Previewing The 2024-25 Free Agent Class: Catchers

With the common season winding down, a lot of groups (and their fanbases) are already beginning to flip their consideration in direction of the offseason. Figuring out free agent targets is a giant a part of that prep work, so it’s value taking an early take a look at the gamers who’ll be accessible on the open market. We’ll begin issues off with catchers. Ages listed are for the 2025 season, and stats are updated via Sept. 18.

Potential Regulars/Platoon Choices

Elias Diaz (34)

Diaz was the MVP of the 2023 All-Star Sport, however he’s struggled to the purpose the place that seems like a distant reminiscence. The Rockies launched him in August, a transfer that stunned some however got here on the heels of a bleak stoop following a calf damage. He later latched on with the Padres. Diaz made sufficient contact early within the season that he’s nonetheless sporting a .262 batting common, but it surely’s an empty .262 because it’s coupled with a .310 OBP and .369 slugging proportion. Since coming back from the injured listing in June, he’s hitting .198/.238/.259.

Whereas he’s by no means been thought-about a robust defender, Diaz has posted above-average marks in 2024’s comparatively small pattern. If a membership thinks he can maintain these over a full yr and bounce again to the shape he had previous to his calf pressure, he might land one other beginning job. It’s additionally attainable that his shaky defensive observe report and grim end to the season relegate him to part-time affords or perhaps a minor league deal, nonetheless. He’s probably the most unstable title on this class with regard to his potential contract standing.

Kyle Higashioka (35)

Higashioka has saved his greatest output of his profession for his age-34 marketing campaign. In his first season with the Padres, he’s swatted a career-high 16 homers in simply 241 plate appearances. He’s a perennially plus defender behind the dish who hardly ever will get on base, and that hasn’t modified, however this yr’s energy output might pique the curiosity of golf equipment on a one- or two-year deal, regardless of his age.

Higashioka strikes out an excessive amount of and doesn’t stroll incessantly sufficient, and that’s true versus each righties and lefties. His .223/.271/.487 batting line is among the stranger slashes you’ll see throughout the league this season, however between his energy and plus glovework he’s been value 1.3 bWAR and 1.6 fWAR. It’s not out of the query to assume a catching-needy membership might see a possible two-win catcher right here and provides him the largest function of his profession. So far, Higashioka has by no means logged even 300 plate appearances in a giant league season.

Danny Jansen (30)

Jansen regarded just like the clear high choice on this class coming into the season, however he’s tanked his inventory with a .207/.309/.356 batting line. That 91 wRC+ continues to be about common for a catcher, however Jansen’s usually sturdy framing grades have taken a dive this season, as has his energy. He’s hit simply 9 homers this yr after popping 17 in 301 plate appearances a yr in the past and 15 in 248 plate appearances in 2022. This yr’s .146 ISO (slugging minus batting common) is a career-low mark.

Jansen is comparatively younger and from 2021-23 slashed a mixed .237/.317/.487 with 43 taters in solely 754 plate appearances — all whereas taking part in well-regarded protection. He might nonetheless land a multi-year deal based mostly on that observe report, but it surely’s not going to be almost as sturdy of 1 as he’d have managed if he’d maintained his output over the three prior seasons. Jansen has additionally missed substantial time as a consequence of varied accidents through the years — damaged wrist, two separate damaged fingers, indirect pressure, groin pressure, hamstring pressure — and the “injury-prone” label gained’t do him any favors.

Carson Kelly (30)

Kelly could have boosted his inventory as a lot as Jansen harmed his personal. The previous high prospect has lengthy been a terrific defender however regarded completely misplaced on the plate in 2022-23. In 2024, he’s lopped almost 9 proportion factors off his strikeout charge, maintained a virtually common stroll charge and improved not solely the frequency of his contact however the high quality of his batted balls as nicely.

The ensuing .243/.320/.373 batting line is correct on par with that of a league-average hitter and about 10% higher than the common catcher. He’s additionally nonetheless a premium defensive backstop, evidenced by better-than-average framing and blocking marks in addition to a 26% caught-stealing charge (30% with the Tigers, the place he spent the majority of the season). Kelly’s rebound has flown beneath the radar, however a league-average bat with a plus glove behind the plate heading into his age-30 season is a recipe for a multi-year deal and a possible common function in 2025.

Gary Sanchez (32)

Sanchez’s protection has improved through the years. He’s not a legal responsibility behind the plate regardless of nonetheless being unable to fully shake off that label from earlier in his profession. As that uptick in defensive worth has transpired, nonetheless, his contributions with the bat have waned. He’s hitting .224/.313/.399 this season — roughly league-average offense — and has smacked 10 homers in 256 plate appearances. Sanchez has spent extra time at DH than at catcher over the previous two seasons however has fared higher offensively when he’s within the recreation behind the plate.

