Ryan Lavarnway

Ryan Lavarnway

37-Year-Old CatcherC
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Ryan Lavarnway in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a one-year, minor-league contract with the Tigers in March of 2022. Traded to the Marlins in June of 2022. Released by the Marlins in November of 2022.
Closes book on career
CFree Agent  
March 22, 2023
Lavarnway announced Wednesday in a personal essay posted on The Athletic that he has retired from professional baseball.
ANALYSIS
The 35-year-old catcher will bring a close to his career after most recently competing for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. A 2008 sixth-round draft pick out of Yale, Lavarnway saw big-league action in parts of 10 of his 15 seasons in the professional ranks. He retires with a lifetime .217/.272/.345 slash line and nine home runs over 165 career games with Boston, Atlanta, Baltimore, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Miami and Cleveland.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Ryan Lavarnway See More
AL FAAB Factor: Waivers Pickups of the Week
September 5, 2021
Erik Siegrist looks over an AL free-agent pool with slim pickings even after September callups, but turmoil in the Oakland bullpen could create save chances for an unlikely closer candidate.
The Z Files: My Top 350 Rest-of-Season Hitters
August 11, 2021
Todd Zola offers up his hitter rankings for the rest of the season, as scheduling and a stacked lineup makes Bo Bichette one of a trio of Blue Jays in the top 10.
MLB Barometer: Olympic Preview Edition
July 26, 2021
Erik Halterman offers up a special edition of his column, featuring a break down of Olympic baseball, while also listing this week’s risers and fallers, starting with Juan Soto.
AL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
June 20, 2021
Erik Siegrist reviews the free-agent pool in the American League as Matt Manning adds another high-ceiling arm to the Detroit rotation.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
August 30, 2020
Jan Levine likes what Ian Anderson did in his major-league debut, but also offers a warning.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
Time is running out for Lavarnway. A few years ago, his power bat in the minors had him bubbling up to the majors, but his limited catching skills slowed his progress. The Red Sox couldn't trust him behind the plate full time, and at the same time, he couldn't deliver the same power in the majors that he showcased in the minors. Since clubbing 32 homers in 2011, he's hit a total of 15 over the last three minor league seasons. At Triple-A Pawtucket, younger catchers have caught up and passed him. Now, without the power bat, and being limited defensively to first base, Lavarnway doesn't have a clear path to the majors, even after coming over to Baltimore on a waiver claim in December.
Lavarnway has worked extremely hard to improve his defensive skills, but he's still a catcher whose best tool is his bat. He's had limited opportunities with Boston, but the organization doesn't feel he's going to be the catcher of the future. Lavarnway struggled to establish a rapport with Boston's starters and now faces an uncertain big-league future. After letting Jarrod Saltalamacchia walk this offseason, the Red Sox added A.J. Pierzynski, who along with David Ross, will bide time until Christian Vazquez is ready to catch in the big leagues. Lavarnway still has the big-bat potential, habitually on display in the minors, but he rarely showed that in Boston. He could be had in a trade if Boston is looking to add a fringe piece for the roster.
Lavarnway's near-term future with Boston was much brighter entering 2012 than it became this offseason. A serious dropoff in his offense during his stay in Boston leaves him and the organization with questions. He does not carry a good enough glove or reputation for handling pitchers to sustain reduced power output. The offseason addition of David Ross and Mike Napoli further muddies Lavarnway's immediate outlook, and that was before the organization added two lower-level catching prospects to its 40-man roster. We suspect Lavarnway, who caught more games in 2012 than in any other season, will open the year as Triple-A Pawtucket's full-time catcher. Some explain his reduction in power was due to the workload he handled in 2012. That may be true, but he will need to overcome the taxing nature of the position to produce with the bat. His defense just is not steady enough to keep him in the lineup when he struggles to hit.
Lavarnway made his way to the major leagues for the first time in 2011, hitting .231 in 17 games for Boston. His two-homer game on the next-to-final night of the season was the highlight. Looking ahead, Lavarnway has a real shot at claiming the backup catching job. He's worked hard to improve his receiving game, though there's still room for growth, and his right-handed power bat can provide some balance to a lefty-heavy order. Red Sox catchers wore down over the course of the season and they're unlikely to re-sign Jason Varitek, who will be 40 in April. The signing of Kelly Shoppach unfortunately clouds the playing time picture for Lavarnway.
Lavarnway continued to show advanced hitting skills in 2010, becoming the organization's best hitting prospect while leading the minors in home runs. All that's good. He understands the strike zone, has an approach at the plate, and hits to all fields. Defensively, he's still rather stiff behind the plate and he's not very instinctive. He's improved his throwing mechanics, but has problems with the more athletic part of the job and has never been the No. 1 catcher at any stop. This is the same story as it was last season. How far he can come defensively will dictate his major-league prospects. He'll likely land back in Double-A with a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket.
Lavarnway, 22, continued to showcase his power, leading the organization with 21 homers in 2009 at Low-A Greenville. The organization is commiting him to catcher for now, but he may be switched to first base at some point. He's relatively new to the position, and his catching skills still need work. The bat is ready for Double-A, but the defense isn't. Moving up a level, Lavarnway will be challenged by better pitching and he'll need to cut down on the strikeouts. If he can maintain his power while fine tuning the swing, 2010 will be a good year.
More Fantasy News
Traded to Miami
CMiami Marlins  
June 21, 2022
Lavarnway was acquired by the Marlins from the Tigers on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations, the Detroit Free Press reports.
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Won't make Opening Day roster
CDetroit Tigers  
March 28, 2022
The Tigers informed Lavarnway on Monday that he won't be included on the Opening Day roster, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
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Joins Tigers
CDetroit Tigers  
March 14, 2022
Lavarnway signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Monday that includes an invitation to big-league camp, Andersen Pickard of MLBDailyDish.com reports.
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Designated for assignment
CCleveland Guardians  
September 14, 2021
Lavarnway was designated for assignment Tuesday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
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Contract selected by Cleveland
CCleveland Guardians  
September 2, 2021
Lavarnway had his contract selected by Cleveland on Thursday and is starting at catcher at Kansas City.
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