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2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Catchers

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:00:41 +0000

2011 Fantasy Baseball Preview | 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Designing your draft strategy for catchers can sometimes be a nauseating task. Do you nab Joe Mauer in the second round and not worry about the position again until you add depth at the end of your draft, or do you fill other positions first and go for value late?

One strategy that you might want to consider is passing on the top 2-3 backstops (in our rankings that would constitute Mauer, Brian McCann and Victor Martinez) and waiting to select your catcher until at least Round 8. That way, when the pitchers start to fly off the board in Rounds 4 through 7, you’re not worried about investing a pick in McCann and Martinez when there will be plenty of value starting in Round 8.

But which players will be available then? Below is the tier we think you target starting in Round 8. If you think one of these catchers will fall to Round 9, 10 or 11, by all means: wait. But Rounds 8-11 is where you’ll find great value without having to shop for your starting backstop later in the draft when the pickings are slim and the value is scattered.

Buster Posey, Giants
After bursting onto the scene last year to help the Giants win their first World Series in over 55 years, Posey might not last until Round 8. But if he does and you feel good about your roster to that point, don’t waste any time announcing his name at your draft. He hit .305 with 18 dingers and 67 RBI while scoring 58 runs in just 443 plate appearances last season. He has the maturity of a 10-year veteran but is only a second-year pro. The Giants’ lineup is still weak as a whole, but Posey should hit around .300 again with 20-plus HRs, 80 RBI and 70 runs scored.

Carlos Santana, Indians
It’s hard not to fall in love with this kid’s potential. Santana is fully recovered from knee surgery and if he can stay healthy, there’s no doubt he could become an elite fantasy catcher. After batting .260/.401/.467 over his first 192 major league plate appearances last season, the sky’s the limit for the 24-year-old, who is also spending some time at first base in spring training (hey, a little versatility never hurt anyone). If his numbers in June last year are any indication (.345, 4 HRs, 10 runs, 15 RBIs), Santana is ready for a breakout campaign.

Geovanny Soto, Cubs
In just 322 at bats last season, Soto hit .280 with 17 home runs, 47 runs scored and 53 RBI. If he stays healthy, he could hit 20-25 home runs, score another 50 runs and drive in 65-70 RBI. The nice thing about Soto is that he’s a selective hitter, so he could hit around .280 again next season.

Mike Napoli, Rangers
Napoli led all catchers in home runs last year with 26, but it’s unclear at this point whether or not his trade to the Rangers will hurt his fantasy value. He’ll draw regular starts at catcher, first base and DH, but it remains to be seen how many at bats he’ll compile over the course of an entire year. Still, he should post great power numbers at the Ballpark in Arlington.

Miguel Montero, Diamondbacks
In just 85 games last year and 297 at bats, Montero hit nine home runs and drove in 43 RBI. He has two years of experience, good power and plays in a home run-friendly park, making him an attractive fantasy option in 2011. He could be poised for a breakout season.

Matt Wieters, Orioles
Wieters was a disappointment in 2010, batting just .249/.319/.377 with only 11 home runs in 446 at bats. But the 24-year-old was once regarded as the top catching prospect in baseball and has devoted himself this offseason to improving at the dish. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think that Wieters can hit .280 this year with 20 home runs and drive in 72 RBI.

2011 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings:

1. Joe Mauer, Twins
2. Brian McCann, Braves
3. Victor Martinez, Tigers
4. Buster Posey, Giants
5. Carlos Santana, Indians
6. Geovany Soto, Cubs
7. Miguel Montero, Diamondbacks
8. Mike Napoli, Rangers
9. Matt Wieters, Orioles
10. Kurt Suzuki, A’s
11. Jorge Posada, Yankees
12. Miguel Olivo, Mariners
13. J.P. Arencibia, Blue Jays
14. John Buck, Marlins
15. Yadier Molina, Cardinals
16. Carlos Ruiz, Phillies
17. Chris Iannetta, Rockies
18. Russell Martin, Yankees
19. Nick Hundley, Padres
20. Rod Barajas, Dodgers
21. Ryan Doumit, Pirates
22. John Jaso, Rays
23. A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox
24. Alex Avila, Tigers
25. Ramon Hernandez, Reds

Mikey’s MLB power rankings

Mike Farley — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:40:33 +0000

A lot has changed since last week. The Dodgers have faded and the Rangers have caught fire. The Yankees and Red Sox have been steadily winning while Tampa bas dropped off just a bit. And the Mets and Braves keep battling for first place. Here are this week’s power rankings…..

