Consensus Position Rankings/Projections: Top 30 Catchers for 2014, Part 2

We published part 1 of our Top 30 fantasy catchers for 2014 on Monday morning, and today, we bring you part 2, where we provide profiles for Devin Mesoraco, Yan Gomes, Travis d'Arnaud and several others.

The bottom half of our Top 30 fantasy catcher rankings is littered with young catchers who are looking to prove their fantasy worth and catchers who are looking to bounce back. A few of the catchers looking to make their mark in 2014 are Travis d'Arnaud, Josmil Pinto, Mike Zunino, Yasmani Grandal and Devin Mesoraco. Pinto and Mesoraco are two catchers who I think could have breakout seasons in 2014, as both should be playing every day, the Kurt Suzuki signing notwithstanding.

Rank	Player	Team	Ranking Points	Ray	Matt	Brian	Alex	Daniel	Joe	Jason	Zack
16	A.J. Pierzynski	BOS	130	14	16	29	15	15	15	14	16
17	Travis d'Arnaud	NYM	122	21	21	11	14	25	14	16	20
18	Yan Gomes	CLE	119	18	25	12	23	19	16	17	15
19	Welington Castillo	CHC	104	24	24	17	22	13	24	19	17
20	Devin Mesoraco	CIN	103	15	17	27	21	20	22	21	18
21	Mike Zunino	SEA	87	28	18	20	20	26	18	22	25
22	Alex Avila	DET	81	23	20	21	27	21	19	25	27
23	Carlos Ruiz	PHI	73	22	22	26	18	23	29	28	23
24	John Jaso	OAK	55			23	26	17	20	24
25	Yasmani Grandal	SDP	54	25	23	28	19		26	23
26	Dioner Navarro	TOR	49	29			24	30	17	27	22
27	Josmil Pinto	MIN	48	19		22	28	28		20
28	A.J. Ellis	LAD	42	20	28			29	27	26	26
29	J.P. Arencibia	TEX	42	30	14	24	25			30
30	Ryan Doumit	ATL	42	27	27	19	29				21

Others Receiving Votes: Chris Iannetta (36), Derek Norris (36), Geovany Soto (33), Kurt Suzuki (14), Jesus Montero (6), Nick Hundley (4), Josh Phegley (3)

Player Profiles

	# 16 A.J. Pierzynski (BOS)
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.272	48	17	70	1
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
529	0.297	0.425	2.08%	14.37%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.266	40	13	60	0
Auction Value: -$0.92		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.254

Despite playing in his age 36 season, Pierzynski put up another solid season at the plate, hitting .272-.297-.425 with 17 HRs, 48 runs and 70 RBI in 134 games in the Rangers lineup. He now moves to a more productive lineup in Boston, and he seems like a nice fit for that team. Over the last two seasons, Pierzynski ranks 4th in home runs and 7th in RBI, which is surprising considering his age. Does age catch up to him in 2014? I doubt it. He is still a productive fantasy catcher and I don't see that changing much in 2014.

	# 17 Travis d'Arnaud (NYM)
Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.202	4	1	5	0
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
112	0.286	0.263	10.71%	18.75%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.251	51	11	56	0
Auction Value: -$1.97		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.252

d'Arnaud is one of the catchers looking to prove themselves in 2014, but he will have to prove he can stay healthy for a full season first. He struggled in his cup of coffee last season, hitting just .202-.286-,263 with a home run, 4 runs and 5 RBI in 112 plate appearances. d'Arnaud should be the Mets starting catcher out of spring training, and should hit for decent power and a solid batting average, but health is going to be the key to his success next season. He hasn't played more than 114 games since 2009 due to a variety of injuries.

	# 18 Yan Gomes (CLE)
Photo Credit: Jake Roth - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.294	45	11	38	2
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
322	0.345	0.481	5.59%	20.81%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.264	50	15	52	3
Auction Value: $1.00		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.264

Gomes's success at, and behind, the dish last season is a big reason why the Indians have Carlos Santana trying his hand at third base in the winter league this offseason. Gomes had a solid rookie season, hitting .294-.345-.481 with 11 HRs, 45 runs and 38 RBI in 88 games. It is quite possible that he will be the Indians "full time" catcher in 2014 with Santana playing some catcher, third base, first base and DH next season. Gomes hit righties (.275) and lefties (.327) well last season, so he could be a solid late round pick in mixed and AL only league drafts in 2014.

