RADIO
3 Catchers Who Aren't Getting Enough Love
Some catchers take longer to earn the respect of fantasy baseball owners than others. Some justifiably so, and some just get overlooked as they emerge as viable sleepers and fantasy producters. But I'm here to take a look at some catchers who may have gotten the cold shoulder, for one reason or another, and are worth a second look.
Yan Gomes - C, Cleveland Indians
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues
ANALYSIS: The fact that Yan Gomes is only owned in 74% of Yahoo leagues is just sickening. Even if you're in a four team league... there are only three backstops with better fantasy numbers than Gomes to this point.
So this is more of a friendly reminder that if Yan Gomes is somehow still available in your league, switch over to your league's add/drop tab, and pick him up off the waiver wire ASAP.
Gomes is white hot as of late, with a hit in eleven of his last twelve contests, including three home runs and six multi-hit games in that span. Whether you use him as trade bait for the fast approaching deadline, or he's an upgrade over your current underperforming catcher, Yan Gomes can help every fantasy manager across the board.
John Jaso - C, Oakland Athletics
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues
ANALYSIS: How many fantasy relevant catchers can one team have? Well, for the time being it looks like that number is three. And while Stephen Vogt doesn't ever get behind the plate for the A's, Derrick Norris and John Jaso have been splitting time and have both been getting it done at the dish. But with Norris's recent struggles it's been Jaso's time to shine, which he's done by recording a hit in fourteen of eighteen July contests including 14 RBI.
With seven home runs prior to the all-star break, Jaso could be a small source of power and isn't a drag on the batting average either sitting at .284 on the year. Jaso should be considered in 12+ team leagues - but also needs to be owned in all two-catcher and AL-Only Leagues, and by all Derrick Norris owners frustrated with playing time.
BALLER MOVE: Add in Very Deep Leagues, 2-Catcher Leagues
ANALYSIS: Journeyman Dioner Navarro, formerly of the Cubs among others, is now with his eighth team in eleven years but that hasn't stopped him from contributing in Toronto this year.
He's gotten a hit in fourteen of the twenty games he's participated in during the month of July, bringing his season slash line to .270/.310/.382 with 7 HR and 42 RBI. And while that's nothing to get too excited over, it does make him a viable option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues who are in need of help at the catcher position, especially when you consider he's well under his recent average in several metrics.
Navarro is making good use of his time batting cleanup in the offense that's still potent, even with Edwin Encarnación sidelined, and should move back to the fifth or sixth slot once he returns. He had almost twice as many HR in 20% fewer plate appearances last season for the Cubbies, so he could be a sleeper for some second half power as well. Navarro has played his way into consideration for fantasy managers in 12+ team leagues, and all two-catcher and AL-Only leagues.
