Yardbarker
x
Top Free Agent Catchers for 2026 Fantasy
Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Top Free Agent Catchers for 2026 Fantasy

Originally posted on Athlon Sports  |  By Michael Murphy  |  Last updated Jan 13, 2026 12:49 PM ET

Only four catchers total have signed a new contract in the 2025-2026 offseason, Danny Jansen chief among them. Despite this (and frankly even if Jansen was still available), the catcher market is the thinnest among all positions at this point in the offseason.

Its leader since the offseason began is Phillies great and potential Hall of Famer J.T. Realmuto, who is on the cusp of the twilight of his storied career and no longer the must-draft starting catcher he was as recently as 2023. Behind him are perceived or career backups in need of a standout spring, some luck, and/or a career resurgence to get the playing time needed to earn a spot on fantasy rosters. Given how top-heavy and thin catcher as a position in fantasy is, though, it helps to be thorough in the event that happens for any one of them.

So, let’s get into this list of top five free-agent catchers for fantasy baseball 2026 and peer into their stats, age, skills, risks, and potential landing spots to break down what fantasy impact they may or may not have and how to approach them in your draft.

1. J.T. Realmuto (RHB)

2025 Stats: 12 HR | 52 RBI | 57 R | 8 SB | .257 AVG | .700 OPS | .315 wOBA | 94 wRC+ | .321 BABIP

Age in 2026: 34 (Turns 35 in March)

Skills: Steady bat with a mix of power and contact at position of scarcity.

Risks: Age; durability (11K career innings at C); declining power metrics (HR, Barrel%, SLG).

Landing Spot Projections: Phillies, Angels, Padres, Rays, Nationals

Fantasy Impact, and Draft Approach: 

J.T. Realmuto is the only draftable certainty for fantasy among this year’s remaining class. He hasn’t been the elite hitter he was in his prime these past two seasons, but he still offers an MLB lineup with some power and run production while keeping a solid AVG and securing the occasional steal. He’s not generating much current interest because he’s seeking a three-year-deal, not even from the Phillies, but someone will sign him if/when his demands drop.

His biggest risks are his age and wear and tear, as reflected in his gradual power decline. However, most catchers with Realmuto’s pedigree and career workload have produced valuable age-35 seasons, so there’s reason to believe 2025 is more Realmuto’s 2026 floor than ceiling.

While those are certainly starting-caliber numbers in real life, they’re nothing to write home about for fantasy. He’s still rosterable given the positional scarcity, but isn’t someone you’ll be clamoring after. A solid, if not exciting, late-round pick without the upside of those taken around him.

Jonah Heim represents the rebound tier of free agent catchers whose fantasy value depends on opportunity and luck.© Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

2. Jonah Heim (SHB)

2025 Stats: 11 HR | 43 RBI | 38 R | 3 SB | .213 AVG | .602 OPS | .266 wOBA | 69 wRC+ | .243 BABIP

Age in 2026: 30 (Turns 31 in June)

Skills: Switch-hitter with former All-Star pedigree

Risks: Playing time; across-the-board YoY metric declines in back-to-back seasons

Landing Spot Projections: Brewers, Rays, Cubs, Phillies, Angels, Yankees, Rockies, Red Sox, Padres

Fantasy Impact, and Draft Approach:

The vibes have not been great for Jonah Heim since his All-Star 2023 season. Just about any stat you can think of fell in 2024 and then again in 2025, including a DRS that was a career strength before posting a -7 last season. This has led many teams around the league to no longer consider him a starting option, which likely kills his fantasy value.

The one glimmer of hope? His BABIP also dropped significantly in both seasons to .246 and .243, meaning bad luck played a sizable role in Heim’s struggles in the batter’s box. He’s young enough to bounce back if given the chance. Should he land on a team with a path to usurp its starter in spring training, especially one with a more hitter-friendly park, then he’d be a worthwhile draft dart throw. Otherwise, monitor him on waivers in the event the catcher ahead of him gets hurt or slumps.

Victor Caratini (left) has quietly delivered league-average offense, making him a deep-league fantasy watch if playing time opens up.Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

3. Victor Caratini (SHB)

2025 Stats: 12 HR | 46 RBI | 35 R | 1 SB | .259 AVG | .728 OPS | .318 wOBA | 104 wRC+ | .282 BABIP

Age in 2026: 32 (Turns 33 in August)

Skills: Power-contact mix from both sides; power metrics (SLG, OPS, Barrel%, Hard%) improved in Houston; improved discipline (YoY career low K% in back-to-back seasons)

Risks: Playing time (career backup); Age; Poor arm (-6 throwing, -11 rSB on career)

Landing Spot Projections: Brewers, Rays, Cubs, Phillies, Angels, Yankees, Rockies, Red Sox, Padres

Fantasy Impact, and Draft Approach: 

Victor Caratini is one of the premier backup catchers in the league as a switch-hitter who can balance contact and power. He’s never held a starting, everyday role and his issues throwing out runners could prevent him from ever doing so. While that keeps him off of fantasy radars for your draft, it’s worth keeping an eye on where he signs. If the starter ahead of him isn’t too entrenched and struggles or suffers a prolonged injury, the added playing time can make Caratini an appealing bench stash off waivers.

