The Astros are in the market for a backup catcher. According to general manager Dana Brown, acquiring a backup catcher is next on the off-season agenda. This is based on the assumption that the current backup catcher and free agent Victor Caratini will sign with another team.
Let’s look at what might be available in free agency. But first, let’s talk about the Caratini assumption. Last year, Caratini was one of the Astros’ best hitters and was completely serviceable behind the plate. His 1.3 WAR in 386 plate appearances is the best among free agent catchers not named Realmuto. On the offensive side, he also posted a 104 wRC+ batting. He was fairly valuable to the Astros, and manager Joe Espada frequently called upon him in clutch pinch-hit situations. Given his career-high performance last season, the assumption must be that he will require a contract cost north of $11 or $12 million AAV. For this reason, the Fangraphs Crowdsource estimate (1 year, $6 million) is probably low. But if it turns out that he is available for $6 million, would the Astros consider bringing him back? I would hope so. But in the end, it all comes back to the Astros’ desire to avoid piercing the CBT threshold for a third straight year.
I am assuming that the Astros are looking for a backup catcher who can be signed fr $5 million or less. That rules out Realmuto and Caratini, who are likely the top free agent catchers this year.
This is a weak free agent crop of catchers. It’s not like the choices are great if you want a backup catcher. (Link to Fangraphs free agent tracker) And generally, teams are looking for good receivers who can provide reasonable defense as backups. Most available backup options are likely to have low batting averages, low slugging, or both.
- Christian Vázquez (Age 35). I would put a star by his name, because he may the best option for the Astros. Vazquez played for the Astros as a mid-season acquisition in 2022 and caught an Astros’ no-hitter in the World Series. Vazquez is known as a quality receiver who continues to exhibit good defense and framing ability. Vazquez didn’t live up to his Twins’ contract and posted the worst offensive season of his career in 2025 — a .189 BA and .575 OPS. The poor offensive performance in 2025 might be why Vázquez is available at a low price on the market. Given his previous ties to the Astros’ clubhouse, veteran play-calling ability, and receiving capability, Vazquez could be an ideal backup catcher for the Astros. On the offensive side, well, at least he probably can’t get much worse than 2025. And one can hope that he might enjoy a slight positive regression with the bat. He certainly won’t provide Caratini-level offense, but with some luck, he might rebound into the 88 – 92 wRC+ range. The Fangraphs projection is for a .228 BA and 72 wRC+. He is projected to post 0.8 WAR in 2026. Helpfully, Vazquez can take a walk (8.5% BB) and doesn’t strike out much (16.5% K rate).
- Reese McGuire (Age 30), the LHB former backup catcher for the Cubs. McGuire posted 0.8 WAR in only 148 PA for the Cubs in 2025. McGuire profiles as a good defensive catcher. With consistently positive framing and defensive numbers–framing (+2.4) and OAA-FRV (+4). McGuire’s offense won’t set the world on fire, but he isn’t an embarrassment with the bat. His 2025 slash line: .226 / .245 / .444. The 86 wRC+ is not terrible for a backup catcher. If he could take a few more walks (2.9% BB), his offense might improve quite a bit.
- Jonah Heim (Age 30), a former Rangers starter who was non-tendered. He is a switch-hitter like Caratini. Heim had a bad 2025 — there is a reason he was non-tendered. He hit .213 with a .602 OPS, and he posted -0.5 WAR. But his FG projection isn’t that bad: .230 BA with a .661 OPS. And Heim has shown HR power in the past: 11, 13, and 18 in 2025, 2024, and 2023. Heim had a great 2023 when the Rangers won the World Series. He was the AL starting catcher in 2023 and won the AL Gold Glove at catcher. I think that will be an over-performance year for him, and I wouldn’t expect him to repeat it. But I think it also offers some hope that 2025 was an underperformance year, which will be followed by beneficial regression to the mean in 2026. The fact that he won a Gold Glove two years ago suggests his defense wasn’t as bad as the metrics indicated in 2025.
Backup catchers with some offensive potential. So far, we’ve examined defense-first backup catchers. An alternative approach is to identify backup catchers who can provide some offensive punch and perhaps deliver game-changing power as pinch hitters.
