Fantasy Baseball's Top 15 Catchers for 2011: An Extremely Early Look

You may think that June is too early to start ranking players for next season, but let’s face it—some of us have already fallen out of our leagues and are looking to deal for the future.

Obviously, depending on your league rules these may vary slightly, but let’s take an extremely early look at how I’d rank the top 15 catchers for 2011:

1. Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins
2. Brian McCann - Atlanta Braves
3. Victor Martinez - Boston Red Sox
4. Miguel Montero - Arizona Diamondbacks
5. Carlos Santana - Cleveland Indians
6. Kurt Suzuki - Oakland Athletics
7. Matt Wieters - Baltimore Orioles
8. Geovany Soto - Chicago Cubs
9. Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants
10. Ryan Doumit - Pittsburgh Pirates
11. Jorge Posada - New York Yankees
12. Mike Napoli - Los Angeles Angels
13. Russell Martin - Los Angeles Dodgers
14. Miguel Olivo - Colorado Rockies
15. Rod Barajas - New York Mets

Thoughts

• How many more years does Victor Martinez actually have behind the plate? That’s the huge issue and plays a role in determining his long-term value to dynasty league owners. For 2011, however, he’s going to still have eligibility there and will be a great option in all formats. If you are thinking past that, however, he drops down to maybe eighth. He’s just not going to stick at the position.
• Matt Wieters has struggled early on this season, but better days are certainly ahead for him. Don’t write him off quite yet. (Click here for my recent article on him.)
• Miguel Montero’s injury made it impossible to determine if his 2009 success was for real, but there’s little reason to think he’s going to be a fluke. He’s likely going to be a top-five catcher again next season.
• In just three games Carlos Santana has proven that all the hype was very much for real. He’s nearly a lock to be a top-10 option in 2011 and could potentially jump into the top four by year’s end. If you are building for next season, he’s certainly a guy that you should be targeting.
• Buster Posey will be a starting option in all formats assuming he gets enough time behind the plate in 2010 to be eligible there next season. He doesn’t have tremendous pop, but he’s going to hit for a good average and have the chance to drive in runs. He’ll be a borderline top-10 option, but in dynasty leagues he’s more like a top-seven. There’s no chance Bengie Molina is back, certainly helping Posey’s value.
• I am still a believer in Jesus Flores, but he’s nothing more then a late-round flier at this point. With Ivan Rodriguez entrenching himself behind the plate, he’s not going to make an impact this season.
• Chris Iannetta or Miguel Olivo? Who knows, but with Olivo emerging as the starter at this point, he’s got to be the man in the rankings for now. By September, that could change, but for now neither looks like an essential building block anyway.

What are your thoughts on these rankings? Who is being overvalued? Who is being undervalued?

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