Ryan Hanigan

Ryan Hanigan

44-Year-Old CatcherC
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Ryan Hanigan in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a minor-league contract with the Giants in May of 2018. Released by the Giants in July of 2018.
Released by Giants
CFree Agent  
July 26, 2018
Hanigan was released by the Giants on Thursday, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
ANALYSIS
Hanigan appeared in just 18 games with Triple-A Sacramento this season and posted a lowly .447 OPS, so the Giants decided to part ways.
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2017
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Ryan Hanigan See More
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
September 10, 2017
Jan Levine finds the top waiver-wire options in the NL this week as the Nationals called up one of the league's best prospects in Victor Robles.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
August 27, 2017
Jan Levine runs down the NL's waiver pickups for this week, including a look at Patrick Corbin, who's in the midst of a lengthy hot stretch.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
August 6, 2017
Jan Levine details this week's top waiver options for the National League, including the arrival of Yu Darvish in Los Angeles.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
July 30, 2017
Jan Levine find all the waiver-wire options in the National League this week, including the impending callup of Mets prospect Amed Rosario.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
July 2, 2017
Jan Levine profiles the top waiver-wire pickups for the week, including Randal Grichuk, whose power streak has followed him from the minors back to the Cardinals.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
Expectations for Hanigan were relatively low entering 2017, especially given that he only received a minor-league contract from the Rockies during the offseason. However, an injury to Tom Murphy and struggles by Tony Wolters forced the veteran backstop into full-time duty for a stretch. He responded by hitting .267, his best batting average since 2012. Granted, most of Hanigan's production came against lefties, who surrendered a massive 1.248 OPS to him, and he was fortunate on balls in play (.338 BABIP). His value plummeted after the Rockies obtained Jonathan Lucroy via trade, but his respectable production kept him on the major-league roster for a larger portion of the season than expected. Currently a free agent, Hanigan will have to fight for a roster spot in spring training wherever he ends up.
In a disappointing season overall for Boston catchers, Ryan Hanigan endured similar struggles. The backstop was plagued by injuries throughout the 2016 season, resulting in a regression from his 2015 numbers in just about every offensive category. The backup catcher ended the season slashing .171/.230/.238 in 113 plate appearances, wrapping up his two-year career in Boston with a .219/.298/.294 line in 279 at-bats. Despite his abysmal effort at the plate in 2016, Boston hung onto the veteran backstop for his defense, as he led the team with a 3.55 ERA when he was behind the plate. With the emergence of Sandy Leon, however, the Red Sox declined the team option to bring Hanigan back. The 36-year-old agreed to terms with the Phillies, so he'll have an opportunity to compete for the backup catching job with Bryan Holaday.
Hanigan enters the final season of a two-year contract with a bit of uncertainty. There are three catchers qualified to start the season on the roster, but the 34-year-old Hanigan provides the most-experienced hand of the three, which can be a valuable commodity for developing young backstops Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart. Boston is unlikely to head north with three rostered catchers, so a decision is coming. Last season, Hanigan suffered a broken knuckle in May and missed two months. He’s not a great hitter, but put together some good plate appearances for Boston to hit for his highest average since 2012. With Vazquez coming back from Tommy John surgery, he could be ticketed for everyday play at Triple-A Pawtucket, which would give Hanigan the backup job to start the season. There will be few at-bats in that role and eventually, the Red Sox will have a Swihart-Vazquez tandem unless one is traded.
Hanigan was one of the key acquisitions for the Rays before the 2014 season, but an early hamstring injury and the subsequent lingering effects did not allow him to hit well for most of the season. The skills held up for him as he still drew walks and had a low strikeout rate, but a .240 BABIP helped hold his batting average down for a second consecutive season. After hitting for a solid average from 2009-2012, Hanigan has struggled with injuries each of the previous two seasons. Traded to Boston after being acquired by the Padres during the offseason, Hanigan will see a steady amount of playing time for the Red Sox following the season-ending elbow injury to starter Christian Vazquez. It's expected that top prospect Blake Swihart will eventually take over the starting role, but Hanigan could play his way into some form of a time share with a strong start to the season.
Hanigan suffered thumb, ankle, oblique and wrist injuries in 2013, effectively wrecking his season. His offensive potential was already limited, and these injuries made him an offensive liability. He's still a terrific defensive catcher, and missing that contribution from him could hurt the Reds' pitching staff. With the Reds deciding that it is time for Devin Mesoraco to take over the regular starting duties, Hanigan was shipped to the Rays as part of a three-team trade in December, where he inked a three-year contract extension to work in tandem with Jose Molina handling the Tampa Bay pitching staff.
We could almost copy last year's outlook for Hanigan and apply it to 2013 - he'll draw his share of walks, he'll call a great game behind the plate, he'll control the running game well, he won't hit for power and he won't run. He'll probably once again play more than Devin Mesoraco because of his defensive strengths, at least unless/until Mesoraco improves with the stick. He's a classic what-you-see-is-what-you-get type of player.
Unless you play in a league that uses on-base percentage as a category, most of Hanigan's contributions are undervalued in fantasy leagues. He's an excellent receiver, has a great arm and is incredibly disciplined at the plate. For the third year in a row, Hanigan drew more walks (35 in 266 at-bats) than strikeouts (32). But he doesn't have much power (12 extra-base hits) and has no speed, so traditional roto teams won't be helped by him that much. Because of his strong defense, don't be surprised if he plays more than highly touted rookie Devin Mesoraco, especially early in the season.
The Reds quietly received good production at the plate from their catching tandem of Hanigan and Ramon Hernandez in 2010, while Hanigan also provided excellent defense. Hanigan has unusually good plate discipline, having walked more than he's struck out over his major league career (81:63 BB:K in 549 at-bats). He won't hit for much power, but if you're looking for a $1-2 catcher in the endgame of your NL draft, he might not be a bad investment.
Hanigan is a perfectly adequate backup catcher, but he got exposed badly as a starter when Ramon Hernandez was on the DL for two months. On the positive side, he has excellent plate discipline, walking more than he struck out, but he only had 10 extra-base hits in 251 at-bats. His lack of power and speed on the basepaths make him a poor fantasy candidate even in deeper leagues, no matter if he hits for average.
Because of the utter lack of an in-house alternative at catcher, Hanigan will likely serve as the backup behind the plate for the Reds in 2009. He's demonstrated a decent batting eye both at Louisville and in his brief major league trial, but it's unlikely that he'll hit for power. The closest the Reds have to a catching prospect is 2007 first-round pick Devin Mesaroco, but he was mediocre with the bat at Low-A Dayton in 2008. To shore up the position, Cincinnati acquired Ramon Hernandez to take over the starting job behind the plate in December, so Hanigan is clearly a No. 2 entering the season.
More Fantasy News
Headed to Giants on minors deal
CSan Francisco Giants  
May 6, 2018
Hanigan agreed to a minor-league deal with the Giants on Sunday, Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reports.
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Cut loose by Indians
CFree Agent  
March 19, 2018
Hanigan was released by the Indians on Monday, T.J. Zuppe of The Athletic Cleveland reports.
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Lands minors deal with Cleveland
CCleveland Guardians  
February 12, 2018
Hanigan agreed Monday with the Indians on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
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Playing time limited following return from DL
CColorado Rockies  
October 3, 2017
Hanigan logged just five regular-season at-bats after returning from the disabled list in early September.
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Activated from DL
CColorado Rockies  
September 7, 2017
Hanigan (groin) was activated from the 10-day disabled list Thursday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
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