2025 Stats: .259/.324/.404, 12 HR, 46 RBI
Career Stats: .244/.321/.371, 58 HR, 247 RBI
For any team looking to sign a catcher this winter who is going to be the starter most of the time in 2026, it’s looking a bit like J.T. Realmuto or bust.
However, for teams that could use an upgrade in the No. 2 catcher slot and/or back-up first baseman role, Victor Caratini really ought to be a prime target.
Houston even used Caratini as its designated hitter 30 times in 2025, in what was his third consecutive season with an OPS of at least .711, which is darn impressive as far as catchers go. At any rate, he is one of only seven catchers riding a three-year streak of at least 200 plate appearances and an OPS of at least .711, the others being Cal Raleigh, Will Smith, William Contreras, Sal Perez, Ryan Jeffers and Gabriel Moreno.
He’s not exactly a negative on defense, either. Among the 35 players with at least 1,000 innings logged at catcher since the beginning of 2023, Caratini ranks 18th in Fielding Run Value. (Formerly a two-time Gold Glove winner, Realmuto is 30th, rated as a terrible pitch framer.)