1. New York Yankees (46-27)—Not only have they taken over first place in the mighty AL East, but the Yankees are starting to put a bit of distance between themselves, and the Rays and Sox. They just have way too much talent.

2. Texas Rangers (44-29)—We knew the Rangers would hit the ball, but did anyone expect their pitching staff to be fifth in the AL in ERA, and second in strikeouts? Quick, name me two of their starters…..I know, I couldn’t either.

3. Boston Red Sox (44-31)—Like the Yanks, too much talent, and too much straight up desire to win. No wonder the chowder heads love their team.

4. San Diego Padres (43-30)—Don’t look now, but the Padres have the best record in the National League. That is not a typo.

5. Tampa Bay Rays (43-30)—I’ll give you five reasons why the Rays aren’t going away any time soon—Garza, Price, Davis, Niemann and Shields. It’s almost like a young version of the ‘90’s Braves. But being no-hit again isn’t good, either.

6. Atlanta Braves (43-31)—Speaking of the Braves, these guys are turning back the clock with guys like Chipper Jones, Derek Lowe, Tim Hudson and Billy Wagner leading the way; and with Martin Prado leading the NL in batting.

7. New York Mets (42-31)—Seriously, RA Dickey is 6-0 with a 2.33 ERA in 7 starts? It’s like suddenly the Mets can do no wrong, and they just keep winning.

8. St. Louis Cardinals (40-33)—Raise your hand if you think the Cardinals are afraid of the Reds. I see a few hands up and they’re all in Southern Ohio.

9. Minnesota Twins (40-33)—Leading a weak division once again, and there’s no reason to believe the Twins will relinquish first place any time soon. Or that Joe Mauer’s average will continue to drop.

10. Cincinnati Reds (41-33)—They might be overachieving right now, but you can’t count them out.

Mikey’s MLB power rankings

Mike Farley — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 13:00:50 +0000

We’re about 40% through the current major league baseball season. That means we’re about to enter the warmest part of the season both on the field and in the standings. Contenders will begin to emerge and pretenders will begin to fade if they haven’t faded already. So we thought it was a good time to have our first installment of MLB power rankings…..

1. Tampa Bay Rays (41-26)—Amazingly, the Rays have a better road record (23-11) than a home record (18-15). Also amazingly is how they jumped out of the gate and have stayed in front—with their usual formula of strong pitching (3.55 ERA leads the AL), speed (major league best 76 steals) and defense.

2. New York Yankees (41-26)—Don’t look now, but the Yankees have caught up to Tampa. They just have too much talent for the Rays to keep them down all season.

3. Boston Red Sox (41-28)—Struggling to keep pace with the Rays and Yanks, but now just one game back and right in the thick of it. Does anyone else feel bad for the Orioles and Blue Jays?

4. Atlanta Braves (40-28)—A huge surprise to be leading the NL East on June 19, but not as big a surprise as the Phillies sitting in third place.

5. Minnesota Twins (38-29)—Ignited by a new ball park and a fat new contract for their superstar catcher Joe Mauer, the Twins are going to run away with the AL Central because no one else wants to.

6. San Diego Padres (39-28)—Definitely the surprise of the first two months, Bud Black has this Padres team over-achieving. They recently relinquished first place, but took it right back, and the Padres may stay in the hunt because of how well they fare in those close, low-scoring games.

7. New York Mets (39-28)—Here’s another shocker. The Mets were picked by most pundits to be a fourth or fifth place team. And here they are battling the Braves for NL East supremacy. But the biggest surprise has been the starting rotation, where guys like Mike Pelfrey, RA Dickey and Jon Niese are reminding Mets fans of the Seaver/Koosman/Matlack days. And we haven’t even mentioned Johan Santana.

8. Los Angeles Dodgers (38-29)—They’ve quietly made their move from bottom feeders to frontrunners, and they have the talent to stay there. But seriously, Manny Ramirez has SEVEN home runs on June 19? Hmmmm.

9. Texas Rangers (39-28)—Everyone thought the Mariners would be the team to beat in the AL West this year, but they have one of the worst records in baseball at 26-41. Meanwhile, the Rangers are riding a frightening middle of the lineup (Guerrero/Hamilton/Cruz) to the division lead

10. San Francisco Giants (37-29)—With Barry Zito looking like his old self, this team is extremely dangerous with him, all-world Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez.

