Best catching prospect NOT named Wieters?

[MasterX1918]

Derek Norris of Washington, Jason Castro of Houston and Wil Myers of Kansas City are also great catching prospects, probably better than Skipworth imo.There's also Avila, Marson and Tyler Flowers who I don't think got mentioned yet.

my personal top 10 catchers

1-Posey
2-Santana
3-Montero (probably a DH)
4-Norris
5-Conger
6-Castro
7-Flowers
8-Sanchez
9-D'Arnaud
10-Myers

Marson is especially worth mentioning as he will be the Indians starting catcher until Sanatna is ready.

[Havok1517]

Clement is no longer a prospect...200+ MLB AB's

Well, he was June 3rd during last season when that was posted and Clement is projected to be starting 1B while having C eligibility for the 2010 season.

[BoBtheMule]

top five catchers for me...
Santana
Posey
Montero
Norris
Flowers

I believe Montero is the best hitter but I don't believe he ends up catching beyond his first, maybe second year. If you were to tell me he'll catch his first five years... I'd put him at the top of the list.

[MaudDib]

Santana and Posey are the two of the best who have the best chance of playing this year. Montero is probably the best long term with Posey and Santana right behind him. So if you are looking for this year go with Santana or Posey. If you can wait another year, Montero has a chance to be a top power hitter. Many people don't think he can stay at C but I think the Yankees will do everything they can to keep him there.

[kab21]

Santana and Posey are the two of the best who have the best chance of playing this year. Montero is probably the best long term with Posey and Santana right behind him. So if you are looking for this year go with Santana or Posey. If you can wait another year, Montero has a chance to be a top power hitter. Many people don't think he can stay at C but I think the Yankees will do everything they can to keep him there.

Personally I can see the Yankees splitting the C/DH'ing duties between Posada and Montero until Posada retires. Almost a best case scenario since Montero will be catcher eligible but playing almost everyday and at a less demanding position. 5 yrs from now I have no idea if Montero will be a catcher (he's huge) but early I think so.

I also think Posey is going to get screwed with a little this year with Bengie in SF. I can see them waiting to call him up until closer to midseason and only playing him half time.

[MasterX1918]

I think given the Yankees slew of other catching prospects (Romine, Murphy, Sanchez) Montero's future as a catcher looks bleak. Definitly destined to be a DH.

[KCollins1304]

I wouldn't be completely surprised if he ended up playing somewhere like LF. He's not slow and doesn't have a bad body. 1B is blocked and having a young full-time DH doesn't sound like a great idea.

[DaSh 1s]

I am personally hoping for RF for Jesus.

[RDD15]

The presence of Austin Romine is the one thing that makes me doubt Montero sticking at catcher the most.

I dont think that you would see a situation where Montero winds up as an everyday DH that catches occasionally for a couple of reasons.

1. If Montero is DH'ing, then the Yankees would still have to carry a backup catcher in case the starting catcher is injured in a game that Montero is DHing. That backup catcher would almost certainly be vastly superior to Montero defensively, and on days that the starter needs rest, they would probably go with the guy that is better defensively.

2. If Montero's defense is already questionable, it is only going to deteriorate if he is an everyday DH that catches on occasion. It makes no sense for the Yanks to put him in the lineup at catcher once a week and watch him try to work the rust off in games.

[kab21]

The presence of Austin Romine is the one thing that makes me doubt Montero sticking at catcher the most.

I dont think that you would see a situation where Montero winds up as an everyday DH that catches occasionally for a couple of reasons.

1. If Montero is DH'ing, then the Yankees would still have to carry a backup catcher in case the starting catcher is injured in a game that Montero is DHing. That backup catcher would almost certainly be vastly superior to Montero defensively, and on days that the starter needs rest, they would probably go with the guy that is better defensively.

2. If Montero's defense is already questionable, it is only going to deteriorate if he is an everyday DH that catches on occasion. It makes no sense for the Yanks to put him in the lineup at catcher once a week and watch him try to work the rust off in games.

romine is a nice prospect but there really isn't a lot of offensive upside. If Montero develops into that .900+ OPS bat and his defense is tolerable they'll keep him at catcher at least 50% of the time and worry about Romine later. Personally I see a 50/50 split with Posada and Montero at catcher as long as Posada is with the team.

Montero is 20. If you think Montero's defense can only deteriorate then I have no idea how any prospect improves (playing only 50% of the time at catcher will not be detrimental to his catching skills). I doubt that Montero is still a catcher at 30 but if he can play there for 5 years that has huge value as a fantasy prospect. Especially considering that he'll be DH'ing on his non-catching days and in the lineup almost everyday.