Joe Mauer

Mauer will likely never be the same player he was before suffering a concussion in 2013 as he's become a mediocre hitting first baseman, but at least there were some signs last year his career won't continue to decline. His command of the strike zone has always been his main strength, so it was encouraging to see an end to the precipitous three-year decline in his walk rate (13.7 percent last year). Despite having the worst batting average of his career at .261, Mauer was 11th in the AL in OBP. It was also encouraging to see him hit more than 10 home runs for a second consecutive season as a sharp decline in slugging also followed his concussion. Despite the improvements, Mauer remains a weak fantasy option at first base given his lack of power and declining averages. Entering the final two seasons of his $23 million per year contract, the Twins may feel less obligated to give him everyday duty, especially since he wore down again due to injuries (leg issues) and had a .499 OPS over his last 22 games.

Mauer hasn't been the same player since suffering a concussion in 2013 and would be at risk to lose playing time if not for the three years and $69 million left on his contact and status as a hometown icon. His decline can't be blamed on poor health alone, as Mauer swung and missed at a career-high 27.6% of pitches outside the strike zone last year, his walk rate fell to a career low for a full season and his contact rate hit a career low. While Mauer reached double digits in home runs for just the fifth time in his career, that was more a byproduct of his increase in at-bats as all his slugging rates were near career lows as well. It's always possible that a player with as high a pedigree as Mauer could bounce back, but he's a weak fantasy option at first base given his lack of power and declining averages. If he doesn't turn his career around, he'll increasingly be a problem for Minnesota's lineup and roster construction.

Mauer's value will take a significant hit in 2015 due to the loss of catcher eligibility, but his fantasy outlook has faded considerably regardless amid continued injury concerns and a sharp decline at the plate. He missed the final six weeks of the 2013 season due a concussion, and concerns over the injury caused him to move to first base in 2014. The position change was thought to be a panacea for Mauer's recent injury woes, but he missed six weeks with an oblique injury in mid-summer. When he was healthy, Mauer didn't hit, as he posted his worst OPS in a season where he played more than 100 games. He struck out a career-high 98 times, fueled by a career-high percentage of swings at pitches outside of the strike zone. The Twins were a bit baffled by his decline, as manager Ron Gardenhire said he may have been pressing to try and make the All-Star game in his home park. That theory got some credence when he hit .289/.397/.408 after the All-Star break. More likely, Mauer just wasn't healthy during the first half of the season and later became more of his typical self at the plate with outstanding discipline and an ability to drive the ball to all areas of the field. Although not a prodigious home run hitter, he has a strong enough bat to still be a positive player at first base, as his 2013 OPS would have ranked sixth that season among AL first baseman. He's a rebound candidate given his track record, but his continued injury woes and increased strikeouts make him far less appealing as a first baseman.

Mauer will move to first base in 2014 as the Twins decided it was better to keep him healthy and in the lineup after his second injury-plagued season in three years. Mauer was having his typically productive season at the plate, but with a bit more power than usual (second best home run rate of his career) before suffering a concussion in late August. He wasn't able to play again during the season, but he's said to be back to full strength heading into spring training. Mauer has outstanding plate discipline (he was third in the AL in OBP) and an ability to drive the ball to all areas of the field. Although not a prodigious home run hitter, he has a strong enough bat to still be a positive player at first base as his OPS would have ranked sixth among AL first baseman. Whether the Twins will get enough value for his $23 million annual salary without his defense and bat at catcher remains uncertain. For fantasy purposes, he'll still qualify at catcher in almost all formats in 2014, and the elimination of his injury risk – always his biggest concern – should make him perhaps the top fantasy catcher. It's also possible that Mauer may still get behind the plate for a few games as the Twins have called his move to first base a “transition” and Mauer had resisted a move before the concussion. However, it's clear that Mauer's days as an everyday catcher are over, which will hurt his fantasy value in the long run. Still, his ability to hit for average and the added boost he'll get from playing nearly every day at first base should boost his fantasy value in 2014.

