2013 MLB Preview: Fantasy Baseball AL-Only Catcher Rankings
Here are the 2013 LestersLegends catcher rankings for AL-only leagues.
1. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
Joe Mauer doesn’t provide power—deal with it. He hit .319 with 81 runs, which was the most among catchers. He only hit 10 home runs but had 85 RBI and eight stolen bases. Four out of five categories isn’t bad.
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2. Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles
Matt Wieters smacked 20-plus home runs for the second season in a row. He really took a leap forward with a career-high 83 RBI.
3. Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians
Carlos Santana had a dip in his power but still managed a very productive .252-72-18-76-3 line. He’s a solid bet to contribute in runs, home runs and RBI.
4. Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
Salvador Perez had an impressive .301-38-11-39-0 line despite being limited to 76 games. He has a bright future, if he can stay healthy.
5. Mike Napoli, Boston Red Sox
Mike Napoli clubbed 20 home runs for the fifth-straight year. His 2011 batting average was a fluke, but the power should be there in Boston. Napoli has a 1.107 lifetime OPS in Fenway Park.
6. Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers
Victor Martinez won’t catch this year, but you can take advantage of his eligibility. He’s 34 and coming off an injury, but he brings a big bat to the table. Not to mention, he’s playing in a pretty potent offense with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder.
7. Jesus Montero, Seattle Mariners
Jesus Montero posted a decent .260-46-15-62-0 line. The numbers didn’t quite live up to the hype, but he’s just 23 and the Mariners shortened the outfield dimensions. Look for a jump in power.
8. A.J. Pierzynski, Texas Rangers
A.J. Pierzynski had never reached the 20-HR plateau until he smacked 27 last year. That number is bound to go down, but he should still put up solid numbers for the Rangers.
9. Ryan Doumit, Minnesota Twins
Ryan Doumit will play a fair share of catcher but should see plenty of at-bats as the primary designated hitter as well. He posted a solid .275-56-18-75-0 line. Staying healthy will be the key, and all of those at-bats at DH should help his cause.
10. Alex Avila, Detroit Tigers
Alex Avila had a huge drop from his 2011 season when he slugged 19 home runs and drove in 82 runs. He won’t return to that level, but he should top last year’s .243-42-9-48-2 line.
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