Fantasy Prospect Catcher Rankings for 2012

Here at Fake Teams, one of our objectives is to provide the best fantasy baseball advice on the internet, and it would not be complete without providing our 2012 Fantasy Baseball Prospect Rankings. Jason and I will be giving you our take on the Prospect rankings by position for 2012. Some positions are harder than others to rank, especially catcher, since there are some catching prospects, think Jesus Montero, who have the bat to play in the majpr leagues, but not the glove. While others have the glove, Tim Federowicz, and not the bat.

Today, I start with the top fantasy catching prospects for 2012. These rankings are for fantasy purposes, and JUST for 2012.

I will also provide a ranking for those of you in keeper leagues, so let's get started with our catching prospect rankings for 2012:

1. Jesus Montero, NYY

2. Devin Mesoraco, CIN

3. Ryan Lavarnway, BOS

4. Travis d'Arnaud, TOR

5. Yasmani Grandal, CIN

6. Wilin Rosario, COL

7. Salvador Perez, KC

8. Austin Romine, NYY

9. Derek Norris, WAS

10. Chun-Hsiu Chen, CLE

11. Carlos Perez, TOR

12. Tony Sanchez, PIT

13. Tim Federowicz, LAD

14. Gorman Erickson, LAD

15. Tommy Joseph, SFG

I compared Mesoraco and d'Arnaud in an article over at Minor League Ball on Sunday morning, so head on over and check it out.

Some notes on these rankings, along with keeper league rankings, after the jump:

It has yet to be determined if Yankees catching prospect Jesus Montero will be catcher eligible for 2012 fantasy drafts, as he only played 3 games at catcher after his call up in 2011. I am working under the assumption that he will since he played catcher in AAA. If he is, he is the top catching prospect in baseball, and could end up being a top 4-5 fantasy catcher in 2012.

It remains to be seen if the Red Sox will give Ryan Lavarnway some playing time at catcher in 2012 after signing Kelly Shoppach this offseason. Shoppach will platoon with Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but Lavarnway has the better bat than the two of them. It is possible that Lavarnway beats out Saltalamacchia for the backup catcher spot out of spring training, so this battle bares watching come March.

Another battle that fantasy owners should watch is in Toronto, as Travis d'Arnaud appears to be very close to being big league ready, but J.P. Arencibia currently holds down the starting catcher spot. d'Arnaud is the better all around catcher of the two, and is probably the best catching prospect in the minors with Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco assuming the Reds starting catcher role in 2012.

Saturday's trade that saw the Reds trade catching prospect Yasmani Grandal to the Padres in a package for Mat Latos improves Grandal's ranking here, and we could see him in San Diego by the middle of the 2012 season. The Padres are in rebuild mode, and could dangle current starting catcher Nick Hundley at the trade deadline, creating room for Grandal.

Here are my 2012 catcher rankings for keeper/dynasty leagues:

1. Jesus Montero, NYY

2. Devin Mesoraco, CIN

3. Travis d'Arnaud, TOR

4. Yasmani Grandal, CIN

5. Gary Sanchez, NYY

6. Ryan Lavarnway, BOS

7. Derek Norris, WAS

8. Wilin Rosario, COL

9. Tommy Joseph, SFG

10. Jorge Alfaro, TEX

11. Austin Hedges, SD

12. Austin Romine, NYY

13. Sebastian Valle, PHI