After an injury plagued and disappointing 2011 season, Mauer had a strong rebound year that saw him in the AL batting race until the final weekend. Mauer played just 82 games in 2011 due to several ailments (most notably the mysterious bilateral leg weakness) that had many questioning his status as an everyday catcher and cornerstone of the franchise. Mauer pronounced himself healthy in spring training and quickly returned to his usual form at the plate, which includes outstanding plate discipline (he lead the AL in OBP) and an ability to drive the ball to all areas of the field. He also hit 10 home runs, hitting double-digits in homers for just the third time in his career. While he returned to form at the plate, his role in the field changed as he played just 74 games at catcher as he split catching duties with Ryan Doumit, getting 30 starts at first base and a career-high 42 starts at DH. Mauer also declined as a fielder behind the plate by most advanced defensive metrics as he threw out a career-low 14 percent of base stealers. While his reduced role behind the plate may hurt his real baseball value and fail to justify his $184 million contract, it is a positive for his fantasy value since it reduces his injury risk and keeps him more frequently in the lineup. Mauer may never hit for the power of his 2009 MVP season thanks to his home park (he has hit just five home runs in 187 career games at Target Field), but his ability to consistently hit for a high average makes him one of the best fantasy options at catcher considering the drop-off at the position.

Mauer is coming off an injury-plagued and disappointing season that has questioned his status as an everyday catcher and cornerstone of the franchise. Mauer played just 82 games last season due to bilateral leg weakness, a viral infection, an upper respiratory infection and pneumonia. Mauer says recovering from minor knee surgery got him behind in offseason workouts last season and he could never get back on track. The vague description of "bilateral leg weakness" that sidelined him in May led to speculation he was suffering from a serious ailment such as Lou Gehrig's disease (which he denied) and led to the media turning on him for being soft. Before last season, Mauer and the Twins had been adamant about him remaining an everyday catcher, but both seemed to plan for a transition as he began to play first base in July and was there for 18 games in the second half. With the Twins signing Ryan Doumit in the offseason, Mauer may only play catcher part time in 2012, splitting time at DH and first base, and he could move to another position permanently if his legs continue to be an issue. Aside from his health, his decline in power is also a major concern. His 28 home run MVP season of 2008 seems a distant memory as he only slugged .368 last season, had just three home runs and has hit just one home run in his career at spacious Target Field (which seems to hinder his opposite field power). When healthy, Mauer has outstanding plate discipline which typically puts in him the American League batting title race and he has won three Gold Gloves for his defense. The problem for fantasy purposes is that his power may never again approach his MVP season amid his leg issues and home park. Still, if he's past his health issues and playing less catcher keeps him in the lineup, he could quickly return to being one of the best fantasy options at catcher considering the drop-off at the position.

Mauer was arguably the best catcher in baseball last year, but his season looked like a disappointment after a decline in power from his 2009 MVP campaign. Mauer set a career-high in home runs in 2009 as something seemed to click that moved him from perhaps the top fantasy catcher to one of the top fantasy options at any position. His home-run total dipped from 28 to nine last season, with much of the problem seemingly due to the move to spacious Target Field as Mauer hit just one home run in his new park but eight on the road. His doubles count climbed to 43 from 30 the season before, but he hit his 28 home runs in fewer at bats after he missed a month in 2009 due to injury. Mauer's 2010 season almost mirrored his production in his full healthy seasons of 2006 and 2008, so perhaps that's more of what should be expected. However, Mauer will still be just 28 this season and he was nagged by injuries last year (hip, heel, knee, shoulder) that may have sapped his power. Of course, playing catcher will always have injury risk. Mauer has outstanding plate discipline which typically puts in him the AL batting race, he runs well for a catcher and won his third Gold Glove last season. His 2010 season may have been a disappointment, but he still may have as much upside as any player in the game if he can recapture his power stroke given the drop-off elsewhere at the catcher position.

Mauer enters 2010 as Minnesota's starting catcher with a newly found power stroke that could make him the top player in fantasy baseball. Mauer missed the first month of the 2009 season due to inflammation of the sacroiliac joint - the joint that connects the bottom of the spine to the top of the pelvis. When he returned he unexpectedly had one of the best months in recent baseball history by hitting .414 with 10 home runs and a 1.338 OPS in May. By mid-June, Mauer had set a career-high in home runs as something started to click with his swing that produced the one missing element to his game. The results were staggering. He won his third batting title. He became the first catcher to lead the AL in slugging percentage. He became just the eighth player since 1950 to lead the league in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. And all of it was done from the catcher position, where he won his second Gold Glove. It's easy to see how he won the 2009 AL MVP. And somehow the best may be yet to come since he'll just be entering his prime as he turns 27 this season and he hopefully won't miss the first month again. The usual injury caveats about a catcher apply, but he may have as high a ceiling as anyone in the game and the drop-off elsewhere at the catcher position could make him the most valuable player in both fantasy and real baseball.

