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NY Post
New York Post
25 Feb 2024


NextImg:Catchers worth waiting for in your fantasy baseball drafts

Welcome back, fantasy baseball shoppers!

Think of Roto Rage as your personal shopper, guiding you toward the best possible deals as you look to build a well-balanced roster. First on the list: catchers.

Why? Well, everyone needs one — and unlike in years past, there are lots of appealing options. You just have to know which stores have the best deals.

The Orioles’ Adley Rutschman is probably the only catcher worth breaking the bank for in fantasy baseball, according to The Post’s Jarad Wilk. USA TODAY Sports

If you want the Orioles’ Adley Rutschman, be ready to pay Bergdorf Goodman prices (his average draft position is 44.93, according to Fantasy Alarm). Is he worth it? Yes, and he’s probably the only catcher Roto Rage has ever said that about.

If you miss out on Rutschman, just follow the normal procedure for drafting catchers: Be patient.

Skip Saks Fifth Avenue, where the prices for players like the Dodgers’ Will Smith (80.23 ADP), Philadelphia’s J.T. Realmuto (80.88) or Milwaukee’s Wiliam Contreras (86.28) remain pretty steep for a position that has gotten deeper and younger. Macy’s carries Houston’s Yainer Diaz (122.55) and Atlanta’s Sean Murphy (150.15), but you can continue to shop around (bigger sales will be happening). If you stop at H&M, you can find a pretty good deal on the Mets’ Francisco Alvarez (167.5) or Arizona’s Gabriel Moreno (188.95), but there are more cost effective options out there.

For the best deals, head to the factory outlets. That’s where you’ll find the Guardians’ Bo Naylor (228.48), a much cheaper (and younger) version of Realmuto, at Saks OFF 5th.

Guardians catcher Bo Naylor is the backstop that will provide fantasy baseball owners plenty of bang for their bucks. Getty Images

Naylor has imperfections — he has hit .228 with a 24.4 percent strikeout rate in 72 big league games. But over five seasons in the minors, he hit .241 with 57 homers, 242 RBIs, a .348 on-base percentage and a .781 OPS. He also stole 44 bases — including 20 in 2022 when he hit .263 with 21 homers, 68 RBIs, 73 runs, a .392 OBP and .889 OPS in 118 games between Double-A and Triple-A.

Naylor may also lose some starts to defense-first backstop Austin Hedges, especially against southpaws, but the 24-year-old has tons of upside — and he proved it with how he finished the 2023 season.

In his first 39 games last year, Naylor was 21-for-117 (.180) with four homers, 14 RBIs, 37 strikeouts and a .592 OPS. But in 28 games from Aug. 19-Oct. 1, he raised his average from .179 to .237 after hitting .321 with seven homers, 18 RBIs, 19 runs and a 1.113 OPS. He also had as many walks as he did strikeouts (16), a .434 OBP and four stolen bases in that span.

Among catchers with a minimum of 90 plate appearances during that stretch, Naylor ranked first in OBP, SLG and OPS. He was fifth in runs, third in average and tied for second in stolen bases. He also had the fifth-lowest strikeout rate and the highest walk rate.

Hitting in the .240 range isn’t ideal, but you’re getting a catcher with double-digit steal potential (without paying Realmuto prices), who has a history of getting on base and the ability to hit for solid power (career .223 ISO). Naylor is the epitome of discount shopping.

If you’re looking for another great deal, Padres backstop Luis Campusano (252.55) is worthy of being grabbed off the discount rack at Banana Republic. In 174 plate appearances last year, the 25-year-old hit .319 with seven homers, 30 RBIs, 27 runs and a .847 OPS. That includes hitting .331 with six homers, 28 RBIs and a .875 OPS from July 19-Sept. 24.

It is not unreasonable to think that Rockies catcher Elias Diaz will have inflated stats at the plate thanks to playing half his games at Coors Field, making him a cost-effective option for your fantasy baseball team. Robert Sabo

Colorado’s Elias Diaz (260.48) is sitting on the rack outside the Champion outlet. He is insanely inexpensive — especially for a guy who plays half his games at Coors Field, and hit .267 with 14 homers and 72 RBIs last season.

