Rene Rivera

Rene Rivera

41-Year-Old CatcherC
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Rene Rivera in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a one-year contract with the Nationals in July of 2021.
Retires from baseball
CFree Agent  
February 17, 2023
Rivera announced his retirement from baseball Friday.
ANALYSIS
After 12 seasons in the big leagues with 10 clubs, the 39-year-old backstop officially hangs up his cleats. Rivera finishes his career with a .221/.273/.354 slash line alongside 43 home runs and 176 RBI.
Read More News
Batting Stats
Loading Batting Stats...
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2021 MLB Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Batting Game Log...
2020 MLB Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Batting Game Log...
2019 MLB Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Batting Game Log...
2018 MLB Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Batting Game Log...
2017 MLB Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Batting Game Log...
Minor League Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Batting Game Log...
Advanced Batting Stats
Loading Advanced Batting Stats...
Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
Loading Games Played by Position...
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Batted Ball Stats
Loading Batted Ball Stats...
Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Rene Rivera See More
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.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
July 18, 2021
Dan Marcus reviews a number of available NL players, including a veteran Milwaukee outfielder in line to receive significant playing time.
AL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
June 27, 2021
Erik Siegrist checks out a shallow AL free-agent pool that doesn't feature a lot of fresh options behind Tampa Bay phenom Wander Franco.
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.
AL FAAB Factor: AL Pickups of the Week
June 13, 2021
Dan Marcus looks over the available talent in the AL and notes that Gregory Soto could have the next save chance in Detroit.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2018
2017
2016
2015
2012
2007
2006
2005
Rivera was signed by the Angels in January to provide a defensively savvy veteran backup to Martin Maldonado. Between stops with the Mets and Cubs in 2017, Rivera hit .252/.302/.431 in his age-33 season over a combined 237 plate appearances. Most likely, he'll be limited to one or two starts each week, perhaps the personal catcher for assigned member of the Angels' starting rotation, but there is little reason to think he'll take on a larger role as long as Maldonado is healthy.
Despite a solid spring training showing, Rivera was released by the Rays within a week of Opening Day. He ultimately signed a minor league deal with the Mets, and following an injury to starter Travis d'Arnaud, Rivera made his way up to the major league squad before the end of April and stayed there for the remainder of the season. The fact that he wasn't sent back down spoke more to fellow catcher Kevin Plawecki's struggles rather than Rivera taking the job by storm, as the 33-year-old hit just .222 and struck out in over a quarter of his plate appearances. It doesn't come as much of a surprise as he's always been viewed as more of a defensive catcher. However, there were some bright spots on the offensive side, as he mashed left-handed pitching to the tune of a .314/.429/.514 slash line, albeit in just 42 plate appearances. The Mets brought him back to be d'Arnaud's backup in 2017, so he should play once or twice a week.
One of the top assets that landed in Tampa Bay from the Wil Myers trade, Rivera entered 2015 as the Rays’ clear starting catcher. What happened after could be politely described as disaster. The 32-year-old spent zero days with his batting average above the Mendoza Line and finished the season with .178/.213/.275 line that wouldn’t be justifiable for even the most defensively skilled catchers. Rivera lost the starting job to the surging Curt Casali in August and never got it back, even when Casali had his season ended by a hamstring injury. Instead, J.P. Arencibia turned in one of the best months of his career and took the starting job for the season’s final month. Rivera wasn’t even the sole backup, as rookie Luke Maile was given nine starts. Rivera will likely hit 2016 as a favored backup behind Curt Casali, but the presence of Maile and top prospect Justin O’Conner means that Rivera’s chances at future playing time will only dwindle as long as his bat remains anemic.
Emerging from spring training as the Padres' safety net behind fellow catchers Yasmani Grandal and Nick Hundley, Rivera got the nod on Opening Night and quickly established himself as the preferred backstop of Andrew Cashner. Rivera made inroads with Tyson Ross as well, and after San Diego sent Hundley to the Orioles on May 24, Rivera more or less established an even timeshare with Grandal. As the season rolled along, Grandal was forced to man first base out of necessity due to the season-ending forearm strain suffered by Yonder Alonso in mid-August, allowing Rivera near everyday nods behind the plate. Rivera slogged through the first three-plus months in typical fashion, but after the All-Star break, he slashed a more-than-respectable .280/.354/.439 with five homers in 157 at-bats. Following an offseason trade to Tampa Bay, Rivera should see an immediate opportunity to serve as the primary catcher in his new home, where he'll presumably work ahead of Curt Casali on the depth chart.
Rivera got playing time in the majors last season with Joe Mauer missing much of the season due to injury. However, he'll likely be the main catcher at Triple-A Rochester this season. His prospects for playing time in the majors have diminished with the Twins signing Ryan Doumit and J.R. Towles, and with Drew Butera remaining on the roster.
Rivera will reprise his role as Kenji Johjima's back-up, awaiting the arrival of either Jeff Clement or Rob Johnson. Neither of those two will come this year, though. Rivera will adequately spell Johjima behind the plate and try not to kill too many Mariners rallies with his weak bat. He has no power and poor plate discipline. Rivera will give Johjima a day off once or twice a week.
Rivera hit .396/.408/.521 in 48 at-bats last season with the Mariners, but those stats are misleading. He doesn't have great plate discipline as he struck out 11 times to one walk. At Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tacoma he combined for 47 strikeouts and nine walks. Rivera is a good defensive catcher, but he isn't projected to be more than an average hitter. He'll likely make the team as Kenji Johjima's backup, though, as Yorvit Torrealba, Wiki Gonzalez and Miguel Ojeda were jettisoned.
A second-round pick in 2001, Rivera was a late-season call-up last season for insurances purposes more than anything else. He's considered a quality catch-and-throw prospect who could turn out to be a decent hitter eventually, but is still a couple of years away from being proficient enough with the bat.
More Fantasy News
Released by Nationals
CFree Agent  
Elbow
August 14, 2021
The Nationals released Rivera (elbow) on Saturday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Placed on IL with elbow contusion
CWashington Nationals  
Elbow
August 3, 2021
Rivera was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right elbow contusion, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Not in Friday's lineup
CWashington Nationals  
July 30, 2021
Rivera isn't starting Friday against the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Sits after consecutive starts
CWashington Nationals  
July 18, 2021
Rivera is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Joins Washington
CWashington Nationals  
July 16, 2021
Rivera agreed to a major-league deal with the Nationals on Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.