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AMERICAN LEAGUE |
Catcher |
TM |
$$ |
Notes |
Joe
Mauer |
MIN |
25 |
Provides elite production
even without much power |
Victor
Martinez |
CLE |
23 |
Capable of rebounding from
disappointing 2008 |
Jorge
Posada |
NYA |
14 |
Will healthy shoulder
trigger return to 2007 form? |
A.J.
Pierzynski |
CHA |
12 |
Reliable source of solid
mixed production |
Mike
Napoli |
LAA |
10 |
Power potential offsets
injury risk |
Dioner
Navarro **** |
TB |
10 |
Has contact skills to
sustain 2008 production |
Brandon
Inge |
DET |
9 |
May not be revived by move
to hot corner |
Jarrod
Saltalamacchia |
TEX |
9 |
Upside remains, but may not
see regular playing time |
Matt
Wieters |
BAL |
8 |
Next great fantasy catcher
- ready to make an impact |
Kelly
Shoppach **** |
CLE |
8 |
May not get chance to build
on 2008 breakout with Martinez return |
Gerald
Laird |
DET |
8 |
Can count on everyday job
with new team |
Kurt
Suzuki **** |
OAK |
6 |
Provides durability, solid
AVG |
Jeff
Clement **** |
SEA |
6 |
Top talent may be primed
for breakout year. |
Jason
Varitek |
BOS |
5 |
Once-dangerous option in
serious decline |
Taylor
Teagarden **** |
TEX |
4 |
If he wins job, he's worth
a look |
Rod
Barajas |
TOR |
4 |
May need to improve numbers
to hold onto job |
Miguel
Olivo |
KCA |
3 |
Has pop to make impact in
everyday role |
John
Buck |
KCA |
2 |
Value drops off with
demotion to backup duty |
Mike
Redmond |
MIN |
2 |
With Mauer still
recovering, Redmond will see increased action |
Kenji
Johjima **** |
SEA |
2 |
May not hold off Jeff
Clement for much longer |
Michael
Barrett |
TOR |
2 |
May be hard-pressed to
regain relevance |
Gregg
Zaun |
BAL |
1 |
Will help keep job warm for
Matt Wieters |
George
Kottaras |
BOS |
1 |
Power prospect worth
watching |
Dusty
Ryan |
DET |
1 |
Young talent's path blocked
in Detroit |
Matt
Treanor |
DET |
1 |
Definite bench rider with
limited value |
Jeff
Mathis |
LAA |
1 |
Unlikely to usurp Mike
Napoli for starting job |
Jose
Morales |
MIN |
1 |
With Mauer still
recovering, Morales will back up Redmond |
Drew
Butera |
MIN |
1 |
Might see some big-league
time while Mauer recuperates |
Jose
Molina |
NYA |
1 |
Will return to backup duty |
Kevin
Cash |
NYA |
1 |
Will have tough time
earning playing time in the Bronx |
Shawn
Riggans |
TB |
1 |
Won't see enough playing
time to merit attention |
Max
Ramirez **** |
TEX |
1 |
May not have defensive
skills to stick behind plate |
J.P.
Arencibia |
TOR |
1 |
Offers big-time offensive
potential behind plate |
Josh
Bard |
|
1 |
Sent packing by Boston and
looking for a backup job somewhere |
***
BEST VALUE |
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NATIONAL LEAGUE |
Catcher |
TM |
$$ |
Notes |
Russell
Martin |
LA |
25 |
May need reduced workload
to regain top form |
Brian
McCann |
ATL |
24 |
Fantasy's top backstop
entering his prime years |
Geovany
Soto |
CHN |
18 |
Reigning NL ROY verging on
elite status as sophomore |
Ryan
Doumit |
PIT |
17 |
Potential unquestioned, but
needs to stay healthy |
Chris
Iannetta |
COL |
13 |
Carries impressive upside
into first full season |
Pablo
Sandoval |
SF |
12 |
Value boosted by catcher
eligibility |
Ramon
Hernandez **** |
CIN |
11 |
Could benefit from change
of scenery |
Bengie
Molina |
SF |
11 |
Consistent veteran showing
no signs of slowing, but look out for Buster |
Ivan
Rodriguez |
HOU |
10 |
Success in the WBC might
spill over to 2009 and a new team |
Chris
Snyder |
ARI |
6 |
Will need to keep producing
to hold off Miguel Montero |
Yadier
Molina **** |
STL |
6 |
Developing into consistent
option |
Jesus
Flores |
WAS |
6 |
Young Backstop still
adjusting to bigs |
John
Baker **** |
FLA |
4 |
Sleeper candidate could be
this season's Ryan Doumit |
Jason
Kendall |
MIL |
4 |
Diminshed production
offsets durability |
Brian
Schneider |
NYM |
3 |
Offers RBI Potential at
bottom of stacked lineup |
Carlos
Ruiz |
PHI |
3 |
Disappointing 2008 results
in 2009 timeshare - injury in WBC |
Miguel
Montero |
ARI |
2 |
Legitimate upside but stuck
behind Chris Snyder |
Nick
Hundley **** |
SD |
2 |
Has inside track on
starting job |
Luke
Carlin |
ARI |
1 |
Minor league numbers
suggest little upside |
David
Ross |
ATL |
1 |
Won't see much action
behind Brian McCann |
Paul
Bako |
CHN |
1 |
Veteran switch-hitter to
backup Geovany Soto |
Ryan
Hanigan |
CIN |
1 |
Opportunity limited by
arrival of Ramon Hernandez |
Yorvit
Torrealba |
COL |
1 |
Adjusting to backup role in
Colorado |
Sal
Fasano |
COL |
1 |
Better known for mustache
than production |
J.R.
Towles |
HOU |
1 |
Provides sleeper potential
after disappointing 2008 |
Brad
Ausmus |
LA |
1 |
Putt off retirement to
mentor Russell Martin |
Mike
Rivera |
MIL |
1 |
Stuck behind durable Jason
Kendall |
Angel
Salome |
MIL |
1 |
Good chance at midseason
callup |
Ramon
Castro |
NYM |
1 |
Power bat limited in
part-time role |
Robinson
Cancel |
NYM |
1 |
Mets third-stringer won't
see much action |
Ronny
Paulino |
PHI |
1 |
Likely headed for
third-string role |
Chris
Coste |
PHI |
1 |
Will see plenty of time vs.
lefties |
Lou
Marson |
PHI |
1 |
Phil's catcher of future
may back up in 2009 |
Paul
Hoover |
PHI |
1 |
Buried on depth chart |
Busty
Posey **** |
SF |
1 |
Begin the season in the
Minors but expect early call-up |
Bryan
Anderson |
STL |
1 |
Stuck behind steady Yadier
Molina |
Wil
Nieves |
WAS |
1 |
Minimal upside after losing
job to Jesus Flores |
Javier
Valentin |
WAS |
1 |
Will likely miss Great
American Ball Park |
***
BEST VALUE |
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