Vic Martinez (CLE) - Several Cleveland players emerged as fantasy forces last year, so it figures that the first player profiled for 2006 would be one of them. Just pretend the first two months of 2005, where Martinez was flirting with the Mendoza line, never happened. After June 1 Vic hit 16 HR and 64 RBI, and hit a cool .380 and slugged .578 after the All-Star break. With many of the top backstops of recent years on the decline, Vic laps the field at the position and can be considered as early as the third-round of a 10-team draft.
Joe Mauer (MN) - The disappointing aspect of Mauer's first full season in the show is that he only hit nine home runs after hitting six in about a month's worth of work the previous year. On the plus side however is that Mauer stayed in one piece and actually stole 13 bases, about as good as you can expect from a catcher. It actually now looks like the Twins weren't necessarily playing on the cheap when selecting Mauer over Mark Prior in the 2001 Amateur draft. Still only 23, Mauer gets ranked second among catchers based on sheer potential.
Jason Varitek (BOS) - The safest pick amongst a group of veterans after getting past the first two. Based on recent performance, you can look for .280/20/70 at the minimum. The mid-round catcher run should start shortly after his named is called.
Jorge Posada (NYY) - Just three years removed from a 30 HR/100 RBI season, but age has really seemed to catch up with him in just the last couple of seasons. It doesn't bode well for a Yankee players when management suddenly deems him as overpaid and is looking to move him.
Ivan Rodriguez (DET) - Considered the gold standard at the position back in his Texas days, Pudge saw a huge drop in his RBI?s last year, going from 86 to 50, and has also gone three straight years without hitting 20 HR. Although his BA dropped to .276 last year, I'll keep Rodriguez ranked high in hopes that he will return to being a .300 hitter.
Javier Lopez (BAL) - That 43 HR/109 RBI season from a few years back seems like a distant memory now. With the Orioles acquiring Ramon Hernandez in the off-season Lopez is now trade bait who will see most of his time at DH, the hope would be that he sees enough playing time, and staying away from working behind the plate will make him more effective offensively.
Ramon Hernanadez (BAL) - Has quietly become a nice 20 HR/70 RBI man over the last few years while not exactly playing in the best hitters parks around on the West Coast. I may have to break my no-Orioles rule for Hernandez, who could have a career year playing in Camden Yards.
Kenji Johijima (SEA) - First Japanese catcher to try his hand in America signed a three year/$16.5 million contract over the winter, so you know the Mariners are committed to him. Hit .309 with 24 home runs in just 116 games last year, which should translate into being a top-ten catcher right out of the box. Good gamble pick if you think he could turn out even better than expected.
Michael Barrett (CHC) - 16 HR/65 RBI in 2004, 16 HR/61 RBI last year. A pretty good baseline for expectations has been established here.
Mike Piazza (SD) - You have to figure Piazza is getting desperate when he decides to sign with a team outside of the major markets. If (and that's a big if) he can stay healthy he's still a threat for 20+ home runs, but his batting average has fallen far in the past few years. The first base experiment was also a failure and Piazza can't throw anyone out defensively.
A.J. Pierzynski (CWS) - Batting average (.312 in 2003) has fallen the last couple of years but power has gone up somewhat, hitting 18 home runs last year. Has obviously found a home on the South Side.
Bengie Molina (TOR) - Had actually talked about sitting out the season if he didn't get the free agent contract that he is seeking. As one observer said about the situation, that will make him another year older and fatter.
Jason Kendall (OAK) - The good news is Kendall plays in more games than any other catcher, and actually had 601 AB's last year. The bad news is that Kendell managed to go the whole year without hitting a single home run. That might not be a problem for a Scott Podsednik, but Kendall's 8-10 SB's aren't really going to help you.
Brian McCann (ATL) - Braves thought enough of his work in the second half of 2005 to get rid of Johnny Estrada. Worth some consideration in salary cap games where he?s liable to be cheap.
Javier Valentin (CIN) - 14 HR/50 RBI in just 221 AB's last year sounds very nice, but remains in a platoon with Jason LaRue, and will see most of his action v. left handers.
Jason LaRue (CIN) - Does a LaRue plus a Valentin equal a Johnny Bench??? The two combined for 28 HR/110 RBI last year, owning both would be a plus if you feel it's worth it to go through the work of figuring out who is going to play on a given day.
Rod Barajas (TX) - Like most Rangers hitters is pretty good delivering the long ball, 14 in the second half of 2005 alone. I would feel a little better about him if he could ever get his batting average above .250.
Ryan Doumit (PIT) - Hit six home runs and 35 RBI in a half-years worth of work last year, should be a decent late round choice.
Greg Zaun (TOR) - Actually had a solid first two months last year, but quickly cooled off. I don't see a whole lot of upside with this veteran.
Johnny Estrada (AZ) - His days of being a worthy fantasy contributor may have ended when Darin Erstad plowed into him last June. Now with Arizona, Johnny will be fighting for playing time.
Paul LoDuca (NYM) - He seems to be following the Mike Piazza LA to Florida to the Mets career path pretty well. But unlike Piazza, LoDuca doesn't produce much with the long ball.
John Buck (KC) - Has 20+ home run potential but doesn't hit much above his weight and hits towards the bottom of a feeble lineup.
Jason Phillips (TOR) - You get first base eligibility but you may not want it, Phillips has hit .218 and .238 the last two years.
Toby Hall (TB) - Once thought to be a promising prospect, Hall is now 30 and doesn't display much more than your ordinary run-of-the-mill catcher.