- Gary Sanchez (Age 33). Sanchez is well known for home run power. He hit 33 and 34 HRs in 2017 and 2019, and is still capable of hitting double-digit home runs if he is given the playing time. But his defensive deficiencies and strikeout issues have kept him from getting that playing time. His defensive metrics are still sub-par, but reportedly, he has improved his defense enough in recent years to be playable. Sanchez played for the Orioles in 2025, but was injured for part of the season. His wRC+ was essentially league-average (100).
- Mitch Garver (Age 34). Split time between DH and backup catcher for the Mariners. Seattle declined his $12 million option for 2026. During his career in Minnesota and Texas, he was one of the best offensive catchers in baseball. (In 2019, he won the Silver Slugger for catchers.) In the 2023 World Series season, Garver posted a 142 wRC+. Seattle signed him to a 2-year, $23 million contract. However, Garver’s offensive production took a nose-dive with the Mariners (2 consecutive seasons with a wRC+ below 90). Despite the offensive downturn, Garver’s home run power didn’t disappear, hitting 14 HRs in 490 PA and 9 HR in 290 PA. And his Statcast numbers are better than his actual stats in Seattle. The reason for Garver’s offensive decline with the Mariners is not apparent. But frequently, hitters acquired by the Mariners struggle in the team’s ballpark, which is one of the least hitter-friendly venues. Both Garver and Sanchez had good exit velocities and hard hit rates last year. About one-half of the balls they hit were classified as Hard Hit.
What are your thoughts on the catcher situation?
I wouldn’t hate any of the names mentioned, although Sanchez probably would scare me the most. IMO Heim has some real bounceback potential, not to 2023 levels, but to “decent”.
I think the biggest deciding factors won’t so much be money as time, because I assume the Astros are still primarily looking for a last, best starting pitcher to slot in right behind Brown, and whoever he is (if anyone) will possibly determine whether there is $6m available for our backup catcher or $3m. If the money is somehow available under the cap, I don’t think they would refuse to pay a little more for a C they feel is a more complete option (maybe Caratini).
But, by the time we know what “scraps” are available under the tax to sign our backup C, who will still be available?
Not a lot to be excited about in the markets. Caratini was such a good signing, one of the best of Dana’s in truth. At this point, just let Salazar take the backup catching spot, use the money to address the starting pitching, and find some AAA depth candidate that could spot start if injuries pick up with Yanier or Cesar.
By the way, I wrote an similar article in 2023 reviewing possible signing possibilities for back up catcher. I concluded that Caratini would be the best option. I was surprised when the Astros subsequently signed Caratini.
No idea what their splits are, but having McGuire or Heim and only bat them against righties makes sense.
Vazquez or Heim are the top two picks here, IMO. The idea of Sanchez makes my skin crawl, no thanks to that. The idea of picking a backup catcher based on power hitting ability strikes me as backwards, he needs to be someone who can field the position well after the primary catcher has been pinch hit for.
Sanchez could be an interesting grab if he was a minor league invite, and ST injuries opened a roster spot if his bat was looking usable during that time. But agree defensively.
I view Heim as the best bet, but I do think he will try and find a team that he can attempt to win a starting role at. But the possibility of adding a bat who could be controllable VIA one more season of arbitration who has upside could be a huge win. Could be a flip candidate if Salazar, Guillemette, or Bush look stable in AAA next season.
Vazquez is to me though an ideal plan b especially if the plan is to have Diaz take as many games behind the plate as he can.
It would seem to me that the Astros would be a prime location for a backup catcher trying to win a starting role, given that Diaz has positional flexibility (can play 1B) and had a bad year last year.
Reese McGuire has my vote. Left-handed, and above average defensively. You mentioned his ability (or lack thereof) to draw walks. Maybe this is as good as a time as any to acquire that type of profile as the Astros revamped their offensive coaching staff and we know that approach is going to be the focus. Maybe he can make some gains with the right direction along with the others.
I’m not a fan of McGuire as I think of how ex-Coog Conner Wong beat him out handily in BOS. Now, that is a thought – Wong, who had such a good ’24 they traded R1 pick Teel, but he followed it up with some wrist injury and a horrible ’25 & got himself replaced by Narváez. Sox signed Wong to $1.3M on 11/25 to avoid arbitration but what do they do if he gets beat out in camp by another backup? Conner still lives in Houston.
For me, it’s Caratini or Garver. Bottom line is Yainer went from the shoe-in greatest offensive catcher in Astros history to this discussion of him as an afterthought. Janek can’t get to the Show fast enough.