Every MLB Franchise's Greatest Catcher of the Last 25 Years

Welcome to Bleacher Report's series highlighting the best and brightest for every MLB franchise at each position over the last 25 years!

Up next, the catchers.

While there are a handful of no-brainer selections, such as Salvador Pérez for the Kansas City Royals, Joe Mauer for the Minnesota Twins, Buster Posey for the San Francisco Giants and Yadier Molina for the St. Louis Cardinals, most of the picks required at least some level of debate.

Since we're focusing on the last 25 years, only statistics compiled since the start of the 2000 season were eligible for consideration. That meant someone like three-time All-Star Jason Kendall, who was still active during the 2000s but well past his prime, does not get credit for his entire career body of work—only what he did from 2000 forward.

Offense, defense, individual accolades, and postseason success were all factors in determining each team's best second baseman. In a tight race, peak production was valued over a larger, less impressive body of work.

Catch up on the Greatest of the Last 25 Years series: First Basemen, Second Basemen, Shortstop, Third Basemen

Stats: 906 G, 103 OPS+, .264/.342/.421, 275 XBH (97 HR), 448 RBI

WAR: 13.6 (2.4 per 162 games)

Miguel Montero enjoyed a standout offensive peak during his time with the D-backs, posting a pair of 4-WAR seasons in 2011 (121 OPS+, 18 HR, 86 RBI) and 2012 (123 OPS+, 15 HR, 88 RBI) while serving as one of the team's primary run producers.

He was a two-time All-Star and received down-ballot MVP support in two different seasons during his nine years in Arizona, also providing steady defense behind the plate as a homegrown standout who was originally signed out of Venezuela.

Honorable Mentions: Damian Miller, Gabriel Moreno

Stats: 330 G, 115 OPS+, .236/.326/.429, 118 XBH (46 HR), 147 RBI

WAR: 8.1 (4.0 per 162 games)

Sean Murphy was known more for his defense and rocket throwing arm coming out of Wright State when he was taken in the third round of the 2016 draft, but he quickly developed into one of the more well-rounded catching prospects in baseball as he climbed the organizational ranks.

He finished fourth in 2020 AL Rookie of the Year voting, won 2021 AL Gold Glove honors and put together a breakout 2022 season at the plate when he posted a 122 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 18 home runs and 66 RBI in 148 games before he was traded to Atlanta that offseason.

Honorable Mentions: Ramón Hernández, Kurt Suzuki, Stephen Vogt

Stats: 1,190 G, 115 OPS+, .275/.348/.469, 426 XBH (188 HR), 706 RBI

WAR: 24.5 (3.3 per 162 games)

Brian McCann was an NL All-Star during each of his first six full seasons in the majors, also taking home five Silver Slugger Awards during that stretch while hitting .287/.359/.491 for a 123 OPS+ while averaging 32 doubles, 22 home runs, 86 RBI and 3.4 WAR.

He added a seventh All-Star selection during his walk year in 2013 before departing in free agency to join the Yankees, finishing his run in Atlanta with six straight 20-homer seasons while establishing himself as one of the best offensive backstops of his generation.

Honorable Mentions: Javy López, Travis d'Arnaud

Stats: 415 G, 121 OPS+, .261/.351/.421, 142 XBH (52 HR), 201 RBI

WAR: 13.1 (5.1 per 162 games)

Viewed as a generational catcher talent coming out of Oregon State, Adley Rutschman hit .411/.575/.751 with 17 home runs and 58 RBI in 57 games during his final collegiate season before going No. 1 overall in the 2019 draft.

He made his MLB debut in 2022 and went on to rack up 5.4 WAR in 113 games, joining Johnny Bench, Thurman Munson, Carlton Fisk and Mike Piazza as the only catchers in MLB history to log a 5-WAR rookie season. He has followed that up with back-to-back All-Star selections and looks like a franchise cornerstone for an O's squad on the rise.

Honorable Mentions: Matt Wieters, Ramón Hernández, Javy López

Stats: 1,315 G, 99 OPS+, .255/.343/.431, 432 XBH (166 HR), 648 RBI

WAR: 22.3 (2.7 per 162 games)

The Red Sox acquired Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe from the Mariners when they were still prospects at the 1997 trade deadline in exchange for veteran reliever Heathcliff Slocumb, and that ended up being one of the most lopsided trades in MLB history.

Varitek went on to spend 15 seasons in a Red Sox uniform, serving as a middle-of-the-order run producer while earning three All-Star selections and winning a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger. He was a World Series champion in 2004 and 2007, he was team captain from 2005-2011, and he tied the MLB record by catching four no-hitters.

