2019 Catcher Rankings

Time for some All-Star break fun: here are my very, very preliminary 2019 player rankings. I’ve done my best to list players where they’ll be eligible next year, and the free agents-to-be are listed without teams. Players with options for next year are still listed with their current teams if those options are likely to be exercised.

Along with the position rankings is a top 300 list for 2019. Click to see other preliminary 2019 rankings.

Top 300 | SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH

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2019 Catcher Rankings

2019	Catcher	Team	2018	July
1	Gary Sanchez	Yankees	1	1
2	J.T. Realmuto	Marlins	4	2
3	Willson Contreras	Cubs	2	3
4	Buster Posey	Giants	3	4
5	Austin Barnes	Dodgers	5	13
6	Wilson Ramos		6	5
7	Yasmani Grandal		16	10
8	Salvador Perez	Royals	10	7
9	Mike Zunino	Mariners	8	9
10	Yadier Molina	Cardinals	9	8
11	Welington Castillo	White Sox	11	35
12	Tyler Flowers		14	14
13	Chance Sisco	Orioles	19	18
14	Yan Gomes	Indians	28	11
15	Jorge Alfaro	Phillies	39	29
16	Chris Iannetta	Rockies	12	12
17	Russell Martin	Blue Jays	17	15
18	Austin Hedges	Padres	22	23
19	Brian McCann	Astros*	18	33
20	Blake Swihart	Red Sox	25	38
21	Robinson Chirinos	Rangers	24	19
22	Tom Murphy	Rockies	34	32
23	Tucker Barnhart	Reds	32	25
24	Jonathan Lucroy		15	16
25	Travis d’Arnaud	Mets	13	NR
26	Kurt Suzuki		35	24
27	Kevin Plawecki	Mets	43	36
28	Francisco Cervelli	Pirates	36	21
29	Christian Vazquez	Red Sox	23	30
30	John Ryan Murphy	Diamondbacks	71	20
31	Matt Wieters		21	27
32	Danny Jansen	Blue Jays	82	NR
33	Isiah Kiner-Falefa	Rangers	63 3B	43 2B
34	Max Stassi	Astros	70	26
35	John Hicks	Tigers	44 1B	17
36	Elias Diaz	Pirates	54	40
37	James McCann	Tigers	20	37
38	Devin Mesoraco		33	22
39	Manny Pina	Brewers	30	28
40	Sean Murphy	Athletics	80	NR
41	Jason Castro	Twins	31	NR
42	Alex Avila	Diamondbacks	29	44
43	Andrew Knapp	Phillies	26	39
44	Victor Caratini	Cubs	46	49
45	Stephen Vogt	Brewers	27	NR
46	Mitch Garver	Twins	42	31
47	Will Smith	Dodgers	NR	NR
48	Martin Maldonado		45	41
49	Carson Kelly	Cardinals	62	NR
50	Raudy Read	Nationals	85	NR
51	Cameron Rupp	Mariners	37	NR
52	Zack Collins	White Sox	79	NR
53	Pedro Severino	Nationals	74	43
54	Sandy Leon	Red Sox	50	47
55	Jacob Nottingham	Brewers	NR	NR

• I’m guessing that Indians prospect Francisco Mejia won’t have catcher eligibility to begin next year, so he’s listed with the DHs. If he does get eligibility, he’ll rank in the top 10 here, and he’d go into next season as a top-five catcher if it looks like he’ll have a starting job somewhere.

• Obviously, I remain quite confident that Austin Barnes will be an excellent fantasy catcher going forward. Still, he needs a stronger second half to ensure that he is a starter next year. The Dodgers will have the money to re-sign Yasmani Grandal if they like. It will be interesting to see how they handle things, especially since they have two of the game’s top five catching prospects in Kelbert Ruiz and Will Smith.

• Danny Jansen and Sean Murphy would both be in the top 20 here if I thought they’d have starting jobs on Opening Day. Jansen is especially interesting; he’s hit .286/.409/.482 in 65 games in Triple-A this year. Unfortunately for him, the Blue Jays do have Russell Martin signed for next year. The A’s would have an opening for Murphy with Jonathan Lucroy up for free agency, but he’s yet to make his Triple-A debut and might need another half-season in the minors to begin 2019.