Tie 10. Detroit Tigers (37-29)--A 7-game winning streak has them right here and only a half-game back of the Twins.

MLB Roundup: Red-hot Renteria, Lee’s bad news & the BoSox’s early woes

Anthony Stalter — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:00:14 +0000

Giants 5, Braves 4
Quick, name the team with the best record in baseball. The Yankees? Sorry – they’re currently only .500. The answer would be the Giants, who have begun the year 4-0 after coming from behind to the beat the Braves 5-4 in 13 innings on Friday. Quick, name the hottest hitter in the league right now. If you said Albert Pujols, then punch yourself in the ear because you’re wrong. If you said Edgar Renteria, you’re right, but you probably only said that to be a wiseass – so the jokes on you. Renteria is batting an astonishing .688 to start the year after going 3-for-5 with a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth, which helped San Fran erase a 4-2 deficit. I don’t know how Pablo Sandoval slimmed down and stole Renteria’s jersey without anyone seeing, but there’s no way that’s the real Edgar Renteria.

Rangers 6, Mariners 2
Nelson Cruz abused the Mariners on Friday, going 3-for-4 with a solo homer, two RBI and two runs scored in the Rangers’ 6-2 victory. Seattle is hitting .199 as a team and was 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. It was the club’s fourth straight loss and making matters worse, it was revealed that Cliff Lee might not come off the disabled list until May now.

Royals 4, Red Sox 3
It’s early, but you know things are bad in Boston when they’re losing to Kansas City. Rick Ankiel (yes, that Rick Ankiel) hit a go-ahead two-run single off Daniel Bard in the eighth inning of the Royals’ 4-3 win over the BoSox on Friday night. It was the fourth hit of the night for Ankiel, who also hit a solo home run and drove in three runs. Not a bad night for the newcomer, who helped sent Boston spiraling to a 1-3 start.

Phillies 8, Astros 0
It’s going to be a long year for the Houston Astros, who have started the season 0-4 after losing to the Phillies 8-0 on Friday. The Astros were out-hit 16 to eight, as starter Bud Norris went just 2.2 innings after allowing three runs (which all came in the first inning) on six hits. J.A. Happ didn’t allow a run on six hits over five innings for the Phillies while filling in for the injured Joe Blanton. Ryan Howard hit two home runs while finishing 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Rays 9, Yankees 3
Youngster David Price held the Yankees to just three earned runs over 7 2/3 innings on Friday, helping the Rays beat New York 9-3. Price struck out seven while picking up his first win of the year, although he didn’t look as sharp as his final numbers would indicate. Still, it’s a great start for the 24-year-old, who once again has high expectations coming into a new season.

Reds 5, Cubs 4
Reds’ outfielder Drew Stubbs hit a go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning on Friday to help Cincy down Chicago 5-4. Cubs’ reliever Esmailin Caridad played the goat while giving up four runs on just two hits in one inning of work. The loss was the Cubs’ third in their first four games.

Twins 4, White Sox 3
After dropping their opener, the Twins have rattled off four straight wins. J.J. Hardy delivered a single in the top of the 11th to knock in Joe Mauer, as Minnesota beat the White Sox 4-3. Jon Rauch hung on to get his third save of the year despite allowing two runners to reach base in the bottom of the 11th. Like their cross-town rivals, the Chi-Sox have now started off the season 1-3.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

2010 MLB Preview: AL Central

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:00:57 +0000

In order to help get you ready for the MLB season, we’re doing division-by-division rankings with quick overviews on how each club could fair in 2010. Next to each team, you’ll also find a corresponding number written in parenthesis, which indicates where we believe that club falls in a league-wide power ranking. Be sure to check back throughout the next two weeks leading up to the season, as we will be updating our content daily. Enjoy.

Next up is the AL Central.