Honorable Mentions: Christian Vázquez

Stats: 734 G, 114 OPS+, .256/.349/.459, 260 XBH (117 HR), 365 RBI

WAR: 20.7 (4.6 per 162 games)

Willson Contreras made his MLB debut during the 2016 season for a Cubs team on its way to a long-awaited World Series title, and the following season he took over as the team's primary backstop.

In seven seasons with the North Siders, he was a three-time All-Star and one of the best offensive catchers in baseball. He was a 3-WAR player in each of the five seasons where he played at least 100 games, reaching 20 home runs four different times before walking in free agency and joining the rival Cardinals.

Honorable Mentions: Geovany Soto, Michael Barrett, Welington Castillo

Stats: 1,068 G, 93 OPS+, .279/.318/.424, 323 XBH (118 HR), 460 RBI

WAR: 12.9 (2.0 per 162 games)

Pushed out in Minnesota by the arrival of Joe Mauer and non-tendered in San Francisco after he clashed with teammates, A.J. Pierzynski finally found a home when the White Sox inked him to a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the White Sox.

He ended up spending eight seasons with the White Sox, reaching double-digit home runs six times while also anchoring the best pitching staff in baseball during the team's run to a World Series title in 2005.

Honorable Mentions: Tyler Flowers, Yasmani Grandal

Stats: 744 G, 83 OPS+, .248/.324/.371, 172 XBH (51 HR), 261 RBI

WAR: 7.2 (1.6 per 162 games)

Tucker Barnhart won NL Gold Glove honors in 2017 and 2020, exceeding the modest expectations that came with being a 10th-round pick in the 2009 draft. He enjoyed the best season of his career in 2017 when he posted a 95 OPS+ and tallied 3.6 WAR in 121 games.

Shoutout to Devin Mesoraco who had the best single season of the last 25 years by a Reds catcher in 2014 when he posted a 147 OPS+ with 25 home runs and 80 RBI in a 4.9-WAR season,

Honorable Mentions: Tyler Stephenson, Jason LaRue, Ryan Hanigan

Stats: 821 G, 120 OPS+, .297/.369/.463, 296 XBH (103 HR), 518 RBI

WAR: 19.3 (3.8 per 162 games)

Prior to making the shift to designated hitter during the second half of his career, Victor Martinez was one of baseball's best offensive catchers across eight seasons in Cleveland, peaking with an elite four-year run.

From 2004 through the 2008 season, he hit .302/.376/.484 for a 126 OPS+ while averaging 37 doubles, 21 home runs, 99 RBI and 4.0 WAR. He was a two-time All-Star and earned MVP votes three times during that stretch while hitting alongside Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner in some potent Cleveland lineups.

Honorable Mentions: Yan Gomes, Roberto Pérez

Stats: 620 G, 95 OPS+, .232/.352/.422, 185 XBH (80 HR), 293 RBI

WAR: 7.0 (1.8 per 162 games)

In 32 seasons of franchise history, the Rockies have used 17 different primary catchers, and a pair of 3-WAR seasons in 2008 and 2011 are enough to make Chris Iannetta the best of the bunch on a laundry list of replacement-level players.

He hit .264/.390/.505 for a 125 OPS+ with 22 doubles, 18 home runs and 65 RBI during his age-25 season in 2008. After spending six seasons with the Rockies at the onset of his big league career, he spent six years playing elsewhere, then returned for two more seasons in Colorado to wrap up his time in the majors.

Honorable Mentions: Elias Díaz

Stats: 611 G, 103 OPS+, .298/.328/.449, 219 XBH (62 HR), 300 RBI

WAR: 14.2 (3.8 per 162 games)

Following a terrific one-year stint with the Marlins where he helped lead them to a World Series title, Hall of Famer Iván Rodríguez inked a four-year, $40 million deal ahead of his age-32 season.

He proved to have plenty left in the tank, earning four straight All-Star selections and winning three Gold Gloves during his first four years in Detroit. The club ended up exercising a $13 million club option for a fifth season, though he was traded to the Yankees midway through the 2008 campaign in exchange for reliever Kyle Farnsworth.

Honorable Mentions: Alex Avila

Stats: 717 G, 92 OPS+, .229/.309/.386, 203 XBH (71 HR), 236 RBI

WAR: 9.4 (2.1 per 162 games)

With one or two more standout offensive seasons, Yainer Diaz will be the clear choice for the Astros, but for now the nod still goes to Jason Castro who had a successful eight-year run with the team after going No. 10 overall in the 2008 draft.

