By Jeff Andriesse
Rotowhine.com Editor
January 7, 2008

Each week leading up to the 2008 major league baseball regular season, Rotowhine.com will dissect the top players in both the American and National League at each key fantasy position.

Top 15 Catchers - American League
I never know what to do with catchers. For something like 37 consecutive years, I drafted Javy Lopez in many of his incarnations. It didn’t matter the round, Lopez was always there right around the time I would say, “Damn. I need a catcher.” And I’m not sure it mattered - most years I’d be done with Javy by midseason and replacing him with someone else. Drafting a catcher is not likely to make or break your season. While it is the scarcest fantasy position, it is always hard to tell how high you should take someone. Victor Martinez is head and shoulders above the rest, but at what cost? Is he worth a third-round pick? Should you break the bank and bid as much as you would on, say, an upper-tier corner infielder? You might be better off waiting until the late rounds, when anyone outside of the top five of the following list will likely put up similar numbers. While I have more respect for catchers than any other position, due to their constant squatting, they are nothing more than dead weight on a fantasy team. Occasionally, one will break out with a career year and propel you to a championship. I even rode Lopez’s star to a title in 2003 when he was .328-43-109. If your league starts a “run” on catchers anywhere before the 10th round, smile on the inside and continue to scoop up the quality positional players and pitchers still on the board. I might be ok with a John Buck this year. Hell, I could even take Lopez again and probably compete.

1. Victor Martinez, CLE
2007 5×5 Stats: .301 BA, 78 R, 25 HR, 114 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 29 (12/23/78)
Martinez is the stud catcher that might be worth taking early. He had 562 at bats last season, often hitting cleanup in Cleveland’s dangerous lineup and playing first base on occasion. The switch-hitter has hit over .300 for three straight years and should continue to flourish in his prime.
2008 Projections: .309 BA, 81 R, 28 HR, 108 RBI, 0 SB

2. Jorge Posada, NYY
2007 5×5 Stats: .338 BA, 91 R, 20 HR, 90 RBI, 2 SB
Age: 36 (8/17/71)
Posada challenged Martinez for the top catcher honors last year and should be one of the first few off the board this season as well. Red flags are: He had never hit better than .281 in a full season prior to last year; he’s 36 and about due for an injury; he went off in a contract year. Still, he looks to be getting better with age.
2008 Projections: .296 BA, 83 R, 21 HR, 92 RBI, 1 SB

3. Joe Mauer, MIN
2007 5×5 Stats: .293 BA, 62 R, 7 HR, 60 RBI, 7 SB
Age: 24 (4/19/83)
After hitting .347 in 2006, Mauer fell off dramatically. He probably isn’t as good as he was two years ago but he isn’t as bad as his injury-plagued season last year indicates. Expect a bounce-back season for Mauer with more power and RBI. Don’t take him too early, though.
2008 Projections: .307 BA, 73 R, 12 HR, 85 RBI, 8 SB

4. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, TEX
2007 5×5 Stats: .266 BA, 39 R, 11 HR, 39 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 22 (5/2/85)
Saltalamacchia is slated to start at catcher for Texas, but his value lies in his positional flexibility. With Gerald Laird there to split catching duties with him, Salty can move to first base or DH when needed and gain even more at bats. He’s a young stud who should break out for good at any time. This year’s as good a bet as any.
2008 Projections: .274 BA, 67 R, 23 HR, 77 RBI, 1 SB

5. Kenji Johjima, SEA
2007 5×5 Stats: .287 BA, 52 R, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 31 (6/8/76)
Johjima is one of the trustier veteran catchers out there. He had 485 at bats last year and, while he was merely average, played well in spurts and hit for a pretty good average. The AL catcher drop-off starts here.
2008 Projections: .292 BA, 60 R, 16 HR, 68 RBI, 0 SB

6. Ramon Hernandez, BAL
2007 5×5 Stats: .258 BA, 40 R, 9 HR, 62 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 31 (5/20/76)
It was a lost year for Hernandez, but he plays in a bandbox, was 23 and 91 the year before in Baltimore and the pickings start to get really slim in the AL quickly.
2008 Projections: .266 BA, 51 R, 15 HR, 68 RBI, 0 SB

