Fantasy Baseball Preview: MLB Catcher Rankings for 2010

Now that the month of March is officially under way, it’s time to start looking at fantasy rankings for 2010.

Let’s start our rankings with the guys behind the plate.

Joe Mauer Division

1. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins

You know you are in a class by yourself when you have your own division. And that is what Mauer is—in a class all by himself. Not only is Mauer the best catcher in baseball, but he just might be the best hitter in baseball.

Now even Mauer gives your fantasy team something he didn’t used to—power. He hit a career-high 28 home runs last season. I expect his average to dip a little bit from his .365 mark last season, but, with an improved lineup behind him, he could break the 100-RBI mark in 2010.

Gary Carter Division

2. Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves

If Mauer wasn’t around, McCann would be considered the best offensive catcher in the game. He should be the next catcher off the board once Mauer goes. McCann had a down year by his standards in 2009, as most his numbers dipped from 2008.

McCann saw a dip in home runs, average, OBP, and slugging percentage. With an improved lineup up around him and a new round of Lasik eye surgery in the offseason, I expect him to reach his 2008 numbers once again.

3. Victor Martinez, Boston Red Sox

Martinez is entering his free agent year, so it will be interesting to see if he has one of “those” years. One of those career years that a player has right before he becomes a free agent.

Martinez is getting up there in age (31) and now he will be asked to be the full-time starting catcher for the first time in three years. I expect him to hit about .290 with 20 home runs, 100-plus RBI, and a .365 OBP.

4. Miguel Montero, Arizona Diamondbacks

At 26 years old, Montero is blossoming into a star at the catcher position. Last year, Montero hit .294 with 16 home runs in just 128 games. I expect those numbers to increase in 2010.

And for what it’s worth, Montero hit one of the longest home runs I have seen in person when he hit the bridge in right center field at Citi Field.

5. Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs

I know, I know, I have Soto a little high. But I really feel he is going to have a bounce-back year. I expect him to come close to his .285/23/86 season of 2008.

6. Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles

After a really slow start, Wieters managed to finish the season with a .288/9/43/.340 hitting line in 354 at-bats. With a full year under his belt, look for Wieters to start his ascent toward the top of the fantasy catcher rankings.

Ted Simmons Division

7. Jorge Posada, New York Yankees

Posada had a typical Posada season last year—.285 average with 22 home runs and 81 RBI. The problem with Posada going forward is that as the older he gets, the less he is going to play. He only played in 111 games last season.

8. Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals

Molina seems to get better with age. His OPS has increased each of the last four seasons and his at-bats have increased the last three seasons, meaning he is going to be in there every day and giving you production.

Perhaps this is the year where Molina reaches double digits in home runs.

9. Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh Pirates

I am not a fan of Doumit. Last year was supposed to be his breakout season and he fell flat on his face. Injuries limited him to only 75 games. Despite me not being a fan, if he stays healthy, Doumit should put up descent numbers for a catcher in 2010.

10. Mike Napoli, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The only thing that holds Napoli back from being a top-five fantasy catcher is playing time. For the first time in his career last year, Napoli played in over 100 games. With the Angels’ lineup appearing to be a little weaker than last year, look for Napoli to play in over 100 games again in 2010, though the addition of Hideki Matsui will leave fewer opportunities for him to DH.

Pencil in Napoli for a .270 average with 20-plus home runs in 2010.

Darrell Porter Division

11. Kurt Suzuki, Oakland A’s

Raise your hand if you knew that Suzuki had 88 RBI last year. That’s what I thought. Not too many people knew that Suzuki put up a .274/15/88 season last year.

There are a couple of drawbacks to Suzuki, though. First, I don’t expect him to have 88 RBI next year. Expect around 65-75. Second, he will kill you in the OBP category. For his career, Suzuki has a .329 OBP.

12. Russell Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers

What on earth happened to this guy? For the first three years of his career, Martin averaged .285/14/74/.373 with 16 stolen bases. Last year, Martin dropped to .250/7/53/.352 with 11 stolen bases.

I expect Martin to have a better year in 2010 than he did in 2009, but I don’t think he approaches anything like his first three years. I also expect his stolen base numbers to remain around 10, which really hurts his fantasy value.

13. Chris Iannetta, Colorado Rockies

Last year was supposed to be Iannetta’s big breakout year. Well, that never happened. The former University of North Carolina Tar Heel hit only .228 with 16 home runs in 93 games.

Maybe we were all one year too early in predicting Iannetta’s breakout year. He will get every chance to be the everyday catcher in 2010. Iannetta has a chance to break into the top 10 of fantasy catchers this year.

14. Bengie Molina, San Francisco Giants

We all know Molina is not going to walk. It’s just not going to happen. He has walked a grand total of 47 times over the last three years. But what Molina will give your fantasy team is home runs and RBI.

Molina should hit between 15-20 home runs and drive in around 70-80 runs in 2010.

15. Jeff Clement, Pittsburgh Pirates

Clement will be playing first base for the Pirates in 2010 but qualifies as a catcher in most leagues. This might be Clement’s last shot at a big league job, so I expect him to have a decent season in Pittsburgh. He could hit between 10-15 home runs and have a .260 average in 2010.

16. AJ Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox

Pierzynski’s average and OPS have increased each of the last three seasons. He is almost a lock for 13 home runs, 50-60 RBI, and an average around .290.

Tony Pena Division

These are the guys that you really don’t want as starters on your fantasy team

17. Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia Phillies

Good player, but not good fantasy player.

18. Ramon Hernandez, Cincinnati Reds

Will start for the Reds.

19. Kelly Shoppach, Tampa Bay Rays

He will eventually get more playing time than Dioner Navarro.

20. John Baker, Florida Marlins

Suffered the Iannetta breakout jinx in '09. Could be a candidate in '10.

21. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Texas Rangers

This is a big year for “Salty.” He should off Taylor Teagarden for the starting job in Texas.

22. Miguel Olivo, Colorado Rockies

If Iannetta struggles, Olivo could step in and is capable of hitting 20 home runs.

23. J.R. Towles, Houston Astros

Has to hold off Jason Castro, but could be a sleeper for 2010.

24. Rod Barajas, New York Mets

Should win the starting job in New York. Capable of hitting 15 home runs.

25. Dioner Navarro, Tampa Bay Rays

After his poor 2009 season, the Rays may have soured on Navarro.

25. Alex Avila, Detroit Tigers

Gerald Laird will start in Detroit, but Avila will eventually win the starting catchers job.

26. Nick Hundley, San Diego Padres

The Padres will give him every chance to start. Could hit 10-plus home runs.

27. Gregg Zaun, Milwaukee Brewers

Zaun’s numbers aren’t as bad as one would think. Could hit 10 home runs with a .340-plus OBP.

28. Ivan Rodriguez, Washington Nationals

He doesn’t have much left in the tank. Only if you are desperate.

29. John Buck, Toronto Blue Jays

Buck has always shown flashes of potential but has never delivered.

30. Jason Kendall, Kansas City Royals

If you draft Kendall, don’t expect to win any money in 2010.

Waiting in the Wings

Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

It’s looking like more and more Posey will start the year in the minor leagues. He should be called up after April and push Molina for the starting catcher job in San Francisco.

Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians

This guy is a man-beast and will be a top-five fantasy catcher by 2012. He might start the year in the minors, but it is only a matter of time before he beats out Lou Marson in Cleveland.

Jason Castro, Houston Astros

Keep an eye on Castro. If he has a good spring he will start over Towles. If he beats out Towles, he will fall in the 15-20 range of fantasy catchers.

Next up will be the fantasy closer rankings for 2010.

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