Fantasy MLB: How the Jays stack up

Top 3 Catchers:

The Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek era has come and gone. We are now left with several talented young catchers. Down the road, Yankees prospect Jesus Montero could be the best of them all.

Russell Martin, Yankees

The Ontario native is mired in a 1-for-24 slump that brought his average down from .270 to .236, but overall his nine home runs, 27 RBI, and six steals are the best all-around production in the AL East.

J.P. Arencibia, Blue Jays

The rookie slugger is the most promising at the position, and his nine home runs and 30 RBI are right in line with pre-season expectations.

Matt Wieters, Orioles

Though he has yet to meet the great expectations, Wieters has been solid this season with five home runs, 27 RBI, and a .269 average.

Top 3 First Basemen:

The addition of Adrian Gonzalez was key for the Red Sox, and while Mark Teixeira is meeting expectations, Adam Lind has been the biggest bargain in the division.

Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox

One of my favorite players in baseball, Gonzalez is a model of consistency. He excels on both sides of the diamond, and his 12 home runs and 50 RBI come with a stellar .339 average.

Mark Teixeira, Yankees

Similar to Jason Giambi, this slugger’s average declined once he donned the pin-stripes, but the power still exists and Tex could finish with 40-plus home runs this season.

Adam Lind, Blue Jays

Lind has bounced back from a down season to return to the form that qualified him as an MVP candidate in 2009. After missing a month’s worth of games due to injury, Lind responded with four hits and two home runs on Sunday.

Top 3 Second Basemen:

Robinson Cano is in his prime and a perennial MVP candidate. While Dustin Pedroia has been slow to recover from last season’s injury, Ben Zobrist has snuck into the top three at his position.

Robinson Cano, Yankees

Fresh off an MVP caliber season, Cano has already matched a career-high with five steals and is once again hitting the ball with power.

Ben Zobrist, Rays

One of the streakiest hitters in baseball, Zobrist offers a nice blend of power and speed, though his batting average has regressed the last two seasons.

Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox

The former AL MVP has struggled after missing half of last season due to injury. Nonetheless, his 30 runs and 13 steals keep him amongst the leaders at his position.

Top 3 Shortstops:

Once lauded as the top position in the AL East, the production at shortstop has been lacking the last few seasons.

Yunel Escobar, Blue Jays

Escobar is finally playing at the same level that made him a rising star with the Braves. His high on-base percentage makes him a mainstay at the top of the Blue Jays productive lineup.

Derek Jeter, Yankees

The Yankees captain will once again bask in the spotlight as he approaches 3,000 career hits, but there is no mistaking that his production is on the decline.

Jed Lowrie, Red Sox

An underrated hitter, Lowrie has slowed down after his stellar start to the season. He will likely share duties with Marco Scutaro once the veteran middle infielder returns from injury.

Top 3 Third Basemen:

This is a black hole for the Blue Jays, but a position of strength for the rest of the AL East.

Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

A-Rod may not be the star he was a few years back, but he’s still bound for 30 home runs and 100-plus RBIs.

Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox

If you think that the Red Sox offence looks strong, imagine what they’ll be like once Youkilis heats up.

Evan Longoria, Rays

Injuries are once again taking its toll on Longoria, which is a shame since he is one of the most promising young talents in the game.

Top 3 Right Fielders:

Right field is a weakness for most teams in the AL East, but for the Blue Jays and the Rays, it’s home for two of the most impressive bats in the game.

Jose Bautista, OF, Blue Jays

The front-runner for the AL MVP award, Bautista has actually been better than last season when he blasted 54 home runs. Bautista’s 20 home runs and 47 runs come with a .348 average and even five steals.

Matt Joyce, OF, Rays

Joyce has excelled in his first crack as an everyday player. His .348 batting average comes with 10 home runs and solid run production.

Nick Markakis, Orioles

It’s been a downright awful season for Markakis. Once considered a rising star for the Orioles, Markakis has endured a major decline in power over the last few seasons. His 2-for-15 June swoon has his average down to .240.

Top 3 Centre Fielders:

There is no lack of talent found in centre field when it comes to the AL East. A tough start for Rajai Davis isn’t the only reason the speedster failed to crack the top three. The greater issue is the incredible competition.

Curtis Granderson, OF, Yankees

With 17 home runs and nine steals, Granderson has returned to prominence after a tough first season in the Bronx.

Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Red Sox

After practically missing all of last season with injuries, Ellsbury is once again the premier leadoff hitter in baseball, and has even added a bit of power to his game.

Adam Jones, OF, Orioles

The potential has finally been realized for this long-time prospect. Jones is batting .299 with a nice combination of power and speed, as well as lights out defence.

Top 3 Left Fielders:

While Carl Crawford was supposed to be the top left fielder in the Majors, two other savvy veterans have extended their careers with hot starts this season.

Corey Patterson, OF, Blue Jays

One of the top surprises in all of baseball, Patterson has gone from journeyman to manning the number two spot in the Blue Jays lineup.

Johnny Damon, OF, Rays

With seven home runs and six steals, Damon is not slowing down one bit. He is now a major contributor for his third AL East team after leading the Yankees and Red Sox to World Series championships.

Carl Crawford, OF, Red Sox

Though he ranks third at the moment, expect Crawford to lead the rankings by season’s end. An ugly start is suddenly moving further into the past, as Crawford has driven in eight RBIs in just four games played this month.

Top 3 Designated Hitters:

David Ortiz, Red Sox

He remains a potent slugger who should offer 30-plus home runs with 100-plus RBIs.

Vladimir Guerrero, Orioles

He is a potential candidate for a trade, but for now Guerrero has been solid by the Baltimore harbor.

Luke Scott, Orioles

Despite playing with pain, Scott boasts six home runs despite his struggles against southpaws.