It used to be that fantasy owners had only two viable options at catcher: Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez. After that, talent levels fell significantly to the likes of Jason Kendall and Mike Lieberthal, guys who you could likely take in the late rounds of any draft. But things have changed in recent years.
Piazza and Rodriguez still remain decent fantasy plays but they are no longer considered to be in the elite class. Instead they’ve been replaced by a three youngsters and have been joined by about half a dozen other catchers who could easily be plugged into any lineup.
Top 10 Catcher Rankings
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Victor Martinez (Votes: 29) | Joe Mauer (28) | Brian McCann (22) | Kenji Johjima (18) | Ivan Rodriguez (18) |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Jorge Posada (Votes: 15) | Ramon Hernandez (11) | Russell Martin (7) | Paul Lo Duca (4) | Gerard Laird (1) |
The Elite: By Newspaperman
Entering this season, there is little dispute as to who the elite catchers are. They are Joe Mauer, Victor Martinez and Brian McCann.
Mauer, the American League batting champion, blew fantasy owners away last year by posting more than 180 hits while flirting with .400 in June and July. He ended the year as the first catcher in Major League history to lead the league in batting.
His talent is unquestionable. He entered 2006 as a some what of an injury risk because of knee surgery the prior year, which made him a bargain. That’s simply not the case here. Mauer is a lanky catcher who has one of the sweetest strokes in baseball, and in time figures to add some power to his arsenal.
Hitting in front of AL MVP Justin Morneau and super utility man Michael Cuddyer, pitchers have little choice but to throw Mauer hittable pitches, which always makes him a threat. When he’s in a groove, he can carry your team in the hits category, and when he’s off he’s as productive in that category as just about any second-tier outfielder in the game.
Grab him early and use the late-round selection you would have used on another catcher to pad your bench or rotation. Count on him for about 170 hits, 18 homers, 80 RBIs and 80 runs.
With Mauer firmly planted at the top of this year’s elite class, the race is on between
At this time last season,
Once Mauer and
What McCann did during the second-half of last season was truly dynamic. He hit 18 of his 23 homers during the final stretch of the season and managed to keep his average above .320. He also doubled his first-half RBI total and finished with 93.
With the lack of track record, it’s hard to suggest taking McCann before any of the aforementioned, and it’s conceivable that owners would rather select a proven player at this position.
Fallback catchers: By The Jon
Once you get past Newspaperman's gushing of the catcher position, it is time to face the truth: Some amateur like him will pick a one of the top three guys too high. That leaves you with two choices. Be more of an amateur and pick a catcher higher than the first guy, or have a catcher that can be picked in the later rounds while giving solid production on a fantasy offense that is loaded with more reliable producers at first base and the outfield. Obviously, take the second one. As for stats, these are catchers. You will be lucky with a .280 average, 10-12 homers and 70 RBI.
In no particular order.
Ramon Hernandez: He's injury prone and his average is suspect, but Hernandez is strictly a lucky homer and RBI guy. If you go heavy with solid, top-line fantasy producers who net hits, homers and RBI, anything that Hernandez does is an added bonus. And when he gets on a hot streak of three to four homers a week he can carry you offensively. He's not all good though. Expect a couple of weeks strung together where he gives 2 hits a week. Hey, that's why he is not elite.
Paul Lo Duca: The great Lo Duca. The catcher that can always be picked in the very last round. He can always be had, and if you want to reach high and spend a 15th rounder on him, he is yours. Lo Duca is the steadiest nongreat catcher out there. He gives you hits and runs this side of a second baseman. For a 15th rounder you can do a lot worse. Lo Duca is actually a guy that can be played every week and doesn't hurt you ... too much.
A.J. Pierzynski: Mr. Clubhouse is so steady, I can spell his last name without having to look it up. He is another Lo Duca, but with more power and he plays in the Chicago White Sox launching pad (hey, one cliché isn't too bad). He is the most all-around stat producer of the second-tier catchers and can also get on hot streaks for power and RBI. If you get him and Bengie Molina, you can interchange them and get steady if not subpar results at a position that is known as the catcher.
Sleepers: By Free San Jose
If ever there was a year to feel comfortable waiting on a catcher, this would be it. I can't remember the last time this position was so deep, both in potential and sure bets.
There's no reason to panic and take any of the guys beyond the top three before you're comfortable at the other positions, and if you do that, be prepared to take a gamble.
Here are a few guys worth doing that with:
None of these three are rookies, but they also have less than three years experience between them:
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