1. Chicago White Sox (9)
Some folks will think that this is too high for the White Sox – that they should be behind the Twins and out of the top 10 in terms of the overall power rankings. Some folks will say that Jake Peavy won’t be healthy all season and that the Chi Sox will once again falter as they try to live station to station on offense. Well, I say the folks that disagree with my opinion are friggin idiots. Harsh? Yeah, but it also needed to be said. I realize that I’m taking a risk by moving the Sox to the head of the AL Central, but really, it’s hard to argue that this division isn’t a crapshoot anyway. Every team has question marks heading into the season but at the end of the day, pitching makes or breaks a team. I realize Peavy missed all of last year due to injury, but the Sox were second in the AL in pitching last season with a 4.14 ERA without him. If he stays healthy, Peavy will only add to Chicago’s solid rotation (which also features Mark Buehrle, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Freddy Garcia) and the addition of J.J. Putz should bolster the bullpen as well. Outside of injuries, the only thing that could potentially hold Chicago back this year is its offense. What do you mean that’s kind of a big deal? I’m banking that youngster Gordon Beckham develops quickly and that Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios return to form. I also think the Sox will get key contributions from the additions GM Kenny Williams made this offseason in Andruw Jones, Juan Pierre and Mark Teahen. I’m not expecting the Sox to magically transform into the Yankees of the AL Central, but I do believe they have enough offense to get by while their pitching carries them to a playoff berth.

2. Minnesota Twins (10)
Boo! Hiss! Why do you have the Twins behind the White Sox, moron? Minnesota fans aren’t going to appreciate this – especially considering they’re still all hopped up on the Joe Mauer contract juice. But the pitching staff scares the bejeuses out of me. I’m well aware of what Mauer and Justin Morneau can do with 42 inches of lumber and I think the offseason addition of Jim Thome was great. But does this team have enough starting pitching to make a run? Based on the starters’ performances thus far in spring training, the answer to that question is “yes.” Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey, Carl Pavano and even Francisco Liriano have all looked good thus far but the Twins will need consistency out of this group throughout the entire season. Plus, Jon Rauch (or Heath Bell or Jason Frasor) has to step in for Joe Nathan, who was lost for the season after deciding to undergo Tommy John surgery. Even though Rauch has looked good himself this spring, Nathan left some pretty big shoes to fill. Another factor that I can’t shake is that the club is moving out of the Metrodome this year into the brand new outdoor Target Field. The Twins have gone 102-61 at home over the last two years and just 73-89 on the road. While it may sound trivial, they had a distinct advantage inside the dome – a distinct advantage they no longer have. That said, after I spent an entire paragraph doubting them, I do believe that the Twins have enough talent to run away with the Central. If the success that the starters have had this spring carries over into the regular season, then they should win the division. And if Rauch pitches as well as he did last season and in spring training this year, then he’ll ease the pain of the club not having Nathan. But something tells me that the Twins take a step back this year – the excitement about Mauer’s new contract be damned.

3. Detroit Tigers (16)
It’s hard to get a read on the Tigers. Are they a team moving forward or are they a team that’s ready to blow itself up and start rebuilding? Justin Verlander is a serious Cy Young candidate and Miguel Cabrera is a serious MVP candidate now that he has vowed to stay sober. (He was actually a serious MVP candidate when he was hitting the bottle the night before games, but being sober only helps things.) But here’s where my concern comes in with the Tigers: If things go bad in the first half, will the front office hold a fire sale at the deadline? No club in baseball has been hit harder by the downturn in the economy like Detroit has and I could see the Tigers creating financial relief for themselves by clearing some big contracts off the books – including Cabrera’s. That said, it’s not hard to see why Detroit fans are excited about the Tigers’ chances this year. Behind Verlander is 21-year-old phenom Rick Porcello and then promising, hard-throwing right-hander Max Scherzer, who was acquired in the Edwin Jackson deal. The Tigers also overpaid to watch Johnny Damon’s power decrease dramatically now that he won’t be hitting in Tornado alley, but fans seem excited about what he can bring to a lineup (i.e. patience at the plate, speed) and a clubhouse (i.e. orange slices and Capri Sun). As I wrote in the write up for the White Sox, the AL Central will be a crapshoot again this year. All three teams at the top of the division – the Sox, Twins and Tigers – have a legitimate shot at winning the Central and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Detroit wears the crown at the end of the year. But after they parted with Curtis Granderson in a cost cutting move this offseason, I worry about whether or not the front office is committed to winning. The Damon deal suggests that they are, but we’ll see what their intentions are around the trade deadline.