Power remains Gary Sánchez’s calling card, but health and role uncertainty limit his draft-day appeal.© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

4. Gary Sánchez (RHB)

2025 Stats: 5 HR | 24 RBI | 13 R | 0 SB | .231 AVG | .715 OPS | .311 wOBA | 100 wRC+ | .267 BABIP

Age in 2026: 33

Skills: Big power bat with four 20+ HR seasons; contact metrics have improved YoY for three-straight seasons (AVG, K%, Contact%, Soft%, Med%)

Risks: Injury history (Wrist in ‘23; Calf in ‘24, Wrist, knee in ‘25); age; overall low AVG, high K% player despite improvement; poor defense (-8 DRS in ‘25)

Landing Spot Projections: Phillies, Angels, Rockies, Yankees, Padres, Red Sox, Rays

Fantasy Impact, and Draft Approach: 

A power specialist, Gary Sánchez has seen his value as a catcher both in real life and fantasy plummet over the last three seasons due to a slew of injuries that limited him to 194 games during that span. It’s very likely that he’ll get a one-year prove-it deal as a backup where he’ll need to make the most of limited opportunities. He’s too much of a risk to take even as a dart throw in drafts, but his improved contact metrics and consistent power could make him an impact waiver add if he does pull off a resurgence and forces his way into regular playing time.

Mitch Garver offers fading power and limited consistency, making him a last-resort fantasy option unless a full-time DH role opens in a hitter-friendly park.© Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

5. Mitch Garver (RHB)

2025 Stats: 9 HR | 30 RBI | 29 R | 3 SB | .209 AVG | .639 OPS | .284 wOBA | 86 wRC+ | .262 BABIP

Age in 2026: 35

Skills: Serviceable power bat with decent run production

Risks: Age; Inconsistency; Declining Barrel% and Contact%; Poor defense

Landing Spot Projections: Rockies, Red Sox, Angels, Rays, Padres

Fantasy Impact, and Draft Approach: 

Long-gone is Mitch Garver’s breakout 2019 where he posted 31 HR, 67 RBI, and 70 R on a .273 AVG. In five seasons since, excluding 2020, the DH and part-time backstop failed to hit 20 HR, 55 RBI, or 50 R while only hitting a .270 AVG once in 2023. While he’s crossed double-digit dingers in each of those seasons except 2025 and 50 RBI twice, signs of age-based decline are creeping in and don’t go well with his history of inconsistent contact (.270 ‘23 AVG followed by .187 combined in ‘24/’25) and terrible defensive play (-13 DRS since ‘23). He’s not a draftable player and is only worth a waiver look if you’re power-starved and he finds himself an everyday DH spot in a hitter-friendly park.

Why Catchers Matter in Fantasy Baseball

This is the most top-heavy position in all of fantasy, as the following stats will show.

Number of Catchers in 2025 with … 

  • 10+ SB: 2
  • 70+ R: 7
  • 20+ HR: 9
  • 70+ RBI: 10
  • .270+ AVG: 20

In all but AVG, there will be managers in a 12-team league where their starting catcher won’t be able to be a major contributor in anywhere of 1-4 scoring categories for their team. This makes for two methodologies you must decide on going into your draft: pay a premium to secure those unicorn backstops or identify two-three players at the position who, through maturation or situation, are capable of taking the next step into that rarified air.

Important Fantasy Stats & Context to Watch For C

RBI, HR, and AVG

If you’re looking for speed, then you’re in the wrong position. Catchers are notorious for being slow on the basepaths and that translates to the vast majority of them being non-factors in SB and not a reliable source of R. They are, however, a respectable source of power and run production who can help secure a solid to borderline elite AVG floor. When drafting your backstops, make sure they help cover at least two of these categories.

DRS, Age, and DH or 1B Eligibility

The catcher position is right up there with the middle infield as most important to the defensive side of the game. Good framing turns balls into strikes and prevents strikes from being called balls, a strong arm can completely swing the momentum of an inning, and alert blocking literally saves runs. The physical demand of the position can also cause wear-and-tear and age-based decline to come sooner than others offensively. This makes catchers who split time at DH and/or 1B appealing as they’ve likely put less strain on their lower bodies over their careers. That said, elite players at the position can sustain a gradual decline through their age 35 season, as Realmuto will attempt this year, and sometimes even beyond that.

Final Thoughts for Fantasy Baseball 2026

This year’s free agent catcher class has been thin since the beginning, making for a pool of players who aren’t going to have fantasy managers jumping for joy over new landing spots. But given the top-heavy nature of the position, these are individuals you should do your due diligence on in case you either can’t secure a premium starter and need a lottery ticket or need to move quickly via waivers in the event of injuries or slumps.

Monitor the signings, analyze the fit and — for all but Realmuto — potential path to starting time, and be prepared to strike should the opportunity or necessity arise.

More on Free Agents & Offseason Moves

People Also Ask

Who is the top free-agent catcher for 2026 fantasy?
J.T. Realmuto, despite his age, due to his proven track record and elite catcher history of producing solid age 35 seasons.

Will J.T. Realmuto return to the Phillies?
Until recently, that appeared to be the likely outcome. Ongoing talks have stalled over contract term, however, leaving the door open for another team to swoop in.

Is Gary Sánchez still a fantasy asset?
Yes if your team is in need of power and he’s healthy, but he shouldn’t be a draft target.

What teams need catchers in free agency?
While most teams have starting-caliber catchers rostered, all could use additional depth while some have said starter on a short leash.

How does age affect these catchers' value?
Regression risk becomes present at 30 and gets high at 35+, but the scarcity of top-level talent at the position tends to boost fantasy values.

When will catcher free agents sign? 
Deals will be reached throughout January, but some negotiations could drag into spring training.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.