Sometimes, catchers get overvalued by fans of position scarcity. The truth is that the comparative advantage of having even some of the top catchers just isn't all that great. Most of the time, if you don't get one of the very top players, it's best just to wait until the end and take what you can get.

Great Catches

Joe Mauer -- Minnesota

The frightening thing is that he should develop quite a bit more power as he matures.

Victor Martinez -- Cleveland

Martinez plays every day and hits like crazy when the weather heats up. As he plays more first base, there may be an opportunity one of these years to get catcher eligibility out of a very solid hitting first baseman, which could lead to a truly big season for a catcher.

Good Catches

Jorge Posada -- New York

The inevitable decline can't be far away now, but Posada managed to improve most of his offensive numbers last year. He's also in a contract year, so another big year seems plausible.

Ramon Hernandez -- Baltimore

Hernandez has put up solid, consistent numbers four years in a row. That 91 RBIs is going to be very difficult to repeat, though. He's good, but expect that number to drop to a place a little more in line with the rest of his numbers, and a little closer to the field.

Kenji Johjima -- Seattle

Johjima had a very solid rookie year that bodes well for the future. The only potential concern is his inability to take a walk, but his low strikeout totals suggest that has more to do with his ability to make contact than a lack of patience.

Jason Varitek -- Boston

If he played another position, last season could be viewed as a blip. However, at his age and position, chances are that it is a very real sign of decline. The only thing that might help is a lot more time off -- something the Red Sox probably aren't willing to do given the leadership role he plays on the team.

Ivan Rodriguez -- Detroit

Rodriguez has never been real patient, but he's gotten less so over the last couple of years. His power numbers have dipped quite a bit as well. He still can help you a lot in batting average, if your league rewards that type of thing.

A.J. Pierzynski -- Chicago

Pierzynski's value should diminish a bit in a platoon with Toby Hall. Whatever Pierzynski thinks of it, it is the right move, particularly given his struggles throwing out baserunners.

Catches

Mike Napoli -- Los Angeles

Napoli could go in a couple of different directions. Perhaps the league figured him out in the second half last year. On the other hand, he may have just gotten tired. His patience makes him an asset in leagues that focus more on walks and/or on-base percentage.

Jason Kendall -- Oakland

Kendall has become an utterly punchless hitter -- his on-base percentage has exceeded his slugging percentage three years in a row. What he does bring to the table is remarkable durability. By playing more games than anyone this side of Victor Martinez, he gets more runs than just about any of his peers.

Gerald Laird -- Texas

Laird really didn't hit much coming up through the minors. However, since losing the Rangers' starting job in 2005, he has hit very well both at AAA and in the majors. He has less upside than Napoli.

Gregg Zaun -- Toronto

After what was seemingly a career season in 2005, Zaun actually improved in 2006. He goes into 2007 as the starter, and deservedly so, but you have to wonder if he'll struggle with a job to call his own for the first time.

Bad Catches

Dioner Navarro -- Tampa Bay

Navarro is young enough to still have some upside, but he hasn't hit a whole lot outside of one good year in the minors in 2003.

Jason LaRue -- Kansas City

LaRue will compete for time with John Buck. Individually, you might get lucky and get an average season out of one of them. However, with the competition, you'll just get further attrition of stats that aren't particularly good to begin with.