Fantasy production from the catcher’s spot has become less and less prominent in recent seasons.
This season is no different, as ESPN hasn’t predicted any players to reach the 500-point mark in head-to-head leagues.
Now that fantasy baseball players have discovered that Victor Martinez will miss the entire 2012 season, a murky pool of players remains.
1. Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians
Santana is the new cream of the crop with V-Mart gone for the year. He’s also first-base eligible, which is a huge plus, making him worthy of fifth- or sixth-round pick.
You’re guaranteed almost a point a game from him as he possesses impeccable plate discipline and knowledge of the strike zone.
He’s got great power (27 homers in 2011), and that will only get better with age. His main downside is that he’ll cost you in the average category in a rotisserie league, but for those of you in head-to-head, he has to be the No. 1 catcher.
2. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
It seems that Mauer is a real boom-or-bust pick every year. He’s great when he’s on the field, but you always hear about some lingering injury that he’s dealing with.
That being said, from 2005-2010, he played 130 games in all but one season.
In the last two seasons, his power has been sapped, presumably by his oft-injured lower body. He’s always going to hit for average, as he’s hit at least .327 in three of the last four campaigns.
The good news is that he arrived to spring training healthy, and is still healthy right now. That’s all you can hope for with a guy like Mauer who is capable of hitting .365 with 28 home runs, like he did in 2009.
3. Mike Napoli, Texas Rangers
Another catcher who is eligible at first base, Napoli is the third-best catcher available in 2012.
Here’s a word of advice: Draft Napoli a round earlier than you think he is going to go, especially if Santana and Mauer are already off the board.
Once those two get picked, people will remember they actually have to draft a catcher and will be looking at Napoli as a No. 3 pick.
There is an injury concern, as he missed 49 games in 2011, but he appears healthy heading into the season.
4. Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves
McCann spent some time on the disabled list last season thanks to an injured oblique muscle, and saw his average drop over 30 points upon his return.
Despite that discouraging trend, McCann’s 2012 season looks like it’s shaping up to be very successful. The Braves have a lineup full of young, quality hitters who will get on base in front of McCann.
Those hitters (Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman and Dan Uggla) are also capable of protecting him if the order were to change.
McCann hit 24 homers last season and only struck out 89 times.
Those statistics, coupled with his low average, indicate that perhaps McCann was just unlucky in 2011. High power, high contact and low average usually indicate that the guy hit a bunch of “hang-with-ems.”
The real talent drop-off begins once McCann is taken off the board, so take one of these top-four catchers and leave the rest of your league in the dust.
5. Miguel Montero, Arizona Diamondbacks
This one was a toss-up between Matt Wieters and Montero. Montero is the guy to go with, specifically because Wieters has an average draft position of 90, 30 picks before Montero.
Montero accounted for 18 homers, 86 RBI and hit .282 last season.
Wieters hit 22 homers and 68 RBI to the tune of a .262 average.
Wieters in the eighth or Montero in the 11th? You’d be getting more bang for your buck if you resist the urge to take the sexy pick over the sensible pick.
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