Frankencatcher: Catcher Targets for Non-Buster Posey Owners

It’s 2016, and that means that most of us will have to make some moves throughout the year to address the catcher position. Long gone are the glory days of 2004 when the top 10 catchers could all be counted on for double digit home runs and an average above .280. In 2004, an already aging Mike Piazza rated as the 10th best catcher with 20 home runs and a .266 average (See: Doping in Baseball). This year, in this sad world that we live in, Travis d’Arnaud was the second catcher taken in many leagues because it was thought that he had the POTENTIAL for 20+ long balls and a .240 average.

So, the chances are that unless you drafted Buster Posey early or were able to keep Posey in a keeper league, you’ll be at least flirting with the waiver wire catchers at some point this year. Perhaps you drafted d’Arnaud and now have his .196 AVG and zero home runs on your DL. Maybe you’re in my league and you traded for Kyle Schwarber on draft day and are now ready to kill yourself. It’s even possible that you drooled over his 2014 stats (25 HR, .273 AVG) and  drafted Devin Mesoraco, but now his .152 AVG and frequent days off have you ready to move on.

The bad news is that catchers in fantasy baseball have become crapshoots, and many owners choose to chase categories instead of trying to find balance. The good news is that you’ll get to pick a new catcher and feel hopeful every few weeks!

This week’s Frankencatcher candidates:

J.T. Realmuto: Jacob Tyler Realmuto (Yeah, I looked it up. So what? I was hoping J.T. was some kind of B.J. “Bossman Junior” Upton situation. Maybe J.T. stood for Junior Timber because his old man was some monster hunk of a lumberjack. It’s not, though. It’s just Jacob Tyler.) came into 2016 somewhat under the radar. He had a solid 2015 season:

He came in at number 14 on Grey’s Top 20 Catchers for Fantasy Baseball back in January, and the primary reason was 10+ HR and 10+ SB potential at the catcher position. If you can get a repeat of 2015 with a slight bump in HR and/or SB from Realmuto, then you are set for the catcher position. His HR and AVG would be par for the position, but adding 10+ SB from the catcher position is a game changer.

Now, the reason he might be available is because he got off to a pretty awful start in April. After a solid first week, Junior Timber J.T. went cold. Ice cold. His average went from .318 to below .200. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why he is only owned in 60% of most leagues. In my league this year, I drafted Realmuto in the 2nd to last round and hoped for some stolen bases. A few days ago, I stared at my computer and his .188 AVG and almost pulled the trigger and dropped him, but I decided to give it another couple weeks.

Then, over his next two games, he went 6-8 with a HR and two more extra base hits and raised his AVG to a more palpable .268, and the hope here is that he is about to get hot. He earned a few more weeks on my squad, and he could be this week’s best Frankencatcher option with long term potential.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia: If you’re here for Saltalamacchia, you’re probably a week late. Salty has been on fire in April, and he was one of the most added players in leagues last week. If he is still available and you need a catcher, then by all means grab him and throw him in your lineup. Just know that he isn’t a permanent solution for you. Sign him now and pray for some more dingers and a decent average, but understand that, in true Frankencatcher fashion, this is just your temporary band aid.

Look, I love the Sultan of Salt as much the next guy, but let’s not kid ourselves here—this hot streak is going to end. In his last seven seasons, he has only hit above .235 once (2013 with the Red Sox), and despite all of his apparent power, he’s only hit 20 or more home runs once in his career (2012 with the Red Sox, when his average was .222 and he hit 25).

Heck, he won’t even be a full time starter anymore once James McCann comes back. But he’s a catcher and only one thing matters for catchers in fantasy baseball: He’s. En. Fuego. So sign him, plug him in at catcher, pray for long balls, and walk around your house saying Sal-ta-la-mac-chia. Just know that, in two weeks, you’re probably going to be looking for the next catcher hot streak to ride. He faces Sonny Gray this week, but other than that he faces a bunch of middle of the rotation arms.

Wilson Ramos: Like Salty above, it might be a week late to get Wilson Ramos. He’s still only owned in 65%-70% of all leagues, though, so there is still some hope. If Ramos is available in your league, he might be the top available choice. He’s hitting over .300 as we round out April, and he plays for the Nationals, who seemingly can’t do anything wrong so far this year. If that lineup keeps hitting the way it is so far, Ramos will have some more opportunities to pad some stats.

A closer look at the stats shows that there is a small glimmer of hope that this might be more than a hot streak. If we ignore Ramos’s below average 2015 (and even that was a low average of .230 but also came with 15 homers), he was remarkably consistent from 2011-2014: .265 AVG or higher every year and double digit home runs in 2011, 2013, and 2014. And in 2013 and 2014 he only played in 78 and 88 games, respectively. Can we project a full season with a .265 average and 20 home runs for Ramos this year? Probably not, but maybe! And since he’s a catcher we can certainly roll the dice and hope for the best for a few weeks.

UPDATE: Ramos has been placed on the Bereavement List and will be out for a few days. The bad news is that he is unavailable for a few days. The good news is that maybe whoever has him now will drop him and make him available to you for next week.

Those are this week’s Frankencatcher options. All are owned in less than 75% of leagues, and all are destined to disappoint all of us at some point. If Wellington Castillo is still not owned in your league, ignore everything above and sign him for a few weeks. That dude is hitting everything right now.