Other options might be the equivalent of Sixth Avenue street vendor knockoffs (you can find a great “Romex” or “Tad Heuer” watch for yourself). They’re inexpensive knockoffs, but you should be able to find one that works among Cincinnati’s Tyler Stephenson (254.1), Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk (266.08) or Danny Jansen (269.35), Oakland’s Shea Langeliers (276.48) or the Yankees’ Austin Wells (298.57).

Draft preview special Part 1 of 5

Roto Rage Jarad Wilk ranks catchers and relievers. Next week: middle infielders.

  1. Adley Rutschman, Bal
  1. Will Smith, LAD
  1. J.T. Relamuto, Phi
  1. William Contreras, Mil
  1. Yainer Diaz, Hou
  1. Gabriel Moreno, Ari
  1. Salvador Perez, KC
  1. Francisco Alvarez, NYM
  1. Willson Contreras, StL
  1. Cal Raleigh, Sea
  1. Bo Naylor, Cle
  1. Logan O’Hoppe, LAA
  1. Sean Murphy, Atl
  1. Luis Campusano, SD
  1. Elias Diaz, Col
  1. Jonah Heim, Tex
  1. Keibert Ruiz, Was
  1. Ryan Jeffers, Min
  1. Shea Langeliers, Oak
  1. Tyler Stephenson, Cin
  1. MJ Melendez, KC
  1. Mitch Garver, Sea
  1. Danny Jansen, Tor
  1. Yan Gomes, ChC
  1. Alejandro Kirk, Tor
  1. Austin Wells, NYY
  1. Patrick Bailey, SF
  1. Travis d’Arnaud, Atl
  1. Connor Wong, Bos
  1. Rene Pinto, TB
  1. Eric Haase, Mil
  1. Christian Bethancourt, Mia
  1. Jake Rogers, Det
  1. Yasmani Grandal, Pit
  1. Tyler Soderstrom, Oak
  1. Christian Vazquez, Min
  1. Francisco Mejia, LAA
  1. Jose Trevino, NYY
  1. James McCann, Bal
  1. Carson Kelly, Det
  1. Korey Lee, CWS
  1. Victor Caratini, Hou
  1. Ivan Herrera, StL
  1. Nick Fortes, Mia
  1. Andrew Knizner, Tex
  1. Devin Williams, Mil
  1. Emmanuel Clase, Cle
  1. Edwin Diaz, NYM
  1. Josh Hader, Hou
  1. Camilo Doval, SF
  1. Jordan Romano, Tor
  1. Alexis Diaz, Cin
  1. Jhoan Duran, Min
  1. Ryan Helsley, StL
  1. David Bednar, Pit
  1. Paul Sewald, Ari
  1. Adbert Alzolay, ChC
  1. Michael King, SD
  1. Evan Phillips, LAD
  1. Kenley Jansen, Bos
  1. Raisel Iglesias, Atl
  1. Craig Kimbrel, Bal
  1. Pete Fairbanks, TB
  1. Ryan Pressly, Hou
  1. Tanner Scott, Mia
  1. Clay Holmes, NYY
  1. Nick Pivetta, Bos
  1. Andres Munoz, Sea
  1. Robert Suarez, SD
  1. Alex Lange, Det
  1. Yuki Matsui, SD
  1. Cole Ragans, KC
  1. Jose Leclerc, Tex
  1. Jose Alvarado, Phi
  1. Carlos Estevez, LAA
  1. Jordan Hicks, SF
  1. Matt Brash, Sea
  1. Kyle Finnegan, Was
  1. Bryan Abreu, Hou
  1. Jason Adam, TB
  1. Aroldis Chapman, Pit
  1. Yennier Cano, Bal
  1. A.J. Puk, Mia
  1. Hunter Harvey, Was
  1. Brusdar Graterol, LAD

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