	# 19 Welington Castillo (CHC)
Photo Credit: Jake Roth - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.274	41	8	32	2
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
428	0.349	0.397	7.94%	22.66%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.261	46	11	48	1
Auction Value: -$2.55		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.251

I gotta say I always thought Castillo had two "Ls" in his first name till now. Castillo was the Cubs starting catcher last season, hitting .274-.349-.397 with 8 HRs, 41 runs and 32 RBI in 113 games. He hit six of his eight home runs in the second half of the season,including four in the month of September, so there is a chance he reaches double digits home runs in 2014.

	# 20 Devin Mesoraco (CIN)
Photo Credit: Jake Roth - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.238	31	9	42	0
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
352	0.287	0.362	6.82%	17.33%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.245	38	12	51	0
Auction Value: -$5.39		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.245

Maybe I am too high on Mesoraco, but I think 2014 is his breakout season. The former top 20 prospect has struggled at the plate in his first two seasons in the big leagues, serving as the back up catcher to Ryan Hanigan. But now Dusty Baker is gone and Hanigan is in Tampa Bay, so the starting catcher gig is his. But for a breakout to happen, he is going to have to solve his problem hitting right-handed pitchers, as he hit just .212 against them last season and .183 against them in 2012. On the positive side, Mesoraco hits lefties very well, as he owns a .312 career average against them. He has the benefit of hitting in a hitter-friendly ball park, so an everyday job should result in a bump in his counting stats and hopefully a higher batting average. I see double digit home runs and a .260-.270 batting average from him in 2014.

	# 21 Mike Zunino (SEA)
Photo Credit: Christian Petersen - Getty Images

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.214	22	5	14	1
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
193	0.290	0.329	8.29%	25.39%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.229	58	16	51	1
Auction Value: -$2.39		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.255

Zunino had a brilliant debut as a professional in 2012, asbolutely owning Low A ptiching before a promotion to AA saw him continue to have his way at the plate. Last year, he started the season in AAA, where he struggled, hitting .227-.297-.478 with 11 HRs, 38 runs and 43 RBI in 52 games. Nice counting stats, but could have been a product of the Pacific Coast League hitting environment. The Mariners promoted him to the big leagues where he continued to struggle at the plate, hitting .214-.290-.329 with 5 HRs, 22 runs and 14 RBI in 193 plate appearances. I think he may have been rushed last season, as he could have benefitted from more at bats vs AA pitching.

For 2014, I see more of the same from Zunino, but with the chance for double digit power should he play every day in Seattle, which is my expectation.

	# 22 Alex Avila (DET)
Photo Credit: Kim Klement - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.227	39	11	47	0
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
379	0.317	0.376	11.61%	29.55%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.238	46	12	57	0
Auction Value: -$3.52		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.248

Avila is slowly falling lower and lower in our catcher rankings as he gets further away from his 2011 breakout season. That season looks more and more like an outlier right now and he is nothing more than a .240ish hitter with low double digit power and 40-50 RBI in the Tigers lineup.

	# 23 Carlos Ruiz (PHI)
Photo Credit: Kim Klement - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.268	30	5	37	1
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
341	0.320	0.368	5.28%	11.44%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.269	38	7	39	1
Auction Value: -$6.30		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.244

I have no idea why the Phillies would give Ruiz a 3 year deal when more than likely he would not have gotten that on the free agent market, but this is Ruben Amaro Jr. we are talking about, so all logic is thrown out the window. Ruiz turns 35 years of age today, so wish him a happy birthday. Ruiz will be the starting catcher in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future, and he should be good for a decent batting average, but nothing more, as his 2012 season is probably a career season for him.