His best season came in 2013 when he was one of the most productive catchers in all of baseball, hitting .276/.350/.485 for a 130 OPS+ with 35 doubles, 18 home runs, 56 RBI and 4.2 WAR in 120 games while also earning his lone All-Star selection.

Honorable Mentions: Yainer Diaz, Martín Maldonado, Brad Ausmus

Stats: 1,552 G, 105 OPS+, .267/.303/.459, 569 XBH (273 HR), 916 RBI

WAR: 35.5 (3.7 per 162 games)

Salvador Perez made his MLB debut shortly after his 21st birthday during the 2011 season, hitting .331/.361/.473 in 158 plate appearances to provide a glimpse into what would end up being one of the best careers in Kansas City Royals franchise history.

A nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner, he has logged eight 20-homer seasons over his 13 years in the big leagues. That includes a huge 2021 campaign when he led the AL in home runs (48) and RBI (121), setting the single-season record for home runs by a catcher in the process. Will he wind up in Cooperstown when all is said and done?

Honorable Mentions: John Buck

Stats: 506 G, 119 OPS+, .251/.346/.485, 175 XBH (92 HR), 249 RBI

WAR: 11.1 (3.6 per 162 games)

Before he was a standout first baseman and designated hitter for the Rangers and Red Sox, Mike Napoli began his career as a catcher with the Angels, splitting time behind the dish with defensive-minded Jeff Mathis.

He logged an OPS+ over 100 in each of his five seasons with the Angels, including three straight 20-homer campaigns, before he was traded along with Juan Rivera to the Blue Jays in exchange for Vernon Wells. The Blue Jays then flipped him to the Rangers for reliever Frank Francisco a few days later, and ended up being a key piece of the puzzle for the 2011 AL pennant winners.

Honorable Mentions: Bengie Molina

Stats: 612 G, 124 OPS+, .258/.350/.472, 228 XBH (111 HR), 381 RBI

WAR: 18.4 (4.9 per 162 games)

After playing sparingly as a freshman and posting lackluster numbers as a sophomore, Will Smith exploded for a .382/.480/.567 line during his junior season at Louisville before going No. 32 overall in the 2016 draft.

He made his MLB debut in 2019 and immediately established himself as one of the best offensive catchers in baseball, posting a 133 OPS+ and slugging 15 home runs in only 54 games. The two-time All-Star has averaged 29 home runs and 101 RBI per 162 games over his six seasons in the majors, and the Dodgers rewarded him last March with a 10-year, $140 million extension.

Honorable Mentions: Russell Martin, Yasmani Grandal, Paul Lo Duca

Stats: 540 G, 110 OPS+, .279/.327/.442, 189 XBH (59 HR), 243 RBI

WAR: 13.9 (4.2 per 162 games)

It was tempting to give a nod to Iván Rodríguez's lone season in Miami, as his on-field production and veteran leadership is a big reason why a young Marlins team won a surprise World Series title in 2003.

However, J.T. Realmuto steadily developed into a star during his four seasons as the team's starting backstop, winning a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger in 2018 when he posted his second straight 4-WAR season. The Marlins sold high and flipped him to the Phillies that winter, bringing back a package built around top prospect Sixto Sánchez.

Honorable Mentions: Iván Rodríguez

Stats: 805 G, 110 OPS+, .284/.342/.436, 255 XBH (79 HR), 387 RBI

WAR: 17.3 (3.5 per 162 games)

The Brewers have one of the best catchers in baseball on their roster right now in William Contreras, but he still needs a few more productive seasons under his belt before he overtakes Jonathan Lucroy as the team's best backstop of the last 25 years.

A two-time All-Star who spent seven seasons as Milwaukee's primary catcher, Lucroy had a memorable 2014 when he hit .301/.373/.465 for a 131 OPS+ with 53 doubles, 13 home runs, 69 RBI and 6.4 WAR to finish fourth in NL MVP balloting. He was traded to the Rangers at the 2016 deadline in a blockbuster deal that brought back top prospects Lewis Brinson and Luis Ortiz, and Brinson was later used to acquire Christian Yelich.

Honorable Mentions: William Contreras

Stats: 1,858 G, 124 OPS+, .306/.388/.439, 601 XBH (143 HR), 923 RBI

WAR: 55.2 (4.8 per 162 games)

Joe Mauer spent the second half of his career playing first base after dealing with concussion issues, but he still played more innings at catcher (7,883.0) than he did at first (5,136.1) over the course of his 15-year career.

He is the only catcher in MLB history to win three batting titles, accomplishing that over a span of four years that also included 2009 AL MVP honors when he hit .365/.444/.587 with 30 doubles, 28 home runs, 96 RBI and 7.8 WAR in 138 games. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft spent his entire career with the Twins and earned induction into the Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot in 2024.

