Fantasy Baseball Top 15 Catchers for 2011: OBP Leagues

If you are in a standard league you can view our rankings by clicking here.  Those rankings look significantly different than the ones for people in OBP leagues, however.  The most notable change is Carlos Santana, but there are a few other changes as well.  Let’s take a look at how things breakdown:

1. Joe Mauer – Minnesota Twins
2. Victor Martinez – Detroit Tigers
3. Carlos Santana – Cleveland Indians
4. Brian McCann – Atlanta Braves
5. Buster Posey – San Francisco Giants
6. Miguel Montero – Arizona Diamondbacks
7. Geovany Soto – Chicago Cubs
8. Kurt Suzuki – Oakland Athletics
9. Matt Wieters – Baltimore Orioles
10. Jorge Posada – New York Yankees
11. Chris Iannetta – Colorado Rockies
12. Mike Napoli – Texas Rangers
13. John Jaso – Tampa Bay Rays
14. Yadier Molina – St. Louis Cardinals
15. Russell Martin – New York Yankees

Thoughts:

• Carlos Santana third?  Really?  In an OBP, there is little question.  I know it was a short sample size (150 AB), but he posted a 19.3 percent walk rate over that time.  Yes, it’s a little bit exaggerated—but over his minor league career he posted a 15.7 percent mark.  Throw in the potential to hit .280+ and there is no reason to think that he won’t be an OBP machine.  With his HR/RBI/R upside being similar to that of both Brian McCann and Buster Posey, I have to move him ahead of them.  Yes, he’s a risk—but he’s one worth taking.  In fact, in this type of format it wouldn’t surprise me to see him outproduce Victor Maritnez as well.
• Even in his poor 2009 campaign, Geovany Soto managed a 12.9 percent walk rate.  Over his Major League career he is at 12.6 percent, to go along with a .268 average.  That helps him to a .360 OBP.  With that upside and power potential, there’s a lot to like.
• John Jaso is not an ideal option in standard leagues, as he has little power and only a halfway decent average.  However, in OBP formats his value increases significantly.  Likely hitting atop the Rays order, Jaso brings a very good OBP to the table (.372 in ’10).  I wouldn’t consider him a starter, but he’s worth considering.
• We all know the potential that Kurt Suzuki and Matt Wieters have.  Don’t give up on them quite yet.  Both could emerge as top options by the end of 2011 regardless of the format.

What are your thoughts on these rankings?  Who’s too high?  Who’s too low?

**** Make sure to order your copy of the Rotoprofessor 2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide + the 2011 OBP League Supplement, selling for just $8, by clicking here. ****

Make sure to check out our 2011 OBP rankings

• Top 15 First Basemen
• Top 15 Second Basemen
• Top 15 Third Basemen

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