On the heels of our top 40 catchers for dynasty baseball in 2027, BA fantasy expert James Anderson is diving deeper on some of the list’s most intriguing names.
In this article, you will find some of James’ favorite targets at the position as well as some players whose dynasty value may be at a high point that you could consider moving on from in the right trade this offseason. Stay tuned each week into December for more dynasty positional rankings and targets, sleepers and fades.
2027 Dynasty Catcher Targets
Carter Jensen, C, Royals
Jensen isn’t a perfect hitter—he will probably never hit .270, for instance, even with good luck on balls in play—but we’re not looking for perfection. As a rookie, he tied for second among 2027 catcher-eligible players in home runs last season with 27, and after adjusting the fencing, Kauffman Stadium is now one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the game.
Additionally, Jensen will start at designated hitter most days he isn’t catching, which sets him up to be among the positional leaders in annual plate appearances going forward.
Joe Mack, C, Marlins
Mack’s 2026 surface stats don’t stand out, as he was 14% worse than league average (86 wRC+) while hitting .234 with a .282 OBP, but the best has yet to come. Though a late-season shoulder issue tanked his numbers down the stretch, he has legitimate power and should get all the playing time he can handle in the coming years.
We’ve been spoiled with players like Jensen and Samuel Basallo getting to the big leagues in their early 20s, but it’s still impressive for a former prep catching prospect like Mack (drafted in 2021) to reach the majors early in his age-23 season and hold his own on both sides of the ball.
2027 Dynasty Catcher Sleepers
Leo Bernal, C, Cardinals
It’s hard to find a true “sleeper” for dynasty managers who are already plugged in early in the offseason, especially at catcher, and I know Bernal is a trendy name at the moment.
Still, Bernal isn’t a high-pedigree dynasty prospect. Though he ranks fifth in the Cardinals’ system, he’s always carried the “much better in real life than fantasy” tag. It’s possible his manager wants to capitalize on the hype this offseason.
I love when players who are young for their levels seem to be clearly getting better by the day/month as they get pushed up the ladder, and that was what I saw from Bernal this past summer.
Keibert Ruiz, C, Nationals
Ruiz slashed .280/.316/.443 with 10 home runs and a 10.5 K% in 354 plate appearances this past season and had his best defensive campaign behind the dish. There is no guarantee he gets a notable bump in playing time, but his competition isn’t stiff, and just a 20-game increase could result in a career year for Ruiz.
When it’s at full strength, this Nationals offense can score in bunches, and Ruiz has one of the higher batting average ceilings at the position.
2027 Dynasty Catcher Fades
William Contreras, C, Brewers
Contreras has been a fantasy stalwart for a half-decade, but he has also carried a heavy burden, as the Brewers seem intent on getting everything out of him before he hits free agency next winter.
Contreras needs to play a full season to hang with the other top catchers in home runs, and he stopped running as much in 2026. Whenever his body starts to break down and he is no longer seen as a reliable 600-PA catcher, he could fall out of the top 15.
Dillon Dingler, C, Tigers
I’m a believer in Dingler as a starting catcher in dynasty leagues, even in shallower one-catcher leagues. But I think 2026 is likely to go down as a career fantasy year for him.
He is a very talented real-life catcher and he is particularly useful in batting average leagues, but his 27 home runs and 91 RBI don’t seem sustainable to me. Dingler should regress to an 18-20-homer hitter who drives in 70 runs, which is still valuable—just don’t expect a repeat performance.
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