Jacob Stallings (35)

Stallings’ elite defensive rankings from earlier in his profession have declined to the purpose the place he’s drawn below-average marks in three straight seasons. A downturn in his framing metrics are the first trigger for that deterioration, although he additionally posted nicely below-average caught-stealing marks in 2022-23. He’s rebounded along with his throwing this season (23% caught-stealing). Greater than that, Stallings is having fun with far and away his greatest offensive season within the majors. His .260/.353/.450 batting line is “solely” about 12% higher than common by measure of wRC+, because of some heavy weighting for Coors Subject, however Stallings has truly produced higher numbers away from Coors than at residence. A profession yr at age 34 goes to attract some skepticism, however he ought to draw a giant league deal and obtain respectable taking part in time — even perhaps again with the Rockies, as there’s mutual curiosity in a reunion.

Backups/Depth Candidates

Tucker Barnhart (34)

Barnhart gained a pair of Gold Gloves earlier in his profession however has seen his glovework decline and his taking part in time dwindle as his bat has eroded. He hit .173/.287/.210 in 96 plate appearances with the D-backs this season and is probably going one other minor league deal this winter.

Yan Gomes (37)

Gomes hit .154/.179/.242 in 96 plate appearances with the Cubs earlier than being launched in favor of fellow depth choice Tomas Nido. He’s solely a yr faraway from a strong season in Chicago, however coming off a season like that and heading into his age-37 marketing campaign, he’ll very doubtless have to take a minor league deal if he desires to proceed taking part in.

Yasmani Grandal (36)

A plus framer however one of many worst-throwing catchers within the sport at this level, Grandal has been a backup in Pittsburgh and posted a 9% caught-stealing charge this yr. He’s hitting .218/.293/.371 with seven dingers in 228 plate appearances. He might land one other backup gig, however he’s not a lock to land a giant league deal.

Austin Hedges (32)

Hedges is nearly as good because it will get defensively however almost as unhealthy because it will get offensively. He’s sporting a 23 wRC+ for the second straight season, indicating he’s been 77% worse than common on the plate. Since 2023, he owns a mixed .173/.224/.227 line in 353 plate appearances. The Guardians love his glove a lot they gave him $4MM and have stored him on the roster all season. He’ll doubtless command one other low-cost one-year deal to function a backup.

Martin Maldonado (38)

Maldonado produced solely a .119/.174/.230 slash in 147 plate appearances with the White Sox this season. He was higher on the plate with the Astros from 2021-23 however nonetheless one of many sport’s least-productive hitters in that three-year stretch. Groups love Maldonado’s game-calling and work with their pitchers, however his lack of offense has reached dire ranges.

James McCann (35)

McCann’s carrying trait was pummeling left-handed pitching, however he’s pale in that regard in recent times. He’s hitting .220/.266/.340 in 218 plate appearances with the Orioles. A minor league deal feels doubtless for the previous White Sox and Mets backstop.

Omar Narvaez (33)

The Mets launched Narvaez after he hit .154/.191/.185 in 69 plate appearances. He signed a minor league take care of the Astros and hit .203/.327/.316 for his or her Triple-A membership. Narvaez hasn’t produced on the plate since 2021 and might be restricted to minor league affords.

Tomas Nido (31)

Nido simply signed a minor league take care of the Tigers. He’s been launched by each the Mets and Cubs this season. Like many others on this listing, he’s a plus defender with a negligible offensive ceiling. In his previous 675 plate appearances within the majors, Nido is a .215/.249/.305 hitter — numbers that mirror his .210/.245/.309 line nearly precisely.

Membership Choices

Austin Barnes (35) – $3.5MM membership choice

The Dodgers have lengthy valued Barnes’ framing expertise, however his throwing has cratered over the previous two seasons, as he’s caught simply 10.5% of runners making an attempt to steal towards him. Barnes is hitting .261/.327/.306 in 149 plate appearances. It’s a borderline name for the Dodgers to maintain him, significantly with Will Smith now signed for a decade and a trio of youthful catching choices behind him (Hunter Feduccia, Dalton Speeding, Diego Cartaya). If he’s purchased out, he’ll get some curiosity as a framing-driven backup.

Travis d’Arnaud (36) – $8MM membership choice (no buyout)

The Braves love d’Arnaud, who’s posted a strong .242/.306/.446 batting line and 14 homers in 317 plate appearances this season. Even when Atlanta doesn’t wish to retain d’Arnaud at $8MM, they may flip down the choice, pay no buyout, and attempt to carry him again at a decrease charge.

Luke Maile (34) – $3.5MM membership choice ($500K buyout)

Maile is usually considered a strong defender however has seen his glovework dip this yr whereas posting one of many worst offensive performances of his profession: .157/.255/.228 in 146 plate appearances. He’ll be a depth choice for catcher-needy golf equipment on a minor league deal this winter.

Max Stassi (34) – $7.5MM membership choice with a $500K buyout

Stassi hasn’t performed this season as a consequence of hip surgical procedure. His choice might be purchased out. He final appeared in a giant league recreation in 2022. He’s considered a premium framer who has at instances proven offensive upside, however he’ll be a minor league deal this offseason.