John Buck

44-Year-Old CatcherC

Free Agent

2024 Stats

AVG

.000

RBI

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RBI

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2024 Fantasy Outlook

There was no outlook written for John Buck in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.

Bats R

Throws R

40 Man No

Height 6'3"

Weight 210

DOB 7/7/1980

Born Kemmerer, WY

College None

Drafted 7th Rd 1998 HOU

CFree Agent

March 26, 2015

Buck announced his retirement from baseball on Thursday.

ANALYSIS
Buck has elected to retire and spend more time with his family rather than compete for a spot providing depth at catcher with the Braves. He'll finish an 11-year career with a .234 average and 134 long balls.

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Past Fantasy Outlooks

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

The 33-year-old Buck spent most of 2013 with the Mets, where he reached double-digit homers for the fourth straight year and eighth time in 10 seasons. That's basically where the fun starts and stops. Nine of his 15 homers came in April. From May 5 to the end of the season, he batted .205 with five homers, 33 RBI and a .566 OPS in 297 at-bats. For the year, Buck compiled a .219 batting average split between New York and Pittsburgh, which was only slightly lower than his career mark (.234). His durability makes it possible that he plays in at least 100 games for the ninth time in 2014, but his fall-off means owners should approach Buck with caution and consider him more of an in-season waiver wire pickup than anything else. After signing with the Mariners in January, Buck is projected to work in tandem with Mike Zunino this season.

Buck struggled to make contact for much of the 2012 season, striking out a whopping 103 times in 106 games last year, eventually ceding a large chunk of his playing time to rookie Rob Brantly. Buck finished the year with a pitiful .192/.297/.644 line while watching his home-run total continue its downward trend: 20 in 2010, 16 in 2011, to just 12 in 2012. Despite the struggles, Buck posted a career-best 49:113 BB:K and now is positioned to transition the starting job with the Mets to prospect Travis d'Arnaud after getting shipped to New York as part of the R.A. Dickey deal.

As expected, Buck's batting average plummeted after his career year in Toronto but he still supplied some power and drew a career high in walks, though that was due far more to hitting in front of the pitcher than any new-found plate discipline. The Marlins value him for his work behind the plate, though, and any offense he gives the team is gravy. His usual 18-20 homers are nice, but expect them to accompany a batting average more likely to be below .250 than above it.

Buck cashed in on a career year by inking a three-year deal worth $18 million with the Marlins. He walked just 16 times against 111 strikeouts so it'll be tough to sustain his power gains with that kind of batting eye. There's virtually no way he repeats his 2010 this season even if the Marlins are paying him to do so.

Once viewed as a franchise cornerstone for the Royals, Buck's role diminished down the stretch in 2009 as the Royals led all of baseball in passed balls and wild pitches. He appeared in only six of the final 29 contests. He signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays in the offseason and could begin the season as Toronto's starting catcher. He'll hit 10 or more home runs if given enough at-bats, but his poor contact rate makes his batting average a negative for fantasy teams.

Buck's power disappeared in 2008 -- his slugging percentage dipped to a career-low .365 to go with just nine home runs -- but he still edged out platoon-mate Miguel Olivo in the at-bats battle (370 to 306). His batting average remained in the .220s for the second consecutive year despite an increased BABIP. He will enter 2009 as Olivo's backup, though he should see more at-bats than the typical backup catcher.

Buck had a career-high 18 home runs last season, but just three of those came after the All-Star break. He can certainly mash it, but as long as it's a fastball coming at him, because off-speed pitches often give him fits. He also isn't a very good contact hitter, evidenced by his career .74 contact rate. The Royals added Miguel Olivo to the mix at catcher over the winter, so while the primary job will be Buck's to start with, he could see his at-bats stick in the 350-400 range again this season.

Fantasy owners and front offices get excited about Buck every year, thinking his strong September finishes mean he'll become the offensive star everyone hoped he would be when the Astros included him in the Carlos Beltran deal. But after three seasons, it's starting to look like Buck is just Mr. September. He has a .226 career average and 24 homers in three years outside of September but has hit .298 with 11 homers in September. He's noted for his defense and ability to handle a pitching staff, but the Royals want more, so they brought in Jason LaRue to push him.

Buck was an out machine for much of the 2005 season and rarely put on the power display expected from him after a strong September in 2004. Another strong September in 2005 increased his average from .216 on Sept. 2 and added four home runs to his total. He's the unquestioned leader behind the plate and draws plenty of praise for his catching work. He needs to make more contact to hold down that job long-term.

Buck was overmatched much of the time during his first season in the big leagues, but he also showed some nice pop – slugging .562 in September. He drew praise for his handling of the staff and will learn much under the tutelage of Tony Pena. Mark Teahen may have been the top prize in the Carlos Beltran deal, but Buck looks like a long-term solution as well and will be the starting catcher in 2005.

The Astros' catcher of the future. The future could arrive as early as midseason 2004, depending on how he starts off at Triple-A New Orleans. Buck's development was set back by a broken right hand last year, and the Astros are still waiting/hoping for his power to emerge. The pitcher-friendly dimensions at New Orleans could disguise his development in that department, however.

Buck made a two-level jump from Low Single-A ball to Double-A in 2002. His plate discipline deteriorated a bit, but overall he still held his own. It's likely that Buck will need at least half of the 2003 season in the minors, perhaps back at Double-A, before he's ready to be promoted to the majors. Still, he may be the Astros' best prospect, and should be ready to start by the 2004 season.

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