Ranking the Best Catchers in Mariners Team History

Mariners Dave Valle – 10.8

Yup, the Mariners longtime announcer and broadcaster, in the booth since 1997, is actually one of the best catchers in the team’s history.

He started back in 1984, and played ten years with the Mariners. He was a decent hitter, and finished with a lifetime slash of .235/.311/.371 in his time with the M’s. His best season in the majors was actually his last with the Mariners. In 1993, he hit .258/.354/.395 with 13 HR, 48 R, and 63 RBI, which outside of slugging, were all career highs.

His defense was awesome that year as well, and it earned him a 3.0 WAR. The stat that stands out is how often he nailed runners, catching an incredible 46% that year, well above the league average of 36%.

An underrated catcher, he always provided solid defense, which was the backbone of his ability at the position. He also brought a strong walk rate and low K rate (12.2% K, 8.1% BB) for the position.

Valle seems like a great catcher, just from hearing how he played. Wasn’t flashy, provided good defense with a good arm, and decent enough hitting.