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Top 10 MLB catchers for 2017
Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants still had a great 2016 season despite being a 'down' year for the always impressive catcher.  Denis Poroy/Getty Images

Top 10 MLB catchers for 2017

An elite catcher is one of the greatest weapons a team can possess. He factors into every pitch throughout the game, while also controlling the run game, aligning the defense and communicating with the bench. It can be the difference between a good, great and championship level team.

So no wonder there are seven World Series titles combined among the players that make the list below. And while the others may not be at that level yet, the presence of all make their respective teams that much more dangerous. Today’s MLB has a number of great options behind the plate, some established presences with Cooperstown in their sights, but also an exciting young group of talents that bringing a rarely before seen offensive impact behind the plate.

The race for separating into the top third of catchers in the game today is a tough feat to pull off, and even harder to pit against each other. But the deed is done: presenting, the top 10 catchers in baseball today.

10. Brian McCann, Houston Astros


Former New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann should make a strong addition to the Astros staff this season.  Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The consistency of McCann continues to be a remarkable item as he gets up in years. The newly minted Astro backstop hit 20 home runs for the 9th straight year in final season in the Bronx, and will move into the top 10 all-time in homers at the position this year.

Only once since 2009 has a pitching staff finished with an ERA over 4.00 with McCann calling the shots, and considering the Astros staff dipped from first in team ERA in 2015 to fourth a year ago, allowing over half a run more. McCann could be one of the understated additions in the game this year.

9. Matt Wieters, Free Agent


Catcher Matt Wieters a free agent for the first time in his career after spending the last eight seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.  Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

 Wieters opened the year by becoming one of the first players to ever accept the qualifying offer to avoid free agency. And in his return to Baltimore, he rebounded during his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, connecting for 17 home runs and swinging at a .409 slugging percentage. He hit .333 in May, and followed up by driving in 20 runs during June.

His impact behind the plate remaining strong as well. Wieters cut down 23 would-be base stealers, at a 35% clip, all of which helped him not only return in full health, but return to All-Star status as well. The (for now) former Oriole remains on the free agent market now, as spring training draws near. He could be in-line for another short-term deal with a number of teams as well.

8. J.T. Realmuto, Miami Marlins


Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto throws out Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (not shown) during the third inning at Nationals Park on April 7, 2016. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The young Marlins backstop delivered in full on the promise he showed as a rookie in 2015 during his sophomore season. The 25-year-old hit .303 while driving in 48 runs for the Fish, and turned in 42 extra base hits. He hit .321 from May to July and showed the potential to swing an even greater bat in the future.

In addition, he was far from a one trick pony. He threw out 35% of would-be base thieves, good enough for second in the NL. Realmuto is arguably most rapidly improving catcher in either league.

7. Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals


St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina in action against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in 2016. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

While his Gold Glove streak ended at eight straight last season, Molina continued to make a big impact for a Cardinals team that narrowly missed the postseason for the first time in five years. At age 33, Molina raised his batting average by 37 points from the previous year and finished with his most doubles in the last four years with 38. When the dust settled, Molina’s .307 average finished tied for tops of all catchers in the MLB.

Yadi was especially strong in the second half of the year, when went unconscious, hitting .365, the second highest NL batting average behind Joey Votto’s .408. Yadier remains a top notch catcher and has been at that level longer than any other player in the game.

6. Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays


Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin catches a foul ball for an out during the seventh inning in a game against the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre on August 14, 2016. Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

 After a huge debut in Toronto in 2015, Martin came back down closer to his 2014 levels again last year. While his power numbers didn’t dip dramatically and he kept his run production numbers steady, he saw other vital percentages drop across the board. His batting average dipped close to .230, his slugging percentage went south of .400 and he his strikeouts rose by over 40. To compound things, he threw out the lowest percentage of base stealers in the MLB of full-time catchers, at 11%.

With that said, Martin still brings a special type of power to the dish for the position, mans the position well behind the plate and is a strong leader. He is the type of indispensable presence at the crucial position behind the plate that can’t purely be gauged by numbers –although those numbers can be better and have been.