Honorable Mentions: A.J. Pierzynski, Mitch Garver, Ryan Jeffers

Stats: 722 G, 132 OPS+, .286/.368/.525, 294 XBH (157 HR), 455 RBI

WAR: 14.9 (3.3 per 162 games)

The bulk of Mike Piazza's prime came during the 1990s, but he still had a few elite-level seasons left in the tank when the 2000s rolled around.

• 2000: 155 OPS+, 38 HR, 113 RBI, 5.1 WAR
• 2001: 148 OPS+, 36 HR, 94 RBI, 4.5 WAR
• 2002: 138 OPS+, 33 HR, 98 RBI, 3.0 WAR

He made five of his 12 All-Star Game appearances and won three of his 10 Silver Sluggers during the 2000s with the Mets, and that was more than enough to earn him the top spot in a relatively weak field of candidates.

Honorable Mentions: Travis d'Arnaud

Stats: 1,537 G, 125 OPS+, .277/.379/.483, 573 XBH (240 HR), 920 RBI

WAR: 38.4 (4.0 per 162 games)

A 24th-round pick in the 1990 draft out of Calhoun Community College, Jorge Posada goes down as one of the biggest steals in MLB draft history. He took over as the Yankees' starting catcher midway through the 1997 season and went on to win four World Series rings as part of the "Core Four" alongside Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte.

He was a five-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner, and he recorded eight straight seasons with at least 3 WAR at his peak. Aside from his strong regular season numbers, he also played in 125 career playoff games, posting a .745 OPS with 11 home runs and 42 RBI across 15 different trips to the postseason.

Honorable Mentions: Gary Sánchez, Brian McCann

Stats: 699 G, 114 OPS+, .266/.331/.463, 266 XBH (109 HR), 382 RBI

WAR: 22.4 (5.2 per 162 games)

J.T. Realmuto was just starting to establish himself as a top-tier catcher when the Phillies acquired him from the Marlins, and he has logged at least 3 WAR in each of his six seasons since the trade aside from the shortened 2020 campaign.

He provides a rare mix of power, speed and defense behind the plate, posting a 20/20 season in 2022 while also winning his second Gold Glove. He is entering the final season of a five-year, $115.5 million contract and stands as one of the best all-around backstops of his generation.

Honorable Mentions: Carlos Ruiz, Mike Lieberthal

Stats: 238 G, 116 OPS+, .256/.362/.401, 67 XBH (26 HR), 122 RBI

WAR: 9.8 (6.7 per 162 games)

Russell Martin only spent two seasons with the Pirates, but he made an impact immediately, helping the team break a 20-year playoff drought in 2013 and following that up with a career-high 5.7 WAR in 111 games the following year.

That was enough for him to edge out Jason Kendall, who had some of the best seasons of his career during the 1990s. He tallied 15.4 of the 30.7 WAR he produced in a Pirates uniform before our 2000 cut line, otherwise, he would have been the clear choice.

Honorable Mentions: Jason Kendall, Francisco Cervelli

Stats: 510 G, 92 OPS+, .238/.296/.389, 143 XBH (47 HR), 195 RBI

WAR: 5.0 (1.6 per 162 games)

No catcher in San Diego Padres history has ever tallied 20 WAR as a member of the team, and the only three to reach 10 WAR—Gene Tenace, Terry Kennedy and Benito Santiago—all played well before our 2000 cutoff.

That left Nick Hundley as the best of the bunch over the last 25 years, on the strength of a 3.0-WAR season in 2011 and a 13-homer, 44-RBI performance in 2013. Can current top prospect Ethan Salas finally give the team a long-awaited star behind the plate when he arrives in the big leagues?

Honorable Mentions: Yasmani Grandal, Ramón Hernández

Stats: 1,371 G, 129 OPS+, .302/.372/.460, 460 XBH (158 HR), 729 RBI

WAR: 44.8 (5.3 per 162 games)

Buster Posey hit an absurd .463/.566/.879 with 26 home runs and 93 RBI in 68 games during his junior year at Florida State, and the Giants altered the course of their franchise history when they scooped him up with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2008 draft.

He won 2010 NL Rookie of the Year honors while helping lead the Giants to their first of three World Series titles in a span of five years. Along the way, he added 2012 NL MVP honors, winning the batting title with a .336 average while adding career-high marks in home runs (24) and RBI (103). Despite playing just 12 seasons, he is likely ticketed for the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.