4. Kansas City Royals (25)
There’s just nothing to say about the Royals that hasn’t been said for the past 10 years. They’re so bland that sometimes you forget they’re even there. “Hey, who do the Sox play today?” “The Royals.” “Who? Christ, they’re still in the league?!” The problems that the Royals have from top to bottom are a mile long. They lack the basic fundamentals on the field, including but not limited to: base running, situational hitting and overall defense. This is also an organization that refuses to spend and what’s worse is that they have a brutal scouting department. So basically, it’s the worst of both worlds. That said, there is some hope on the horizon. Zach Greinke gives fans a legitimate reason to show up at the ballpark every fifth day and Billy Butler gives fans a legitimate reason to return from the concession stand when the Royals are up to bat. There’s also a lot of excitement surrounding 19-year-old Cuban defector Noel Arguelles and there is still one or two people left that believe Alex Gordon will develop too. But outside of that, the Royals (who?) will battle the Indians for fourth place in the division once again this season.

5. Cleveland Indians (28)
It just seems like yesterday that, after years of rebuilding, the Tribe had set themselves up with a solid core of players that would help them win for years to come. Then, after just one trip to the ALCS (2007), the club is now back in rebuilding mode. Cleveland fans must be thinking to themselves, “All right – who’s the jokester? Seriously guys, where’s CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez? I’m not kidding around – they were supposed to help us compete for a decade and now somebody has misplaced them.” If enough things break right, the Indians could actually finish near the middle of the pack this year. But a lot has to happen. Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona have to have solid seasons and Chris Perez has to fill Kerry Wood’s (out until early May with a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle, which can also be found in dolphins I think) shoes. Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner also have to bounce back from injuries and some of the young pups like Matt LaPorta and Asdrubal Cabrera have to contribute as well. All in all, the Tribe probably won’t be as bad as many think, but obviously expectations should be kept low seeing as how they are in rebuilding mode. “Rebuilding mode? Again? Are you serious?! Come on!”

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Will Mauer’s deal come back to haunt the Twins?

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:12:21 +0000

Whenever a team shells out the kind of money that the Twins just gave catcher Joe Mauer ($184 million for eight years), they have fully come to grips with the notion that they’re sailing into uncharted waters. But the hope is that the ends will justify the means and in the case of Mauer, they probably will.

Mauer hit .365 with 28 home runs last year and drove in 96 RBI. At only 26, the Twins are banking that Mauer won’t get injured and he’ll be able to keep his production high for most of his contract. And while he may need to eventually switch positions (with the nightly toll that the game takes on catchers, they tend to break down faster than other position players) to keep his offensive numbers high, there’s a good chance that Minnesota will get what they paid for.

Another key factor is that Mauer is a hometown hero – a local product that grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota and was drafted right out of high school. If the Twins were to spend big on any player, it might as well be Mauer, who is not only a fantastic player but who also is beloved by fans. He’s the face of their franchise and while the Twins are often reluctant to open their checkbooks, they had to ensure that Mauer would finish his career in the “Twin Cities.”

Is $184 million a lot of money to spend on one player? Of course it is and the Twins are well aware of the risk. But they had to pony up and I’m sure fans are glad they did.

On a related note, I find it ironic that the Twins bypassed (in part) Mark Prior on draft day in 2001 because they were afraid of how much they’d have to fork over for his signing bonus. Then they wind up signing Mauer for $184 million. It just goes to show you that if a player develops, a team will inevitably have to pay at some point.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

2010 Fantasy Baseball Preview: Catchers

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:25:41 +0000

All 2010 Fantasy Articles | 2010 Position Rankings

If you’re like most guys, you hate shopping. You’ll wait until one of the sleeves is coming off your shirt before you even think about heading to the mall to buy new clothes. And even then, it takes your significant other to say, “Are you seriously going out in public like that?” before you actually turn the keys in the ignition and embark on one of the most annoying days of the year.

Once you’ve pinpointed where you want to shop, the clearance rack usually calls out to you like that 50-inch plasma at Best Buy. It draws you in and once you’ve selected six shirts for a grand total of $22.50, you’ve completed your clothes shopping for the year.

Drafting a catcher in fantasy baseball is sort of like when guys go shopping for clothes. Once you finally come to realization that you need them, shopping in the bargain bin (or the clearance rack, or whatever other analogy you prefer) isn’t a bad way to go.

Unless your opponents fall asleep on Joe Mauer and he drops in your draft, nabbing one of these seven catchers is a good way to fill category voids that were created in earlier rounds. By the end of the year, there probably won’t be a huge gap between one of these catchers and one of the top 3 (Mauer, Brian McCann and Victor Martinez) that your buddy just had to have. (He’s probably the same guy that likes dropping $100 on a new shirt and buys another once the color starts to fade.)