	# 24 John Jaso (OAK)
Photo Credit: Kyle Terada - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.271	31	3	21	2
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
249	0.387	0.372	15.26%	18.07%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.252	37	4	29	3
Auction Value: -$10.01		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.240

If you play in OBP leagues, Jaso is the catcher you grab in the later rounds of drafts as he is one of the better catchers who knows how to get on base. If you play in standard roto or fantasy leagues, Jaso doesn't offer much other than a solid batting average with a chance to reach double digit homers if the wind is particularly strong at O.co Stadium.

	# 25 Yasmani Grandal (SDP)
Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.216	13	1	9	0
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
108	0.352	0.341	16.67%	16.67%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.266	38	6	44	0
Auction Value: -$6.40		Equivalent Fantasy Average:

Grandal is coming off a PED suspension for his involvement with Biogenesis, so we have no idea what type of hitter he is at this point, since his big league experience is comprised of just over 300 plate appearances. He is probably waiver wire fodder on draft day, unless you play in two catcher leagues, or in a deep NL-only league.

	# 26 Dioner Navarro (TOR)
Photo Credit: Jake Roth - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.300	31	13	34	0
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
266	0.365	0.492	8.65%	13.53%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.274	42	12	46	0
Auction Value: -$2.35		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.251

Navarro moves from Chicago to Toronto in 2014, and he will be playing almost every day. What catcher plays every day anyway? He is coming off his best season at the plate in his career, as he hit .300-.365-.492 with 13 HRs, 31 runs and 34 RBI in 89 games last season.

	# 27 Josmil Pinto (MIN)
Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.342	10	4	12	0
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
83	0.398	0.566	7.23%	26.51%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.259	34	8	38	0
Auction Value: -$7.78		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.239

Pinto is one of several catchers in the lower half of our catcher rankings who could put up a breakout season in 2014. Pinto hit very well in his cup of coffee in the Twins lineup last season, hitting .342-.398-.566 with 4 HRs, 10 runs and 12 RBI in just 83 plate appearances. I don't see him hitting that well this season, but he has hit double digit homers in four of his five minor league seasons, so he should not hurt you in that category. He should be the Twins starting catcher even with the team signing Kurt Suzuki this offseason. He should be owned in all deeper mixed and AL only leagues.

	# 28 A.J. Ellis (LAD)
Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.238	43	10	52	0
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
448	0.318	0.364	10.04%	17.41%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.240	44	7	51	0
Auction Value: -$6.80		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.242

Ellis is usually a solid catcher for OBP leagues. That is until last season when he hit just .238 with a .318 OBP. Part of the reason for the drop in BA/OCP was a 60 point drop in BABIP, as Ellis traded some line drives for fly balls last season. Ellis is good for a solid batting average, low double digit home runs and 50ish RBI in most seasons. He is only draftable in deep mixed and NL only leagues, or the previously mentioned OBP leagues.

	# 29 J.P. Arencibia (TEX)
Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.194	45	21	55	0
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
497	0.227	0.365	3.62%	29.78%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.220	23	10	29	0
Auction Value: -$13.31		Equivalent Fantasy Average: Not Projected (Less than 300 ABs Projected)

Arencibia signed with the Rangers this offseason, and at this point, is considered the back up to Geovany Soto, even though Soto is not ranked in our top 30 fantasy catchers for 2014. There is a reason for that, his power. Arencibia has big time power, but little else, and he is known to strike out from time to time. Ok, it's more than that, as he strikes out about 30% of his plate appearances. The catcher battle between Soto and Arencibia is something to watch in spring training, as Arencibia has more fantasy potential for players in deep mixed and AL only leagues.

	# 30 Ryan Doumit (ATL)
Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.247	49	14	55	1
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
538	0.314	0.396	8.92%	18.40%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.249	25	7	31	1
Auction Value: -$11.75		Equivalent Fantasy Average:Not Projected (Less than 300 ABs Projected)

Doumit still has catcher eligibility, but may not see much time behind the plate in Atlanta, unless Evan Gattis gets injured. Doumit is eligible at catcher and outfield in 2014, so he provides some use to owners in deeper leagues. He won't hurt you when he does play, but right now he is more of a bat off the Braves bench and a spot starter.

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