7. Ivan Rodriguez, DET
2007 5×5 Stats: .281, 50 R, 11 HR, 63 RBI, 2 SB
Age: 36 (11/30/71)
Pudge’s days of getting over 500 at bats a year may be numbered. He had 502 last year and his stats were pedestrian. He may hit ninth this season for the powerful Tigers. On the bright side, there might be a lot of guys on base for him in that potent offense.
2008 Projections: .286 BA, 58 R, 9 HR, 66 RBI, 1 SB

8. John Buck, KC
2007 5×5 Stats: .222 BA, 41 R, 18 HR, 48 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 27 (7/7/80)
Buck is nothing special but he’s comparatively coming into his own a bit and should provide good power. He hit 18 homers last year - nothing to scoff at - and will likely be given a bigger opportunity to be the everyday catcher for the Royals.
2008 Projections: .248 BA, 45 R, 19 HR, 57 RBI, 0 SB

9. Jason Varitek, BOS
2007 5×5 Stats: .255 BA, 57 R, 17 HR, 68 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 35 (4/11/72)
Varitek had a nice rebound year last year after a terrible 2006. His stats last season are probably his ceiling moving forward, however. He’s as valuable as any Red Sox player in real life, but about 85 percent of that value comes from his ability to handle a pitching staff. He should start declining sharply, although Boston doesn’t have anyone who is close to usurping him.
2008 Projections: .249 BA, 52 R, 14 HR, 56 RBI, 0 SB

10. A.J. Pierzynski, CWS
2007 5×5 Stats: .263 BA, 54 R, 14 HR, 50 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 31 (12/30/76)
Pierzynski was as good as a large percentage of catchers last year. He’s a starter in AL-only leagues, but not mixed leagues.
2008 Projections: .255 BA, 50 R, 12 HR, 48 RBI, 0 SB

11. Mike Napoli, LAA
2007 5×5 Stats: .247 BA, 40 R, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 5 SB
Age: 26 (10/31/81)
Napoli projects as the Angels’ catcher this year, but keep in mind Jeff Mathis, another good young player, will push him hard for playing time. Napoli might make a good late-round pick because if he becomes the full-time guy and can get to 400 at bats, he can be a steal.
2008 Projections: .243 BA, 49 R, 13 HR, 51 RBI, 3 SB

12. Gerald Laird, TEX
2007 5×5 Stats: .224 BA, 48 R, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 6 SB
Age: 28 (11/13/79)
Laird is the clear backup to Saltalamacchia heading into the season, but he appears here because of the real possibility that he will get traded. Laird isn’t as bad as his ‘07 numbers showed. If he plays full time anywhere, he’s as good as many of the guys on this list.
2008 Projections: .250 BA, 44 R, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 3 SB

13. Kurt Suzuki, OAK
2007 5×5 Stats: .249 BA, 27 R, 7 HR, 39 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 24 (10/4/83)
With Jason Kendall a free agent and the A’s in rebuilding mode, Suzuki is the starting catcher. He probably isn’t going to be a good enough offensive player to be much of a help.
2008 Projections: .238 BA, 42 R, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 1 SB

14. Gregg Zaun, TOR
2007 5×5 Stats: .242 BA, 43 R, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 36 (4/14/71)
Despite his age, Zaun still enters the season as the best bet to be the primary backstop in Toronto. He will likely not give you enough to be considered for your starting lineup unless you are in the deepest of AL-only leagues.
2008 Projections: .255 BA, 37 R, 11 HR, 43 RBI, 0 SB

15. Dioner Navarro, TB
2007 5×5 Stats: .227 BA, 46 R, 9 HR, 44 RBI, 3 SB
Age: 23 (2/9/84)
Navarro is young but has the talent to improve. That said, he won’t make a dent in the fantasy world.
2008 Projections: .240 BA, 42 R, 10 HR, 45 RBI, 4 SB

Coming Thursday (Jan. 10): Greg Fox breaks down the Top 15 National League catchers.