5. Wilson Ramos, Tampa Bay Rays


Catcher Wilson Ramos in action against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in August 2016. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest breakthrough backstop of the year goes to Ramos, who put his .227/.258/.358 2015 campaign far behind him. Ramos made as big of a burst on the scene as any player at the position last year, dramatically improving his offensive splits to .307/.356/.496, while continuing to improve his power, hitting a career-best 22 homers as well.

His season was brought to a sudden halt when he tore his ACL in September, during the Nationals playoff run. His absence left the team without both his sizable offensive presence, as well as a defensive impact behind the plate as well. Ramos cut down 37% of runners (although he allowed an NL-high 10 passed balls as well). Ramos will look to work his way back into full-time action behind the plate in Tampa this season, although he will also see a fair amount of time as designated hitter in his new league as well.

4. Jonathan Lucroy, Texas Rangers


Texas Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy throws to first base during the game against the Houston Astros on September 12, 2016. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Lucroy spent much of 2016 as the most discussed trade chip in all of baseball, and for good reason. His game-calling abilities are nearly second to none, and his well known knack for pitch framing and strike ‘creation’ make him a nearly incalculably valuable part of any team. Lucroy led all batting title-qualified catchers in RBI (81) and OPS (.855), while finishing second in WAR (3.9) and home runs (24).

Lucroy finally swapped homes and was moved to the Rangers, after vetoing a trade to the Cleveland Indians just before the deadline. While this may have cost him an immediate trip to the World Series, he is in great position to help the Rangers once again win the AL West again.

3. Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees


New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez looks on during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 21, 2016. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Few players have done more with their first 200 at-bats than Sanchez during the final two months of the season. After a few cups of coffee in pinstripes in 2015 and early 2016, Sanchez went on a warpath after coming up for good on August 3rd. He hit 24 home runs in 197 at-bats, a rate of one per every 10 at-bats. In the process, Sanchez won both AL Player and Rookie of the Month awards in August.

Sanchez set a stockpile of ‘fastest to…’ records in regards to his offensive onslaught, and he finished with an eye-popping 1.032 OPS. Cast over a full season, this would have led the American League and his 3.1 WAR topped all AL catchers who on average had four more months of opportunity than him.

2. Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals


Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez smiles at the fans before the game against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.  David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Salvy built on his World Series MVP effort from the year before, and continued to reign as the AL’s top backstop, a role that he has monopolized for a number of years now. As a 26-year-old, he made both his fourth straight All-Star game and won his fourth consecutive Gold Glove Award as well. He led the MLB in runners caught stealing, at 48%. It was the second time in his career he topped 40% in the category, and he also allowed only five passed balls on the year.

The sturdy catcher caught the third most innings in the game, and led the AL in frames behind the plate for the third straight year (and topped 1,100 innings in each season). This workload did not stop him from winning his first Silver Slugger Award however, as he hit a career-best 22 home runs, the fifth straight year he improved in the category.

1. Buster Posey, Sam Francisco Giants 


San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey reacts during the ninth inning of Game Four of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at AT&T Park.  John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

By his usual golden standard, Posey had a down year at the plate, as hit ‘only’ hit .288, with 14 home runs and a .796 OPS. Granted, these numbers still still placed him among the top three of all NL catchers in every offensive category and he led all MLB catchers with a 4.7 WAR. But when you own a resume that has a .307 career average, a batting title, Rookie of the Year award, an MVP and three World Series titles already, the Posey standard is quite a high one.

However, Buster was able to yet again expand his award case, as he won his first Gold Glove last season. He cut down 37% of potential base stealers, allowed only two passed balls and guided his pitchers to the second lowest ERA in the National League when he was behind the plate. Simply put, Posey is somehow rounding his already unparalleled game behind the plate into something even higher quality. He is in the handful of the finest all-around performers in the game over the past decade.

Just a bit outside: Francisco Cervelli, Stephen Vogt, Wellington Castillo

Up & Coming: Willson Contreras, Cubs: Such was the talent of Contreras as he rose through the Cubs’ system that it made the team abandon any notion of keeping Kyle Schwarber behind the plate. And when he finally made it the Majors, he did not disappoint, hitting .282 with an .845 OPS, while being an athletic, dextile presence behind the plate. With a World Series ring on his finger already and more time behind the plate awaiting him, Contreras stands to quickly rise to the elite class of NL catchers.

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