Even though Carlos Santana had only 150 career at-bats and was coming off season-ending knee surgery, Fantasy owners drafted him as a top catcher entering 2011, having seen enough to believe all the prospect hype was legit. And wouldn't you know it, they were right. Santana ranked second among all Head-to-Head catchers in his first full season, demonstrating a rare combination of power and patience for a catcher. His 97 walks ranked him sixth among all position players. The next-closest catcher had only 73. Perhaps the biggest boon to Santana's value, though, was the Indians' decision to give him the Victor Martinez treatment, splitting his time between catcher and first base to keep his bat in the lineup. As a result, he was one of only two catcher-eligible players with more than 500 at-bats. It wasn't always rainbows and gumdrops, of course. Santana did hit only .239, which might be what prevents him from being the first catcher selected in Rotisserie leagues. But if he managed to put up the numbers he did despite that low batting average, imagine what he'll do if he comes closer to the .290 mark he achieved during his minor-league career. With his playing time, plate discipline and power potential, Santana has such an advantage over most every other catcher that he's worth drafting as early as the second round.
When the Tigers named Alex Avila their starting catcher in 2011, it was a definite improvement over Gerald Laird, at least as far as Fantasy owners were concerned. But few expected him to be the best catcher in the American League, not only earning a starting nod in the All-Star game but also winning a Silver Slugger. And unlike many overachievers who get off to hot starts only to fade down the stretch, he actually got better as the season went on, hitting .306 with a .916 OPS in the second half. The power wasn't so much a surprise; what really set him apart was his patience. He led all catchers (minimum 400 at-bats) with a .389 on-base percentage. Granted, he flopped in the playoffs, with a sore knee taking all the punch out of his bat. But the Tigers attribute that injury, among others, to overuse and have said they'll bring in a legitimate backup catcher for Avila. Because he doesn't have the pedigree of a Buster Posey or Matt Wieters, Avila might slip further in drafts than his numbers say he should. If he lasts beyond the first six or seven rounds, he's a bargain.
Brian McCann's final numbers would lead you to believe he was a disappointment in 2011. Yeah, he equaled a career high with 24 homers despite a career-low 128 games played, but his percentages weren't up to standard. Keep in mind, though, he was having arguably his best season before suffering a strained oblique in late July. He rushed back after only three weeks on the DL to hit .180 with a .638 OPS over his final 37 games, bringing his season marks down from .306 and .889. As a result, he could be something of a forgotten man at what has become a surprisingly deep position with the emergence of Mike Napoli, Alex Avila and Matt Wieters, the return of Buster Posey and Joe Mauer, and the arrival of Jesus Montero. Still, you can't knock McCann's consistency. While other slugging catchers have come and gone, he has been a constant in the heart of the Braves lineup, hitting his usual 20-25 homers and driving in his usual 80-90 runs for six steady seasons. Carlos Santana will get more at-bats with first base and designated hitter available to him on his "off" days, but that's the only thing separating him from McCann at the top of the catcher rankings.
After getting traded twice in the offseason, Mike Napoli ended up with the Rangers in 2011 and enjoyed the finest campaign of his career. Splitting time between catcher, first base and DH, he hit .221 with 10 homers and 25 RBI over his first 46 games before missing nearly a month due to an oblique strain. He would return with a vengeance in early July, batting .378 with 20 home runs, 50 RBI and a .712 slugging percentage over his final 67 games. Napoli also had a solid postseason and appears to have finally reached his potential in Texas. The ballpark he plays in and the lineup surrounding him only helps his offensive production, and he enters 2012 as one of the better options in Fantasy at catcher. The 30-year-old has the power to hit 30 home runs on a yearly basis and should have plenty of guys on base when he comes to the plate. Considering he has averaged 24 home runs with a .535 slugging percentage over the last four seasons, target Napoli as a Top 5 Fantasy C on Draft Day.
