The Cream of the Crop: Top Five Catcher Edition

1. Jason Varitek

Varitek runs away with the catcher position, and it’s not even close. He’s the only dominating hitter that plays at catcher, and while he’s average at best defensively, he puts up numbers you’d expect out of your corner infielders from a position that many teams treat as an offensive black hole. Varitek can hit for average, hit for power, has a good eye at the plate, and even adds a little bit of speed from the catcher spot. While at age 33 you might expect him to be on the decline, Varitek has been getting better the last few years, and is going to be a mainstay in the Red Sox offense for at least the next three years after signing a four-year deal last offseason. With offense that no other full-time catchers can hope to match, Varitek takes the cake as the best catcher in the majors right now.

2. Ivan Rodriguez

For almost a decade, Pudge Rodriguez has been the best catcher in baseball. He’s probably the second best catcher of all-time behind Johnny Bench, and the argument could even be made that he’s better than Bench himself. Now in his 15th season, it appears that Pudge may be entering the twilight of his career, despite just being 33. Amid swirling steroid allegations, Rodriguez is experiencing his worst offensive year since 1993. While in the past he could be relied upon to hit for a high average and solid power numbers, his average has shrunken down to .290 this season, and while that is still a very respectable number, his .299 OBP is not. Throughout his career you could count on Pudge to hit well over .300 and walk 30 to 40 times per season, but this year he has a grand total of six walks. His power has also hit a bit of a wall, with a slugging percentage of .463. While he still has a cannon behind the plate, his offensive shrinkage cannot be ignored. Of course, despite his weakening offense, he’s still among the best offensive catchers in baseball, which is why he’s number two on this list.

3. Victor Martinez

Martinez is the youngest player on this list, and is likely to be on such lists for many years to come. Just 26, Martinez has already seemingly experienced the ups and downs of being a major league player. Last season he burst onto the scene in his first full year and put up great offensive numbers. Coming into this season with high expectations, he disappointed along with the rest of the Indians line-up for the first few months of the season. Yet once the weather heated up, Martinez’s bat did as well, and a good finish will put him close to last season’s numbers. Looking at Martinez, he seems like a younger version of Jason Varitek, featuring the ability to hit for average and power to go along with a great eye, as well as also being a switch-hitter. Martinez features an average arm behind the plate, but if he can throw out 30% of basestealers like he did when he was called up two years ago, then he may be on top of this list in a very short time.

4. Michael Barrett

Now in his second season with Chicago, he’s become one of the more consistent hitting catchers and can be counted on for a solid average and good power. One of the more underrated offensive catchers in baseball, Barrett hit .287 last season and is at that mark again this year, with an improved OBP and SLG. Barrett is a streaky hitter, but when he’s hot, he’s a better hitter than most outfielders. Barrett brings to the table a strong but somewhat erratic arm and and average defense behind the plate. He’s not a flashy player, but he’s dependable and still only 28 years of age. Michael Barrett should be one of the best catchers in the league for years to come.

5. Jason LaRue

I was just as surprised to see myself putting LaRue on this list as many of you probably are seeing him right now, but he’s earned the spot and there weren’t many other viable candidates for it anyway. In the midst of his best season, both offensively and defensively, LaRue’s improvement may have something to do with the emergence of Javier Valentin as well as his own natural progression. He’s now hit for double-digit homeruns in five consecutive years, and his all-around offensive numbers have been improving as well. His average has improved immensely from two years ago andhe’s walking more and striking out less. Perhaps most importantly, his defense has gone from liability to asset. While he’s always had an excellent arm from behind the plate, throwing out over 40% of base stealers for his career, he’s also had a problem with passed balls, allowing 15 or more in three of the last five years. This year he has just 4 passed balls, and he’s probably the quickest catcher in the league, both on the basepaths and from behind the plate on foul balls or bunts. Valentin’s emergence this season as an excellent offensive catcher has allowed LaRue more rest than he’s gotten in past years, and now that LaRue has been healthy the entire year, he’s putting up what he may have been capable of all along. He is 31, but he’s only been a full-time major league catcher since 2001, so the wear and tear of being a catcher may set in later in his career than it does with most catchers (See: Mike Piazza). With his good and still improving offense, excellent throwing arm, and very solid defensive play, Jason LaRue sums up the Cream of the Crop at the catcher position.