Mauer rebounded from an injury-plagued 2007 season and may be the best catcher in baseball after earning his first Gold Glove and winning his second batting title in three seasons. The only knock on Mauer is that he hit just nine home runs and never has hit for the power that many expected from him. He also attempted just two stolen bases, which impacted his fantasy value after he was active on the basepaths the past two seasons. Still, he's got great plate discipline and good speed for a catcher. If he stays healthy (always a risk for any catcher) and adds some power, he has the potential to be the top fantasy catcher in the game.

Mauer was plagued by injuries last season, including a stress reaction in his left leg in spring training, a strained left quadriceps in May, a left hamstring injury in August and on top of that, he played most of the second half with a hernia. Despite the injuries, the Twins have resisted calls to move him to another position because of his defense and ability to call a game. The injuries sapped his power as he hit just three home runs with a .392 SLG after the All-Star break. When healthy, Mauer is a rare talent at catcher, as evident by the fact he's the only AL catcher in history to win a batting title. Mauer has outstanding plate discipline, runs well for a catcher and has Gold Glove-caliber defense. The only limit to his game is his lack of home runs, but at just 25 years old he may develop more power. While Mauer has injury risk since he'll remain at catcher, he may have as high a ceiling as anyone in the game.

Mauer is charting new territory at catcher that has many saying he could become the greatest of all time. Last season he became the first catcher in American League history to lead the league in batting average. Mauer has outstanding plate discipline, runs well for a catcher and has Gold Glove-caliber defense. The only knock on his game is that he hasn't hit enough home runs. But at just age 24 next season, his power could still develop. His ceiling may be unlimited.

Mauer put concerns over his surgically-repaired knee to rest after a full season behind the plate. Now that he's not moving positions, he should quickly ascend to the top of the list of AL catchers. Mauer has strong plate discipline which should lead to a .300 batting average. His power has been modest, but should improve as he'll turn just 23 in April.

Mauer was regarded as the top prospect in baseball before the 2004 season began and won the starting job at catcher. In just his second major league game the 2002 No. 1 overall draft pick tore cartilage in his left knee. After surgery he returned in June but problems with the knee landed him on the DL again six weeks later and he wasn't able to play the rest of the season. In the 35 games he was able to play he did not disappoint by drawing 11 walks and erasing the worry he wouldn't hit home runs in the majors, hitting more dingers than his entire 2003 minor league season. While the Twins say they expect Mauer to be able to catch again there is some doubt since he had soreness in the knee even into last fall. The Twins would like to keep him behind the plate because he's got strong defensive skills and an uncanny ability to handle a pitching staff at a young age. No matter where he plays, Mauer has strong plate discipline which should lead to a .300 batting average with modest power. If his knee is healthy, he should quickly become one of the AL's top catchers.

Mauer will be given every chance to win the starting job at catcher after the trade of A.J. Pierzynski. The 2002 No. 1 overall draft pick has lived up the hype so far in his minor league career and was named by several organizations as the 2003 minor league player of the year. After hitting .335 at high Single-A Ft. Myers, he hit .341 at Double-A with a .431 OBA. The Twins feel he's ready to make the jump to a starting job in the majors at just 21 due to remarkable maturity and astonishing ability to handle a pitching staff for his age. Combine that with strong defensive skills and he should stick in the big leagues even if his bat is slow to come around. The one worry for Mauer has been a lack of power (just five homers all of last year), but that should come as he ages. As a local product, he'll also face extensive media hype and frequent comparisons to Mark Prior (who was the second pick in 2002). Expect a solid batting average in his first season, but low power totals. Still, he's a top Rookie of the Year candidate and a must-have on any keeper list.

Mauer was the No. 1 pick overall in the 2001 draft and is quickly advancing in the Twins organization. He hit .301 with 23 HR and a .393 OBA for Single-A Quad City (Iowa). Combination of power, plate discipline and defensive skills at an early age (he'll be just 20 next season) suggest he'll be a star at the major-league level one day. Throw in the fact he's a left-handed hitting catcher (and 6-foot-4, 215 pounds) and he'll be a gem for fantasy owners. A strong year at Double-A this season could make him a factor at the major-league level in 2004.