In retrospect, Fantasy owners should have known something was wrong when Joe Mauer missed the first half of spring training with lingering effects from offseason knee surgery. For a guy who spends half his time squatting behind the plate, the long layoff was a big deal. Mauer didn't get to build up the strength in his knee prior to the season, and he paid the price -- not just statistically, but with a lengthy DL stint for bilateral leg weakness beginning in mid-April. Though Mauer did improve when he returned in mid-June, he was never quite himself. The Twins gave him extra time at first base and DH in an effort to keep him fresh, but he was more or less a singles hitter all year, unable to make up any ground in the catcher rankings. His season also ended a couple weeks early because of a bout with pneumonia. With three batting titles and an MVP under his belt, Mauer still has the potential to be the best catcher in Fantasy, but coming off such a frustrating year, he's not necessarily a top-five option at the position. That said, an offseason of health could make him a steal in the fifth or sixth round of mixed-league drafts.
In his first two seasons with the Orioles, Matt Wieters had only shown glimpses of being the hitter he was in his minor league career. Last year, in his third season, the Wieters Fantasy owners had patiently waited for had finally arrived. The 25-year-old catcher cracked 22 home runs, 12 of which came during the season's final two months. Wieters cut back on his strikeouts later in the season, and in addition to connecting more often for homers he also walked more frequently. He has already proven he is durable, so owners should plan on getting plenty of at-bats from Wieters. Now that his power and on-base skills are developing, owners should view Wieters as a solid No. 1 catching option for mixed leagues.
Miguel Montero bounced back nicely from a 2010 campaign that was shortened by knee surgery, posting career highs in home runs (18), RBI (86) and runs scored (65). In 2011, only Carlos Santana made more plate appearances among catchers than Montero, and going into next season, there is no one on the Diamondbacks to seriously challenge Montero for playing time. A catcher who can play nearly every day is a rarity, and that alone gives Montero value in any Fantasy format. He also possesses a good power bat for a catcher, so he should easily outproduce backstops like Yadier Molina and Kurt Suzuki who also rarely rest. Mixed league owners should look to Montero as a low-end No. 1 catcher who will likely come off the board within the first 10 rounds in next spring's drafts.
What most people will remember about Buster Posey's 2011 season is how it ended -- with torn ligaments and a broken bone in his left ankle. The premature end to Posey's sophomore season, resulting from a home plate collision in late May, took the 24-year-old off his rapid upward trajectory, though the 2010 National League Rookie of the Year was already contending with some disappointments. Over the 45 games he did play in 2011, Posey was missing the power that thrust him into the elite catching corps, having hit only four home runs and five doubles. He was clearly making progress on becoming a more patient hitter, however, as he took more pitches per plate appearance and increased his walk rate. It may take awhile for Posey to reestablish his power numbers, but as a catcher who will start regularly and get on base frequently, he still has elite appeal in Fantasy. Despite the long layoff, expect Posey to be one of the first six catchers to be taken in most drafts.
Yadier Molina continued his offensive progression a season ago and posted career highs in some significant areas. He batted .282 with five home runs and 31 RBI in the first half while earning his third straight trip to the All-Star game. He would explode in the second half, hitting .337 with nine home runs and a .535 slugging percentage, and posted a .333 average in the NLCS and World Series to help lead the Cardinals to their second championship in the last six years. Molina ended up setting personal bests with a .305 average, 14 home runs, 65 RBI and a .465 slugging percentage. While he won't have Albert Pujols' presence in the lineup in 2012, the 29-year-old should be able to post numbers similar to last year's as he will continue to see the majority of the starts behind the plate in St. Louis. Target Molina as a Top 15 Fantasy C on Draft Day.
After a bounce-back campaign in 2010, Geovany Soto struggled to hit for average a season ago and struck out more times than he had in his career. A groin injury cost him some time in the first half in which he batted just .228 with eight home runs and 23 RBI before the All-Star break. He compiled just a .228 average down the stretch and finished the year with 17 home runs and 54 RBI. While his power numbers did not change much, he struck out a career-high 124 times and got on base at just a .310 clip. With Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena no longer in Chicago, the Cubs will be counting Soto for power this season, so hopefully he will be able to return to 20-plus homers for the first time since 2008. The 29-year-old has the offensive potential to be a top contributor in Fantasy and while his recent struggles have hindered him a bit, consider Soto a Top 15 catcher on Draft Day.
