Fantasy Baseball: 2015 Consensus Catcher Rankings - Part 2

Catcher week is in full swing here, with the first half of our top 30 consensus rankings running on Monday. With that in mind, here is the second half of our top 30 consensus rankings. We used a points system for each of the 30 catchers ranked by each of the Fake Teams writers who participated in the consensus rankings series.

The writers who participated in this series include the following:

Ray Guilfoyle

Jason Hunt

Rob Parker

Brian Creagh

Timmy Kennedy

Daniel Kelley

Jack Cecil

Nick Doran

Alex Kantecki

Timothy Finnegan

We feel that providing you our consensus position rankings, you get an average ranking from the Fake Teams writers, rather than one writers' opinion, which inherently includes some biases. You will see some players ranked higher by one Fake Teams writer than the others, so this helps the reader see both sides of the argument for/against a certain player who might be getting too much love this offseason.

Each of the position rankings will be split into two parts, rankings and player profiles for catchers ranked 1 - 15 in part 1, and rankings and player profiles for catchers ranked 16 - 30 in part 2 to be published on Wednesday morning. Consensus rankings should bring about discussion amongst you, our readers, and the Fake Teams writers who participated in this series.

The catcher position is beginning to look a little different as a few of the former top ranked catchers have lost position eligibility in 2014, namely Joe Mauer and Carlos Santana. Both are limited to first base and DH duties for the most part, with Santana playing some third base in 2014 as well. There has been talk in the media of the Giants moving catcher Buster Posey off the catcher position, moving him to either first base or third base on a full time basis. The Brewers and Yankees have used Jonathan Lucroy and Brian McCann at first base and DH as well, in an effort to keep their bats in the lineup and to keep them fresh during the long 162 game season. The Rockies are looking to trade Wilin Rosario to an American League team as he has been pretty bad defensively behind the dish. The Royals will also try to get catcher Salvador Perez some at bats at first base and DH in 2015 after Perez caught a league high 150 games in 2014.

Consensus Fantasy Catcher Rankings for 2015

	# 16. Derek Norris (SDP)
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Sports

Norris was traded to the Padres this offseason in a deal that sent Jesse Hahn and R.J. Alvarez to the A's. The bearded Norris takes his power from one pitcher-friendly environment to another in 2015. Norris is coming off a very good season at the plate, and maybe A's GM Billy Beane was not impressed and sold high on him, as he hit .270-.361-.403 with 10 home runs, 46 runs scored and 55 RBI in 442 plate appearances.

Norris could see a bit of a bump in playing time in San Diego as his back up is former Dodger catcher Tim Federowicz, so we could see his home run total increase to the 12-15 range as a result.

	# 17. Mike Zunino (SEA)
Photo Credit: Casey Sapio - USA Today Sports

Zunino struggled in his first big league season, hitting .199-.254-.404 with 22 home runs, 51 runs scored and 60 RBI in 476 plate appearances. What hurt him the most was the huge increase in strikeout rate from 25% to 33%, and a corresponding drop in walk rate from a respectable 8.3% in 2013 to just 3.6% last season.

Like Gattis, Zunino isn't going to win any batting titles, and will probably hit below league average once again in 2015, but he should provide owners with solid power once again. His plate discipline is a real worry, so that is something to watch next season. If he can't cut down the strikeouts, he could spend some time in AAA working on a new approach at the plate.

	# 18. Jason Castro (HOU)
Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan - USA Today Sports

2014 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.222	43	14	56	1
2014 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
512	0.286	0.366	6.64%	29.49%

Castro had a disappointing 2014 season after his breakout 2013 season, hitting just .222-.286-.366 with 13 home runs, 43 runs scored and 56 RBI in 512 plate appearances. He saw his triple slash line drop across the board, mainly due to regression in his BABIP from .351 to .294. The .351 BABIP in 2013 appears to be a one year fluke, so we shouldn't expect Castro to hit much higher than .250-.260 going forward.

Fantasy owners will have to hope that he can improve his walk and strikeout rates, as his walk rate plummeted from 10.2% to 6.5%, and his strikeout rate increased from 26.5% to 29.5%. The Astros already have their share of hitters who strikeout a lot, so no wonder there was some talk that the Astros were willing to deal him earlier this offseason.

The Astros traded for Evan Gattis a few weeks ago, and also traded for Hank Conger this offseason, so the presence of both could reduce the number of games Castro plays this season. Max Stassi is also on the Astros 40 man roster, so Castro could be trade bait come spring training. i doubt we see Gattis catching much this season, as he will more than likely play left field and occupy the designated hitter spot in the lineup for most of the season.

	# 19. John Jaso (TAM)
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Sports

The Rays received Jaso in the deal that sent soon-to-be free agent Ben Zobrist and Yunel Escobar to the Athletics for Jason, second bas prospect Daniel Robertson and outfield prospect Boog Powell….no not that Boog Powell. Jaso had a solid, yet unspectacular, season in 2014, hitting .264-.337-.430 with 9 home runs, 42 runs scored and 40 RBI in 344 plate appearances.

