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AMERICAN LEAGUE |
| Catcher |
TM |
$$ |
Notes |
| Joe
Mauer |
MIN |
23 |
Provides elite production
even without much power |
| Victor
Martinez |
CLE |
18 |
Capable of rebounding from
disappointing 2008 |
| Mike
Napoli |
LAA |
12 |
Power potential offsets
injury risk |
| Matt
Wieters |
BAL |
9 |
Next great fantasy catcher
- ready to make an impact |
| Jorge
Posada |
NYA |
8 |
Will healthy shoulder
trigger return to 2007 form? |
| Jeff
Clement |
SEA |
6 |
Top talent may be primed
for breakout year. |
| A.J.
Pierzynski |
CHA |
5 |
Reliable source of solid
mixed production |
| Dioner
Navarro |
TB |
5 |
Has contact skills to
sustain 2008 production |
| Taylor
Teagarden |
TEX |
3 |
If he wins job, he's worth
a look |
| Kelly
Shoppach |
CLE |
3 |
May not get chance to build
on 2008 breakout with Martinez return |
| Jarrod
Saltalamacchia |
TEX |
2 |
Upside remains, but may not
see regular playing time |
| Kurt
Suzuki |
OAK |
2 |
Provides durability, solid
AVG |
| Miguel
Olivo |
KCA |
2 |
Has pop to make impact in
everyday role |
| Kenji
Johjima |
SEA |
1 |
May not hold off Jeff
Clement for much longer |
| Jason
Varitek |
BOS |
1 |
Once-dangerous option in
serious decline |
| Gregg
Zaun |
BAL |
1 |
Will help keep job warm for
Matt Wieters |
| Jeff
Mathis |
LAA |
1 |
Unlikely to usurp Mike
Napoli for starting job |
| Brandon
Inge |
DET |
1 |
May not be revived by move
to hot corner |
| Gerald
Laird |
DET |
1 |
Can count on everyday job
with new team |
| Josh
Bard |
BOS |
1 |
Primed to bounce back from
injury in 2008 - more time as Varitek falters |
| Max
Ramirez |
TEX |
1 |
May not have defensive
skills to stick behind plate |
| Mike
Redmond |
MIN |
1 |
AVG capabilities limited in
backup role |
| Rod
Barajas |
TOR |
1 |
May need to improve numbers
to hold onto job |
| John
Buck |
KCA |
1 |
Value drops off with
demotion to backup duty |
| Michael
Barrett |
TOR |
1 |
May be hard-pressed to
regain relevance |
| Dusty
Ryan |
DET |
1 |
Young talent's path blocked
in Detroit |
| Jose
Molina |
NYA |
1 |
Will return to backup duty |
| Shawn
Riggans |
TB |
1 |
Won't see enough playing
time to merit attention |
| Kevin
Cash |
NYA |
1 |
Will have tough time
earning playing time in the Bronx |
| Matt
Treanor |
DET |
1 |
Move to Motown doesn't
enhance minimal fantasy value |
| George
Kottaras |
BOS |
1 |
Power prospect worth
watching |
| J.P.
Arencibia |
TOR |
1 |
Offers big-time offensive
potential behind plate |
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NATIONAL LEAGUE |
| Catcher |
TM |
$$ |
Notes |
| Brian
McCann |
ATL |
25 |
Fantasy's top backstop
entering his prime years |
| Russell
Martin |
LA |
22 |
May need reduced workload
to regain top form |
| Geovany
Soto |
CHN |
21 |
Reigning NL ROY verging on
elite status as sophomore |
| Ryan
Doumit |
PIT |
18 |
Potential unquestioned, but
needs to stay healthy |
| Bengie
Molina |
SF |
16 |
Consistent veteran showing
no signs of slowing |
| Chris
Iannetta |
COL |
14 |
Carries impressive upside
into first full season |
| Pablo
Sandoval |
SF |
12 |
Value boosted by catcher
eligibility |
| John
Baker |
FLA |
4 |
Sleeper candidate could be
this season's Ryan Doumit |
| Ramon
Hernandez |
CIN |
4 |
Could benefit from change
of scenery |
| Yadier
Molina |
STL |
4 |
Developing into consistent
option |
| Chris
Snyder |
ARI |
2 |
Will need to keep producing
to hold off Miguel Montero |
| Ronny
Paulino |
PHI |
1 |
Likely headed for
third-string role |
| David
Ross |
ATL |
1 |
Won't see much action
behind Brian McCann |
| Brian
Schneider |
NYM |
1 |
Offers RBI Potential at
bottom of stacked lineup |
| Paul
Bako |
CHN |
1 |
Veteran switch-hitter to
backup Geovany Soto |
| Jason
Kendall |
MIL |
1 |
Diminshed production
offsets durability |
| Nick
Hundley |
SD |
1 |
Has inside track on
starting job |
| Mike
Rivera |
MIL |
1 |
Stuck behind durable Jason
Kendall |
| Bryan
Anderson |
STL |
1 |
Stuck behind steady Yadier
Molina |
| Ramon
Castro |
NYM |
1 |
Power bat limited in
part-time role |
| Chris
Coste |
PHI |
1 |
Will see plenty of time vs.
lefties |
| Brad
Ausmus |
LA |
1 |
Putt off retirement to
mentor Russell Martin |
| J.R.
Towles |
HOU |
1 |
Provides sleeper potential
after disappointing 2008 |
| Miguel
Montero |
ARI |
1 |
Legitimate upside but stuck
behind Chris Snyder |
| Yorvit
Torrealba |
COL |
1 |
Adjusting to backup role in
Colorado |
| Wil
Nieves |
WAS |
1 |
Minimal upside after losing
job to Jesus Flores |
| Jesus
Flores |
WAS |
1 |
Young Backstop still
adjusting to bigs |
| Ryan
Hanigan |
CIN |
1 |
Opportunity limited by
arrival of Ramon Hernandez |
| Lou
Marson |
PHI |
1 |
Phil's catcher of future
may back up in 2009 |
| Luke
Carlin |
ARI |
1 |
Minor league numbers
suggest little upside |
| Paul
Hoover |
PHI |
1 |
Buried on depth chart |
| Angel
Salome |
MIL |
1 |
Good chance at midseason
callup |
| Robinson
Cancel |
NYM |
1 |
Mets third-stringer won't
see much action |
| Javier
Valentin |
WAS |
1 |
Will likely miss Great
American Ball Park |
| Sal
Fasano |
COL |
1 |
Better known for mustache
than production |
| Carlos
Ruiz |
PHI |
1 |
Disappointing 2008 results
in 2009 timeshare - injury in WBC |
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