Staff Post: Catchers to Avoid in 2018

Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This morning we offered up our catchers to target. Now we find ourselves at the ‘yang’ portion of the day, where we give you our catchers to avoid.

If you’ve missed out on all of catcher week here at Fake Teams, never fear. You can follow this link and be transported to the last five days worth of catcher propaganda. Now let’s see which backstops to skip over in our fantasy baseball drafts.

Staff Catchers to Avoid in 2018

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Buster Posey, Giants (Heath Capps)

Hear me out. Posey is not a bad pick. In fact, you should get him cheaper this year than ever before, and I do not expect his excellent batting eye and ability to make contact to erode suddenly. I do, however, agree with Brian Creagh that Willson Contreras is a fantastic value in 2018. Contreras can be had a full two rounds later than Posey this year and offers more power potential with the stick, which is something I look for in a catcher. I am not yet ready to contend that Buster Posey is the new Joe Mauer, but I am afraid that his power potential will continue to dwindle. Posey’s value resides in his ability to remain healthy and to hit for average. If you choose that route, I understand. For my part, I prefer the power potential and the better team (and park) context of Contreras.

Salvador Perez, Royals (Punk is Dead)

I’ll say this until my lungs give out or my fingers fall off, whichever comes first! Salvador Perez had a career season in 2017, but he still finished outside the top 200 overall players. I doubt he repeats those numbers with a worse offense in 2018. He will finish as a top 10 catcher but I am not spending a top 125 overall pick on him.

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Yadier Molina, Cardinals (Eddy Almaguer)

According to early NFBC data, managers are selecting Yadier Molina just inside the top 150 as the sixth catcher off the board. Why? Are they that desperate for 13 home runs? Wait, they don’t think he will come close to the 18 of last year, do they? Those 18 represented just one less home run than Molina hit in the three previous seasons combined. His slash line is okay, but nothing spectacular. Why don’t you draft Tyler Flowers for the same production 150 picks later?

Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Wilson Ramos, Rays (Brian Creagh)

I am not falling for the Wilson Ramos bait. His unbelievable 2016 seems to still be on the mind of managers as he is currently being drafted in the 15th round of drafts. Outside of his one All-Star season, Ramos has six other injury-riddled seasons. He also finds himself in the middle of a depleted Tampa Bay lineup. Give me Christian Vazquez or Robinson Chirinos 100 picks later.

Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

Jorge Alfaro, Phillies (Joe Gentile)

Jorge Alfaro is currently being drafted as the 12th catcher in fantasy baseball, which is absolutely crazy. Yes he was ranked as a top 100 prospect coming up through the minor leagues, but a lot of that had to do with his incredible arm. Alfaro does have some raw power, but the problem is to hit home runs you actually have to hit the ball. In Alfaro’s short time in the majors last year he had a remarkably high 21.5% swinging strike rate—the highest in all the majors among batters with at least 100 plate appearances. He is in danger of posting a batting average below the Mendoza line in 2018, and there is no way his .420 BABIP will continue into next season. Alfaro will be going high in drafts due to his top prospect tag, but don’t let that cause you to miss out on some other bargain bats at the position.