Top 10 MLB Catchers Free Agents: Rankings and contract projections ft. Travis d'Arnaud, Kyle Higashioka, Danny Jansen

This offseason, the catcher market is thin, with most teams already set at the position. However, as injuries rise, teams will likely seek depth to manage starters' workloads.

Top 10 catchers teams can target in the free agent market

#10. Luke Maile

Despite a terrible season at the plate for Maile, the Cardinals would like to get him back for a cheap deal and keep him as one of their backup catchers. He might be sent to the minor leagues after hitting just .178 in 2024.

#9. Jacob Stallings

Stallings played 82 games this year with a strong .263 average for the Rockies. His 36 RBIs were the second-best mark for him over a full season in his career. The Rockies can get him for another year, or some of the teams in a rebuild, like the Pittsburgh Pirates, can use him as a backup.

#8. James McCann

McCann mostly played as a backup catcher for the Orioles. In 65 games this season, the 2019 All-Star hit eight home runs and drove in 31 runs. McCann could be heading to the West Coast this year with a probable move to the Los Angeles Angels or the Seattle Mariners.

#7. Gary Sanchez

The former Yankees star has played as a backup catcher for the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in the last two seasons. He will be hopeful for another one-year contract with teams like the Cardinals. But he does have injury concerns, which led to Milwaukee declining his option for 2025.

#6. Elias Diaz

Diaz was a backstop for the Rockies before he was traded to the Padres. His .270 batting average in Colorado suggests he’s ready for a regular role next season. He could be a strong addition to a club like the Miami Marlins or the Chicago White Sox.

#5. Yasmani Grandal

A career .236 hitter, Grandal had a similar year in 2024 when he hit .228 with 27 RBIs in 72 games. He can be used as a backup for teams like the Chicago Cubs or Philadelphia Phillies to manage the workload.

#4. Carson Kelly

A former Silver Slugger winner, Kelly hit .238 with 37 RBIs in 2024. He has shown potential for generating power, logging 19 extra-base hits in 91 games.

#3. Danny Jansen

Even though Jansen has yet to play 110 games in a season, he is one of the youngest catchers available in the market this year. He needs to improve on his .220 career average. The Red Sox might give him another chance in 2025 after appearing in just 30 games this year.

#2. Kyle Higashioka

Even though Higashioka had a .220 average, the former Yankees catcher had his best offensive season in terms of RBI (45) and OPS (.739). A one-year deal might be in the cards for the 34-year-old with a potential club option depending on how he performs.

#1. Travis d'Arnaud

In his fifth season with the Braves this year, d'Arnaud provided good stability at the bottom of the order to go with his experience. However, Atlanta didn't take up his $8 million club option, sending him to free agency.

He could be a useful fill-in for a team looking to potentially save some money at the catcher spot without losing much production. The Cubs or the Padres are in need of a backstop, and even the Yankees might be interested.