After three straight years of decline with the Dodgers, Russell Martin got his Yankees career off to a good start. Having his most productive season in three seasons, Martin hit 18 homers and drove in 65 runs, though his .237 batting average was a career low. His stats may have been more robust overall if he hadn't suffered a mid-season swoon that was likely related to a stiff back. Fortunately, he was not hindered by his hip, which affected him in his final year with the Dodgers. Martin took advantage of his new environment, increasing his flyball rate, but his emphasis on power probably robbed him of some points on his batting average. Look for Martin to have another good season of power production, and even though it may come at the expense of his batting average, he will still be a low-end No. 1 catcher in mixed league formats.
Kurt Suzuki was able to keep his power up a year ago but his average fell off significantly, which -- in turn -- affected his run production. He batted just .225 with seven homers and 22 RBI in the first half before picking things up a bit after the All-Star break. He hit .254 over his final 55 games and finished the year with 14 home runs and 44 RBI. Since his breakout campaign in 2009, Suzuki has posted back-to-back seasons with a slugging percentage under .400 and a batting average no higher than .242. He added some bulk in the offseason to help him become more durable and consistent so hopefully he will be able to return to being a solid Fantasy C again for owners. Target Suzuki as more of a No. 2 option on Draft Day but don't be surprised if the 28-year-old ends up outperforming his draft position.
If home run power alone determined a player's Fantasy value, J.P. Arencibia would be a Fantasy stud. As a 25-year-old rookie, Arencibia made his mark in 2011, ranking fourth among all major league catchers in home runs (23) and RBI (78). Despite that elite-level clout, Arencibia finished the year ranking 10th in Head-to-Head and Rotisserie value, mainly because he contributed little else. Prone to strikeouts and popouts as a minor leaguer, Arencibia's weaknesses were exploited and magnified in his first full year in the majors. While he gave the Blue Jays a power bat in the lower portion of their lineup, his status as a clear-cut starter and a viable No. 1 Fantasy catcher could both take a hit this year. Highly-touted prospect Travis D'Arnaud will begin this season in Triple-A, and if Arencibia falters, the youngster could just be a call away from challenging him for playing time. Even though his numbers suggest something better, mixed league owners should view Arencibia as a No. 2 catcher going into this year's drafts.
After the offseason Wilson Ramos just had, this baseball stuff should be a breeze. Coming off a fourth-place finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting, the 24-year-old received an early introduction to the perils of fame and fortune by getting kidnapped in Venezuela. Though understandably shaken from the ordeal, Ramos is no worse for wear, which should be exciting news for Fantasy owners looking for another impact bat at a historically weak position. That bat wasn't always apparent during his time in the minors, but the scouts never lost faith in Ramos, which is why the Nationals were happy to acquire him as a failsafe for Derek Norris in the Matt Capps deal in 2010. Because he was further along at age 23, Ramos got the first crack as Ivan Rodriguez's understudy last year and took off when he began getting the majority of the at-bats in July, hitting .296 with nine homers and an .852 OPS over the final three months. The Nationals were confident enough in the breakthrough to ship Norris to Oakland in the offseason. With a full workload, a 20-homer season is a possibility for Ramos. Considering he ranks just outside the top 12 catchers in Fantasy, you shouldn't have to overpay for that kind of production.
John Buck managed to spin a career-best 2010 season into a multi-year deal with the Marlins before predictably returning to career norms last year. His 16 homers were healthy enough for a catcher, but his .227 batting average? Yup, that's exactly the John Buck we remember from all those years in Kansas City. The 31-year-old backstop has pop, but he's a free-swinger with a propensity for pop-ups -- a combination that, apart from that one magical year in Toronto, condemns him to a batting average in the low-.200s. Buck should have a better supporting cast in 2012, which should lead to some modest gains in RBI and runs scored, but given his return to normalcy last year, you wouldn't want to draft him as more than a second catcher in mixed leagues -- and even then, only if you're willing to absorb the hit in batting average.
