I'm just ranking them by quantifiable OPS, rather than putting in my opinion, or factoring in fielding, and so on. This will be ongoing over the next few weeks.
1. Brian McCann, Atlanta (.834 OPS)
McCann's been at or near the top of the NL's best catchers over the last couple of years, but you haven't read a lot about him. That should change at some point – it may take a career season to do so, however.
2. Miguel Montero, Arizona (.832 OPS)
Took a significant step up last year. A little less power than McCann, but a few more singles and walks. I'd take either one of them.
3. Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia (.780 OPS)
The Phillies really need a platoon partner for Ruiz – they let Chris Coste go halfway through the season. I don't think he's capable of handling 110 games by himself without his numbers taking a hit.
4. Chris Ianetta/Yorvit Torrealba, Colorado (.773 OPS)
The Rockies have waited patiently for Ianetta to arrive, even signing Torrealba to a two-year deal after winning the 2007 pennant. The wait has paid off; Ianetta's now at about the same level as McCann or Montero, and Torrealba's a free agent. Torrealba can still hit, but he's got injury issues and threw out just 14 percent of baserunners trying to steal, worst in the NL.
5. John Baker/Ronny Paulino, Florida (.761 OPS)
Marlins dealt for Paulino last year even though Baker was coming on, but having them split the receiving duties was a good idea. Baker has more power, Paulino hits for average better.
6. Bengie Molina, San Francisco (.727 OPS)
Hit 20 homers last year, and plays good defense. That's all he does. He took 13 walks in 520 plate appearances. He's a free agent, and will shift into a platoon role unless the Giants panic and offer him arbitration.
7. Yadier Molina, St. Louis (.714 OPS)
Took 22 walks in 510 plate appearances, which was far better than his brother. Also hit .294, a career high. Good defense, doesn't hit for power.
8. Nick Hundley/Henry Blanco, San Diego (.712 OPS)
Hundley had a pretty decent first year and Blanco adds a little sock and is a good defender. Not a strength, but the Padres have a lot bigger issues than this.
9. Ryan Doumit/Jason Jaramillo, Pittsburgh (.697 OPS)
Doumit missed a lot of last year due to injury; if he plays 100 or more games, he'll rank in the top four. Jaramillo's a catch-and-throw backup.
10. Ramon Hernandez/Ryan Hanigan, Cincinnati (.696 OPS)
A couple of years ago Hernandez was among the better catchers offensively, but time and injuries have taken their toll; now he takes a lot of walks but little else. Hanigan pitched in when Hernandez was hurt in August; inexplicably the Reds resigned Hernandez for another season.
11. Russell Martin, Los Angeles (.680 OPS)
Los Angeles needs to do a major rethink here. A few years ago Martin was neck and neck with Brian McCann; now he's among the low middle catchers in the league, likely because he's playing too much (his 586 plate appearances were 38 ahead of McCann and 66 ahead of everybody else). A platoon partner might help. Brad Ausmus is not that partner.
12. Geovany Soto/Koyie Hill, Chicago (.674 OPS)
Soto was the Rookie of the Year in 2008, but he reported to camp in 2009 out of shape, played in the World Baseball Classic, and then had an awful season. Hill's a catch and throw guy who's just happy to be in The Show after some of the injuries he's had.
13. Omir Santos/Brian Schneider, New York (.665 OPS)
I don't the Mets have a clue here. They sent Ramon Castro packing early in the season while Schneider was still on the DL, leaving the catching in the hands of unproven Omir Santos. Santos had an okay year, so Schneider was allowed to leave as a free agent. Josh Thole is the catcher of the future – a poor man's Joe Mauer – but he needs about 300 AB at Triple A.
14. Chris Coste/Humberto Quintero, Houston (.638 OPS)
Coste was released by Philadelphia during the season, but latched on with Houston after they concluded J.R. Towles won't hit major league pitching. Quintero doesn't hit much, but has the best throwing arm in the league.
15. Jason Kendall, Milwaukee (.6361 OPS)
Should not be offered a starting position. Lowest slugging percentage among the NL catching group, and only avoided lowest OPS due to getting hit by 17 pitches. I read in a recent Mets blog entry they should go after Kendall, because if he hit .270 they'd be happy… but Kendall hasn't hit .270 since 2006. Also among the league's worst at throwing out baserunners.
16. Josh Bard/Wil Nieves, Washington (.6357 OPS)
Nationals platooned two guys who washed out on five different teams between them, which is more than I need to know about the Nationals.
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