Mike Matheny

Approached or exceeded career highs in just about everything at 34, giving him fantasy value in NL-only leagues. Hard to bet on it happening again, but he'll play enough to be a $2/endgame catcher.

Matheny picked up his third gold glove but the Cardinals allowed him to sign with San Francisco because they have another strong defensive catcher in Yadier Molina. That's what happens when a player can't hit for beans. Eventually, someone comes along who can do the other things well. In fairness, Matheny does have his moments, like when he hit five doubles and two home runs in September, raising his OPS nearly 200 points from the previous month. However, a move to San Francisco's SBC Park won't help improve his hitting stats.

Matheny would have no fantasy value at all except that he plays so much that he makes himself into a $1/late-round catcher.

Despite making modifications to his batting stance last offseason, Matheny put up another abysmal season with the bat, going .244/.313/.317 in 315 at-bats. Matheny should see another 300 or so at-bats in 2003 on the basis of his solid defense and the trust of his manager.