (C, OAK) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Late Rounds as Backup Catcher ANALYSIS: Stephen Vogt had a modest fantasy year in 2014, with only nine HR, 35 RBI and a .279 AVG. With only one other catcher, Josh Phegley, on the A’s 40-man roster, expect Vogt to see a healthy increase in PA from the 287 he had last […]

Oakland's Catcher Platoon: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Sleepers

  Stephen Vogt and Josh Phegley Both Figure to be Sleepers in 2015 The magical world of Billy Beane and platooning every position on the diamond does not seem to be fading anytime soon. One of the more interesting platoons last year was the catcher platoon of Derek Norris, John Jaso, and Stephen Vogt. The […]

Reds Extend Catcher Devin Mesoraco Four Years

The Cincinnati Reds wasted no time in locking up their blooming franchise catcher, nailing down Devin Mesoraco to a four-year, $28 million contract extension. The deal is a smart investment on the Reds’ part, as it buys out all three of Mesoraco’s remaining arbitration years, as well as his first year of free agency, meaning […]

2015 Dynasty / Keeper Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Catcher

  Dynasty Rankings at Catcher After opening the series with third base, it's time time to rank the next position in my dynasty baseball series - catcher. This is not the most glamorous position to rank. Catchers don't play as many games as the other positions, but there is still something to be said for obtaining a top tier backstop. […]

Travis d'Arnaud (C, NYM) - Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as Low-End #1 Catcher ANALYSIS: The rigors of the catcher position mean that catchers typically don’t offer the same five-category upside as other positions, but recently, the number of deserving backstops has increased. In 2014, the catcher position posted a 93 wRC+, up from 82 just 12 years prior. Consequently, once the few true […]

Travis d'Arnaud: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Sleepers

  Travis d'Arnaud: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper As a general rule, I don't invest much in catchers. The rigors of the position mean that, with rare exceptions, catchers don't play as much, hit as well, or offer the same five category upside as other positions. However, in recent years, the number of rosterable backstops has increased. In 2002, […]

Tyler Flowers (C, CHW) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues (12+ Teams) / All 2-Catcher Leagues ANALYSIS: If you are still scrapping around for a first place finish in any leagues (like I am luckily in one lonely money league), then pay close attention because you may need that little extra production out of the catching slot, and we have your best shot […]

Travis d'Arnaud (C, NYM) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in NL-Only Leagues / Deeper Leagues / Two-Catcher Leagues ANALYSIS: When the Mets traded reigning Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey before the 2013 season, they expected a little more from top propsect Travis d'Arnaud than they have gotten thus far. In 385 at-bats over the past two seasons, d'Arnaud owns just a […]

Alex Avila (C, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in AL-Only Leagues, Mixed Leagues With Two Catcher Slots ANALYSIS: Perhaps Alex Avila has been overlooked as a result of the strength of the team around him, but he has been a consistently solid contributor for the Tigers over the past five years. When healthy, he has good power for a catcher, […]

Robinson Chirinos (C, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep AL-Only Leagues or Leagues with Two Catcher Slots ANALYSIS: Heading into the 2014 season, Robinson Chirinos had one career home run and seven RBI with a .189 batting average. Which begs the question: How did this 30-year-old lifelong minor leaguer become the starting catcher for a team that has two […]

Caleb Joseph (C, BAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues / All Two-Catcher Leagues ANALYSIS: Caleb Joseph may be baseball's hottest hitter, with a home run in five straight games now after Saturday night's game against the Cardinals, making him the most recent add to our waiver wire sleepers list. The 28-year-old rookie is a career .268 hitter in […]

Jason Castro (C, HOU) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add In AL-Only Leagues, Mixed Leagues With Two Catcher Slots ANALYSIS: The 27-year-old catcher Jason Castro has taken a major step back this year after a breakout season in 2013. In 339 at-bats, he has posted just a .230 batting average with 11 home runs and 43 RBI. He is struggling equally against righties and […]

John Jaso (C / DH, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in AL-Only Leagues, Most Mixed Leagues ANALYSIS: The 30-year-old Jaso has found his place in baseball within Billy Beane's platoon system. He has been playing half his time at DH, the other half behind the dish. Now, with Yoenis Cespedes out of Oakland, things should open up for Jaso to play everyday, […]

Yasmani Grandal (C / 1B, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in NL-Only Leagues, Mixed Leagues with Two Catcher Spots ANALYSIS: After a promising rookie campaign in 2012 in which he belted eight home runs and posted a stellar .394 OBP over 192 at-bats, the once-highly-touted prospect Yasmani Grandal has struggled, not only at the plate, but to stay in baseball, as well. […]

Stephen Vogt (C / OF / 1B, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues / All AL-Only & 2-Catcher Leagues ANALYSIS: Billy Beane's swiss army knife Stephen Vogt has been quietly tearing the cover off the ball the past few weeks, making him the most recent addition to our waiver wire sleepers list. We'll get into the stats shortly, but here's the most important thing to […]

Travis d'Arnaud (C, NYM) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 2-Catcher Leagues ANALYSIS: Travis d'Arnaud of the New York Mets had an abysmal season up until June when the team decided to demote him to AAA Las Vegas. While in Las Vegas, he got some of his swagger back and began raking. Granted, Las Vegas is a hitter's league, but when your hitting […]

Yan Gomes (C, CLE) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Two Catcher Leagues ANALYSIS: Last year Yan Gomes was so good with the bat that the Indians felt comfortable moving Carlos Santana from behind the plate this year to make room for Gomes. Unfortunately, so far this year Gomes has responded by hitting .267/.311/.421 which is no better than OK for […]

Mike Zunino (C, SEA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Very Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: The Mariner's decided in spring training to give catcher Mike Zunino a chance to play and show why he was the top catching prospect in the minors last season. He has been just okay so far in 2014. Zunino has shown power and has looked eerily similar to his […]

Derek Norris (C, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ANALYSIS: The catcher position is one that is relatively thin when it comes to offensive production. In many cases, Derek Norris is probably an upgrade over your current catcher. He's slashing .302/.405/.509 in 59 games so far this season with 8 HR and 35 RBI, a more-than-respectable state line […]

Wilson Ramos (C, WAS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ANALYSIS: Wilson Ramos is just coming off of the disabled list and should be on your radar if you have a need behind the plate. In his first game back yesterday he went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. In his 4 game rehab assignment prior to returning Ramos […]

Robinson Chirinos (C, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 2 Catcher Leagues, Continue Scouting in 1 Catcher Leagues ANALYSIS: Although he doesn't play every day, Ranger's catcher Robinson Chirinos has been hitting very well recently making him an addition to RotoBaller's waiver wire pickups and sleepers list. In two-catcher formats, Chirinos should be owned pretty much across the board at this point. Over the last […]