Fantasy Baseball 2010: Top 10 Catchers to Draft

With only nine every day catchers getting more than 450 at bats last season, drafting a catcher should be a primary concern for Fantasy Baseball owner is 2010. With that said, there is still enough talent to go around for most teams to land a solid catcher if they do their homework. Here then is a list of the top 10 catchers to keep an eye on during a 2010 Fantasy Baseball Draft.

Joe Mauer (Twins)

Mauer, the 2009 American League MVP, got off to a late start last season due to injuries.

After missing all of April, Mauer return to the Twins' lineup and hit above .400 into late June, and was still hitting over .370 into September, before winning the AL batting title with a .365 average. Along with that, the 6-5, 225 lbs lefty finally found his power stroke hitting 28 homers and driving in 96 runs in the process. At 26, Mauer's best years may still be ahead of him, though injuries have always been a concern with him. Still, no fantasy catcher offers a higher upside. In most leagues look for Mauer to go in the first round.

Victor Martinez (Red Sox)

After a dismal 2008, Martinez returned to posting the type of numbers he did in 2007, hitting .303 with 23 homers and 108 RBIs. What' more, he found the move to Boston to his liking, hitting .336 in 56 games for his new team. A .299 lifetime hitter who is only 31, there is no reason to believe that Martinez can't produce another season in the 20-100-.300 range. While he is not Mauer, few fantasy catchers have as much potential. Draft him as early as you dare.

Pablo Sandoval (Giants)

Technically Sandoval is more of a third baseman than a catcher, having played the position only 3 times last season, and 11 times in 2008. Still, in leagues where he does qualify as a catcher, Sandoval is a valuable commodity. Last year Pablo hit .330, proving that his .345 average the year before was no fluke. As if that wasn't enough, the 23 year old added 25 homers, 90 RBIs, and 5 steals. If he qualifies in your league, take him.

Brian McCann (Braves)

Few players have been as steady as McCann over the last four seasons, and expecting a 20 homer, 90 RBI season out of him at this stage should be a no-brainer. What's more the Braves backstop will not hurt your average either. Add to that the fact that he will also steal the occasional base and you have the makings of a fantasy star. If you do not like to gamble during the Draft, McCann is the catcher for you.

Kurt Suzuki (A's)

Suzuki has collected over 570 plate appearance each of the last two seasons since Oakland has a tendency to use him as a DH or a pinch hitter when he is not catching. At 26, there is no reason why this trend should not continue, especially since Suzuki's power numbers more than doubled last year. Look for his power numbers to increase slightly again this year and for Suzuki to hover around the 20 homer, 90 RBI mark. That the A's catcher can steal a few bases as well (he had 8 last season) is a nice added bonus.

Matt Wieters (Orioles)

Wieters was one of the most hyped up rookie in fantasy baseball last season after being named the 2008 Minor League Player of the year, and then hitting .343 for the Orioles in Spring Training. However the Orioles chose to start Matt in the minors last season before moving him to the parent club in May. Once in the majors he showed some of the skills that made him a minor league star, hitting .288 with 9 homers in 96 games. If you are looking for a player with upside, then Wieters is the catcher for you, especially if you are playing in a keeper league.

Bengie Molina (Angels)

Over the last five seasons Molina has posted solid fantasy numbers. In that span of time Molina has never hit below an average .265 or had less than 15 homers. Last season he broke the 20 homer barrier for the first time, adding 80 RBIs in the process. While not an elite fantasy catcher, Molina will not hurt your team either, and is worth a late middle round pick.

Russell Martin (Dodgers)

One of the few catchers in the majors who will get you a handful of steals a year, Martin has stolen 60 bases in the last four seasons. Martin is also one of the few catchers you can count on to get over 550 plate appearances a year, which means he is a safe bet to start daily for your fantasy team. Having said that, Martin's power all but disappeared last year and his home run totals dropped form a high of 19 in 2007 to 7 last season. Which Russell Martin shows up in 2010 is anyone's guess, and at this stage he is a high risk player who still has a decent ceiling in most fantasy leagues.

Ryan Doumit (Pirates)

After hitting for .318 in 2008, Doumit suffered through an injury plague season that saw him limited to 75 games last year. Playing in 60 games after the All-Star game, Doumit posted decent second half numbers and there is little reason to believe he can't return to being the hitter he was in 2008. While he will probably fall short of the .300 this season, look for Doumit power numbers to hover around the 18 homer, 75 RBI mark, and take him if he slips to the tail end of the draft.

Jorge Posada (Yankees)

At 38 Posada may have already seen his better days, and he may not be the 20-81-.285 hitter he was last year. However, he may be worth a late round pick, especially since he bats in a star studded Yankee lineup. What can you expect from Posada in 2010? Probably about 400 plate appearances, 15 homers, and 60-65 RBIs sound about right.

Statistical Sources:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/