Catcher Rankings with Commentary
I’m still continuing my commentary rankings even as we start releasing our Composite Rankings. These Average Draft Positions come from our projection pages. Each colored bar represents the start of a new tier.
Commentary Rankings:
Composite Rankings:
Let me know how you’re attacking C in the comments below. I’m open to taking Sanchez in the second round, but not specifically targeting him. From there, I’m likely to wait until the mid-100s or later to get my first catcher. I could double up with a Gattis/Ramos or wait for my second and get a Grandal/Iannetta. I did make some changes in these rankings compared to my initial run of the Composite C rankings, moving Lucroy up a spot and Iannetta up a few. Reminder: these are for a standard 5×5 league. Generally thinking of a 15-team league, but things wouldn’t change all that much for 10- or 12-teamers.
| PLAYER | TEAM | ADP | COMMENT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gary Sanchez | NYY | 20 | Really starting to look like the next Mike Piazza |
| 2 | Buster Posey | SFG | 52 | Still elite thanks to that AVG; also 6 SB in ’16 & ’17 |
| 3 | Willson Contreras | CHC | 58 | His ability to bounce around the field opens up 500+ PA |
| 4 | J.T. Realmuto | MIA | 100 | Legit speed keeps SB (avg. of 9 since ’15) in play |
| 5 | Evan Gattis | HOU | 141 | 2 DL stints (concussion, wrist) curbed playing time |
| 6 | Wilson Ramos | TBR | 157 | Showed ’16 pwr wasn’t a fluke; .203 ISO from Aug 1 on |
| 7 | Salvador Perez | KCR | 97 | Another 2H swoon (.692 OPS) says sell in June |
| 8 | Yadier Molina | STL | 149 | Got in on pwr explosion w/+7% FB and 18 HR |
| 9 | Yasmani Grandal | LAD | 225 | Has starting role; Barnes’ elbow is an issue for catching |
| 10 | Welington Castillo | CWS | 169 | LD & Hard contact rates make ’16-17 BABIP plausible |
| 11 | Jonathan Lucroy | OAK | 198 | Had a Coors-influenced burst w/COL; discount is there |
| 12 | Mike Zunino | SEA | 157 | Had 35% K% during 2H surge (.281 AVG, .943 OPS) |
| 13 | Chris Iannetta | COL | 272 | Think he’ll top his 98 G from ’17 & he’s back in Coors |
| 14 | Austin Barnes | LAD | 190 | Skills are there, this rank assumes 350+ PA at C/2B |
| 15 | Brian McCann | HOU | 216 | 2 DL stints (concussion, knee) curbed playing time |
| 16 | Tucker Barnhart | CIN | 326 | Played 80% of 2H gms; .831 Aug-Sept OPS; won GG |
| 17 | Austin Hedges | SDP | 256 | Sold out for pwr (18 HR); glove keeps him in lineup |
| 18 | Christian Vazquez | BOS | 294 | Pay for a .275 AVG; real shot at 400+ PA in solid lineup |
| 19 | James McCann | DET | 300 | Should have all the playing time he can handle |
| 20 | Travis d’Arnaud | NYM | 288 | Another DL stint (wrist), but .999 Sept/Oct. offers hope |
| 21 | Alex Avila | ARI | 335 | Even with the humidor, this is a park boost for him |
| 22 | Robinson Chirinos | TEX | 255 | Age-34 w/just 1180 career PA, but no one else in-house |
| 23 | Russell Martin | TOR | 315 | Gtd PT when healthy offers solid floor, but he’s 35 now |
| 24 | Tyler Flowers | ATL | 298 | 2nd-best Hard% at C since ’16 (min. 400 PA) |
| 25 | Kurt Suzuki | ATL | 360 | Crazy 19 HR yr is aided by FB%, Pull%, & Hard% surges |
| 26 | Jorge Alfaro | PHI | 245 | Career 0.10 BB/K highlights terrible approach (all Cs: 0.36) |
| 27 | Matt Wieters | WAS | 328 | PT alone sustains value; .561 OPS after April |
| 28 | Stephen Vogt | MIL | 352 | Rebounded in MIL (.789 OPS), but will share time with… |
| 29 | Manny Pina | MIL | 357 | …another late-blooming vet who can hit a bit |
| 30 | Blake Swihart | BOS | 500 | Out of options, 2x Top 100 prospect has to make good |
Cervelli not in the top 30? I get health is a major issue, but he has the starting job on lock and when healthy is an OBP machine. Not to mention he was 30th on your composite list a couple of days ago.
Ya I debated just doing 31 since he was 31st, but I bumped Swihart over him. He’s just SOOO bland. He’s supposed to offer AVG in 5×5, but is hitting .257 the last 2 yrs. I get that he’s good for OBP lgs, but this is a standard 5×5 ranking.