Matt Wieters, Orioles
There’s a good chance that you’ll miss out on Wieters because there will be someone in your league that has an infatuation with youngsters that have extreme upside and will take him a round or two early. That’s okay. But if he does happen to fall, grab him because 2010 might wind up being the 23-year-old’s breakout season. After hitting .259 in a little over a month before the All-Star break, Wieters finished his rookie season on a tear while hitting .288 with nine dingers and driving in 43 RBI in 96 games. In September, he hit .362 with three homers and drove in 14 RBI while hitting in the No. 3 spot of Baltimore’s improving lineup. Assuming his success at the end of the 2009 season carries over, Wieters is the one player in this group that is worth taking a round before you’re ready to select a catcher (assuming he’s still available, that is).

Miguel Montero, Diamondbacks
After taking over for the injured Chris Snyder in June, Montero had a breakout year in 2009. He hit .294 with 16 homers and drove in 59 RBI, all while finishing with an OPS of .832. Assuming last year wasn’t a fluke, Montero should top those numbers this season in a full-time role. Draft him with confidence in the later rounds.

Geovany Soto, Cubs
After he won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2008, Soto owners were burned last year when he suffered a bad sophomore slump (.218-11-47). But he dropped 40 pounds over the offseason by whipping himself into shape and is committed to rebounding in 2010. He should also be completely healthy after battling shoulder and oblique injuries last season, which no doubt affected his performance. Considering some people will take a pass on him based on his ’09 struggles, Soto could wind up being a late round steal.

Jorge Posada, Yankees
Owners will pass on Posada on draft day because of his age, which is fine. You’ll gladly take a starting catcher that should hit around .275 with 20-plus home runs, 80-plus RBI and score 60-plus runs. Granted, you’ll want to make sure you take a decent backup to pair with Posada (he won’t make it through a full season), but he’s still productive and he hits in a stacked lineup. You could do much worse on draft day.

Mike Napoli, Angels
Here’s the good: Napoli will probably hit upwards of .270 this season and smack around 20 home runs, which is solid for a catcher that you can selected in the late rounds. Here’s the bad: If he doesn’t improve his defense, he will lose playing time to Jeff Mathis, who played well in the ALCS last season. Napoli is still the starter, but it would be wise to nab another catcher to pair with him in case Mathis takes over the backstop duties at some point during the year.

Kurt Suzuki, A’s
In his second full season behind the dish in Oakland, Suzuki finished with career highs in home runs (15), RBI (88) and runs scored (74), all while hitting a respectable .274. If he finishes with similar numbers in 2010, you would have gotten quality output from your catcher position late in the draft. A bonus with Suzuki is that he could steal 10-plus bases this year given his speed.

Chris Iannetta, Rockies
The Dodgers’ Russell Martin and the Pirates’ Ryan Doumit could be mentioned here as well, but we’ll go with Iannetta based on Martin’s poor 2009 campaign and Doumit’s ceiling. While it’s true that Iannetta will have to beat out free agent addition Miguel Olivo this spring, he’s expected to emerge as the clear starter and improve on his .228 batting average and 16-home run season in ’09. Iannetta believes that a mechanical adjustment that he made last August will allow him to see the ball better in 2010 and if that’s the case, you can expect another 15-plus home run season and a higher batting average this year. If nothing else, Iannetta’s home run production should help an owner that failed to address that category in earlier rounds.

Below is our official ranking of catchers. You’ll see that there is plenty of depth after the top 3, including the players ranked after the ones we mentioned above.

1. Joe Mauer, MIN
2. Brian McCann, ATL
3. Victor Martinez, BOS
4. Matt Wieters, BAL
5. Miguel Montero, ARZ
6. Geovany Soto, CHC
7. Jorge Posada, NYY
8. Mike Napoli, LAA
9. Kurt Suzuki, OAK
10. Chris Iannetta, COL
11. Russell Martin, LAD
12. Ryan Doumit, PIT
13. Carlos Ruiz, PHI
14. Bengie Molina, SF
15. A.J. Pierzynski, CHW
16. Yadier Molina, STL
17. Ramon Hernandez, CIN
18. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, TEX
19. John Baker, FLA
20. Carlos Santana, CLE