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MLB 2017: Top 10 catchers

By Joshua Sadlock

Jul 16, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) hits an RBI double during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 16, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) hits an RBI double during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 26, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ (33) watches as catcher Russell Martin (55) makes a throwing error on a ball hit by New York Yankees Brett Gardner (not pictured) in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ (33) watches as catcher Russell Martin (55) makes a throwing error on a ball hit by New York Yankees Brett Gardner (not pictured) in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays

Intangibles play a big part in Martin’s position in these rankings. There is, after all, a reason he is highly sought after by good teams. Over the past six years, Martin has played in the postseason each time but for three different teams. His teams have finished out of the playoffs just twice in 11 years. That’s not all on Martin, of course, but he is a big part of the success his teams have experienced.

Behind the plate Martin has a passable arm, but his biggest value is in his ability to frame pitches and handle a staff. Since data has been tracked by Stat Corner, Martin is a top-five catcher when it comes to framing pitches. Some things are out of his control, but the Blue Jays backstop is generally considered one of the better framers in the league. One of the best examples of Martin’s influence is pitcher Francisco Liriano, who has a 2.94 ERA in his 248 career innings with Martin doing the catching but an ERA close to or over 4.00 with everyone else. Liriano pitched to a 5.46 ERA in 2016 with the Pittsburgh Pirates before being traded to the Blue Jays. Upon reuniting with Martin, his ERA fell all the way to 2.92 in nearly 50 innings. Clearly, Martin is doing something right.

With the bat, Martin has fallen off slightly over the past two years. Since signing with Toronto, he is a .235/.332/.427 hitter with an OPS+ of 103, making him barely better with the stick than league average. The aging curve will continue stealing from Martin’s offensive value as he enters his age-34 season, but his influence on a good, young pitching staff will remain strong.

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