Honorable Mentions: Bengie Molina, Benito Santiago

Stats: 464 G, 112 OPS+, .218/.296/.444, 166 XBH (93 HR), 251 RBI

WAR: 11.3 (3.9 per 162 games)

In 2024, Cal Raleigh became the first catcher since Mike Piazza to log back-to-back 30-homer seasons, and he did that while also taking home AL Gold Glove and Platinum Glove honors as an elite defensive backstop.

His 91 home runs over the past three seasons lead all catchers and are tied for 15th among all players, and he also deserves a ton of credit for the job he has done handling a terrific young Seattle rotation, consistently ranking as an elite pitch-framer while also doing a great job controlling the running game.

Honorable Mentions: Mike Zunino, Kenji Johjima, Dan Wilson

Stats: 2,224 G, 96 OPS+, .277/.327/.399, 591 XBH (176 HR), 1,022 RBI

WAR: 42.2 (3.1 per 162 games)

Yadier Molina was a staple behind the plate for the St. Louis Cardinals for 19 seasons, winning nine Gold Gloves and four Platinum Gloves as one of the best defensive catchers in MLB history.

At his offensive peak, he hit .313/.361/.481 for a 130 OPS+ across the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons, finishing in the top-five in NL MVP balloting twice during that stretch and adding a Silver Slugger to his trophy case. His 2,184 career games behind the plate rank fourth on the all-time list, and his 2,168 hits also rank fourth all-time among catchers.

Honorable Mentions: Mike Matheny, Willson Contreras

Stats: 263 G, 85 OPS+, .183/.257/.420, 82 XBH (51 HR), 120 RBI

WAR: 2.6 (1.6 per 162 games)

Mike Zunino (3.7 in 2021), Toby Hall (2.8 in 2005), John Jaso (2.6 in 2010) and Dioner Navarro (2.0 in 2008) are the only catchers in Rays history who have record a season with at least 2 WAR, going back to the franchise's inception in 1998.

Zunino posted a 136 OPS+ with 33 home runs and 62 RBI during the 2021 season, earning his lone career All-Star selection and finishing 20th in AL MVP voting. That one-year peak is enough for him to take the top spot at a position that has been a perennial weakness in Tampa Bay.

Honorable Mentions: Toby Hall, John Jaso, Dioner Navarro

Stats: 338 G, 131 OPS+, .316/.352/.564, 172 XBH (73 HR), 221 RBI

WAR: 12.4 (5.9 per 162 games)

The first nine seasons and 37.6 WAR of Iván Rodríguez's Hall of Fame career came prior to the 2000 season, but even with just three prime seasons for the Rangers after our cut line, he was still an easy choice for the top spot.

• 2000: 91 G, 156 OPS+, 4.8 WAR, All-Star, Gold Glove
• 2001: 111 G, 126 OPS+, 5.0 WAR, All-Star, Gold Glove
• 2002: 108 G, 128 OPS+, 3.1 WAR

While he clearly performed at an elite level when healthy, the time he missed to injury over those three seasons was a big reason he had to settle for a one-year deal from the Marlins in free agency prior to the 2003 season. He then parlayed that into a five-year stint in Detroit where he put the finishing touches on his Hall of Fame resume.

Honorable Mentions: Robinson Chirinos, Jonah Heim

Stats: 434 G, 107 OPS+, .264/.344/.391, 101 XBH (36 HR), 187 RBI

WAR: 9.0 (3.4 per 162 games)

With 7.9 WAR over the past three seasons while serving as the Blue Jays' primary catcher, Alejandro Kirk has established himself as the team's best catcher of the last 25 years, overtaking former teammate Danny Jansen and veteran Russell Martin.

He has been solid the past two seasons, but has yet to duplicate his breakout 2022 season when he hit .285/.372/.415 for a 127 OPS+ with 14 home runs, 63 RBI and 4.0 WAR, earning an All-Star selection and taking home AL Silver Slugger honors.

Honorable Mentions: Danny Jansen, Russell Martin, Gregg Zaun

Stats: 578 G, 99 OPS+, .268/.313/.430, 174 XBH (83 HR), 320 RBI

WAR: 10.5 (2.9 per 162 games)

The Nationals acquired Wilson Ramos from the Twins in a 2010 deadline deal that saw them sell high on All-Star closer Matt Capps, and that ended up being one of the most lopsided trades in recent franchise history.

After finishing fourth in 2011 NL Rookie of the Year balloting, Ramos settled in as a solidly above-average offensive catcher, peaking in 2016 when he hit .307/.354/.496 with 25 doubles, 22 home runs and 80 RBI to earn an All-Star selection and take home Silver Slugger honors.

Honorable Mentions: Brian Schneider