Team Needs
Mission Viejo Maulers, St. Joseph, Burlingame Blue Ducks, Alamo Short Stacks, Honolulu Hammerheads, Asti Grape Stompers
Top Free Agent: Willson Contreras
Contreras is capable of better than what he produced at the plate in 2020, as his 109 wRC+, the product of a .243/.356/.407 slash line, represented the second-lowest mark of his five-year career. In the context of a rather weak catcher pool, however, those numbers were perfectly adequate while ranking as the second best among available catchers for 2020. As he wrapped up his contract with the Cloverdale Clovers, Contreras has settled into a stable spot in the catcher hierarchy through five big-league seasons, sitting not quite at the top of the pile but not far from it. Since his debut season, he ranks in the top seven among backstops in all five standard fantasy categories and will be in line for a sizable contract in Auction considering he projects as baseball's top producer at the position by CBS.
Under the Radar Free Agent: Salvador Perez
After missing all of 2019 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Salvador Perez has been out of the RDBL picture for sometime but returned with a vengeance, slashing .333/.353/.633 across 156 PA in 2020. A .269 career hitter, Perez achieved that lofty mark in batting average despite fanning at a career-high rate (23.1%) and posting a career-low walk rate (1.9%). He hit the ball on the screws, with his xBA, xSLG, wOBA, xwOBA and xwOBACON all ranking in the top 5% of the league, per Statcast. It's easy to see that Perez was fortunate and maxed out with his plate approach -- his .375 BABIP was nearly 90 points higher than his career mark -- but regression back to career norms would still leave him among the best-of-the-rest behind J.T. Realmuto at the catcher position. He will need his usual heavy workload to achieve another top-three finish at catcher, which seems possible if not likely, but Perez has a lot of mileage on his legs for 30 years old which could limit the high-end of the contract he receives. Regardless, there figures to be plenty of interest across the RDBL for Perez in Auction.
Top Trade Candidate: JT Realmuto (3/$30), Devils
J.T. Realmuto remained the clear top catcher in the league last season, producing some of the best work of his career. His .266/.349/.491 slash line established his career high in on-base percentage, while his 125 wRC+ just missed his career-best mark of 126. He continued to chip in on the basepaths, as his four steals tied for the lead among all catchers, while he also finished tied for first among all backstops with 11 homers. Statcast generally loved his quality of contact, giving him a career-best 13.6% barrel rate, though it did give him a modest .248 xBA, thanks in part due to a career-high 24.6 K%. Realmuto is heading into his age-30 season this year, so his decline could start at any time, but he has a long way to fall before any other catcher can claim his crown. The $30 contract gives some teams pause, but the Devils have shown a willingness to listen on Realmuto who could be moved if the price is right.
Under the Radar Trade Candidate: Pedro Severino (2FA/$5), Hops
Severino is settling in as a sneakily valuable option at catcher and could be a potential trade candidate as the Meinert Hops look to build more depth on the roster.
He's produced an identical 94 wRC+ in two straight seasons, a perfectly respectable number for the position, hitting a combined .249/.321/.409 with 18 homers in 144 games. He's graded out as a rather poor pitch framer, so the whole package doesn't make him much more than a low-end regular, but it's so far been enough to move him slightly ahead of the similarly medium Chance Sisco in the pecking order. Entering the final year of his RDBL deal, Severino is set for the lion's share of the at-bats again in 2021 as he preps the role for Clovers top prospect Adley Rutschman.
Activations: Sean Ryan Murphy (Taters), Carson Kelly (Taters)
The Taters certainly have fellow RDBL Front Offices around the league jealous over their depth at catcher as the club is set to activate a pair of backstops in 2021. Provided Murphy and Kelly can hold down their starting roles, both should provide elite value through 2024 with the additional benefit of GM Mike Friedrich getting to avoid having to enter the usually ugly, yet competitive, Free Agent market for catchers.
Potential Off-Season Deal
Grapes Acquire: C Pedro Severino (2FA/$5)
Hops Acquire: SP/U Shohei Ohtani (3R/$5)
The Hops are staring at a starting rotation that might only include right-hander John Means and while Shohei Ohtani carries substantial risk for 2021, his $5 contract would fit in nicely at the back-end of the rotation. Additionally, his positional flexibility would allow the Hops to keep Ohtani in the Utility spot, ultimately giving them a 7th starting pitcher in Auction.
The Grapes don't currently hold a player on their roster that is eligible at catcher and GM Terry Shelley would like to avoid entering Draft Day with the task of finding two of them. Ohtani has been rumored in other deals and while Shelley has reportedly been seeking a prospect or pick back, the addition of Severino would be a much better fit for their Active Roster in 2021.
Aristocrats Acquire: C JT Realmuto (3/$30), 2021 4th Round Pick (48th Overall)
Devils Acquire: 3B Carter Kieboom (Minors) 2021 2nd Round Pick (16th Overall), SP/RP Cal Quantrill (Minors)
The Devils hold Realmuto and James McCann, giving GM Jason Watson some options to improve the remainder of their roster. Not every team is setup to absorb a $30 catcher but the Danville Aristocrats could have the flexibility. Currently, their two highest paid assets (following the expected drop of Jose Altuve) are Stephen Strasburg (2/$33) and Starling Marte (2/$31) with Strasburg facing potential lingering issues from his 2020 surgery while Marte is not an overwhelming value for his price.
Realmuto would serve as a major upgrade for a 'Crats club that is set to infuse multiple activations to a strong Keeper Roster.
For the Devils, GM Jason Watson Kieboom would join a young core that includes Bo Bichette, Alec Bohm, Leody Taveras, Deivi Garcia and Luis Patino who are all expected to spend extended time in the big leagues in 2021. Add in Wander Franco and it's easy to envision the Devils moving into serious contenders in a hurry.
The Devils would be able to add another strong prospect through the 2nd Round pick and a flyer on Cal Quantrill who could have significant upside if given the opportunity to start in Cleveland.
Top 15 RDBL Free Agents
1. Willson Contreras (Cubs)
2. Salvador Perez (Royals)
3. Buster Posey (Giants)
4. Gary Sanchez (Yankees)
5. Tucker Barnhart (Reds)
6. Austin Nola (Padres)
7. Mike Zunino (Rays)
8. Ryan Jeffers (Twins)
9. Yan Gomes (Nationals)
10. Austin Romine (Cubs)
11 Wilson Ramos (Tigers)
12. Max Stassi (Angels)
13. Daulton Varsho (Diamondbacks)
14. Jacob Stallings (Pirates)
15. Curt Casali (Giants)
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