He is pretty much a platoon catcher, who will receive 300+ plate appearances and provide some pop and a solid on base percentage, as he knows how to take a walk, although his walk rate took a dip in 2014, dropping from over 15% the prior two seasons to just 8.1% last season.

	# 20. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (MIA)
Photo Credit: Brad Barr - USA Today Sports

Salty is two years removed from a 25 home run season, but the move to Marlins Park has impacted his production for fantasy owners. He is a full time catcher, so he has value in that respect, but he is coming off a 2014 season where he hit just .220-.320-.362 with 11 home runs, 43 runs scored and 44 RBI in 435 plate appearances.

He has more value in OBP leagues as he walks at an almost 13% rate, but when he doesn't walk or hit a home run, he strikes out. A LOT. His strikeout rate jumped from 29.6% in 2013 to just under 33% in 2014, thanks to a 16.2% swinging strike rate, which was good for 6th in all of baseball amongst batters with 400 or more plate appearances.

He hits plenty of fly balls, and his HR/FB% has remained above 11% in each of the last four seasons, so he should be good for double digit home runs, and hopefully more of his batted balls will find the outfield grass or the seats behind the outfield walls in 2015.

Note: The catchers ranked 21-30 are all deeper mixed league, "only" league or two catcher league options at best.

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

Ruiz is the Phillies starting catcher for now, but the team is beginning their rebuild and he easily could be included in a trade this season. Ruiz just turned 36 years of age a few days ago, and while he won't hurt you in the batting average category, he offers little else to fantasy owners. He provides single digit power and won't score or drive in many runs in the Phillies young lineup.

Ruiz is a late round play in deep mixed leagues and NL only leagues, but is an injury replacement in shallower mixed leagues.

	# 22. Chris Iannetta (LAA)
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Sports

Iannetta is not unlike several of the catchers ranked above him in that he offers little to the fantasy owners that draft him, but is a decent late round pick in deeper mixed leagues, AL only leagues and OBP leagues. Iannetta owns a career 14.2% walk rate, so bump him up in your rankings if you play in OBP leagues.

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

The Tigers recently stated that they will platoon Avila more in 2015, as catching prospect James McCann is nearly ready for the big leagues. Avila suffered several concussions last season, but still managed 457 plate appearances, and while not hitting for a good average, he did provide double digit home runs, scored 44 runs and drove in 47.

Like Iannetta above him, he is a late round pick in deeper mixed leagues, AL only leagues and OBP leagues, as he owns a career walk rate just under 13%.

	# 24. Josmil Pinto (MIN)
Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell - USA Today Sports

The Twins extended catcher Kurt Suzuki to a two year, $12 million contract, so he is the Twins starter at catcher, so Pinto's fantasy value is limited, unless Suzuki suffers an injury. Pinto offers more upside, as he hits for more power, but Suzuki is the better defensive catcher who helps in the batting average category.

Pinto hit .219-.315-.391 with 7 home runs, 25 runs scored and 18 RBI in just under 200 plate appearances last season. Should he split time with Suzuki, and receive more than 300 plate appearances, he could reach double digits in home runs in 2015. He is nothing more than an injury replacement in mixed leagues, but has value in AL only or two catcher leagues, in addition to OBP leagues, as he walked at a 12% clip last season.

	# 25. Dioner Navarro (TOR)
Photo Credit: Kim Klement - USA Today Sports

Navarro is now a backup catcher in Toronto now that the Blue Jays have signed Russell Martin to a five year contract this offseason. He appears to be trade bait come spring training should a team lose their starting catcher to injury. He is coming off a solid season, hitting .274-.317-.395 with 12 home runs, 40 runs scored and 69 RBI in 520 plate appearances.

He has value only in deeper mixed leagues and AL only and two catcher leagues at this point, but that could change should he be traded before the season starts.

	# 26. Kurt Suzuki (MIN)
Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell - USA Today Sports

See Josmil Pinto above.

	# 27. Andrew Susac (SFG)
Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale - USA Today Sports

He's blocked by the best catcher in the game, but Posey might see more time at first base, and possibly third base, in 2015, so Susac could be a deep sleeper. He hit well in his 95 plate appearances last season, and some think he could be an everyday catcher once the Giants decide if they want to move Posey to first base on a permanent basis.

	# 28. Christian Bethancourt (ATL)
Photo Credit: Kim Klement - USA Today Sports

Now the Braves starting catcher, Bethancourt offers little fantasy value, but has some value in NL only leagues.

	# 29. Robinson Chirinos (TEX)
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Sports

I have to say I was surprised to see that Chirinos hit 13 home runs last season. He will probably split time with the recently acquired Carlos Corporan, so he offers owners double digit power and little else.

	# 30. Tyler Flowers (CHW)
Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale - USA Today Sports

I think I would draft Flowers before catchers ranked 18-29 at this point mainly due to his power potential. Let's face it, only the top ranked catchers offer you more than power, and Flowers should see the majority if the playing time in Chicago this season. He strikes out a ton, so you have to take the good with the bad.

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