Shawn Riggans

Riggans missed September and the postseason with a knee infection that required surgery, but he'll be ready to go for spring training. He'll compete with John Jaso for the backup catcher job; while Jaso's bat is more dangerous, the Rays are very impressed with Riggans' defense and game-calling, and he'll have a big leg up on Jaso in that job battle.

Riggans never returned to action for the Rays after he was placed on the DL in June, but he'll be ready for spring training after undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery in August. Riggans will enter the spring as a candidate for the backup catcher role behind Dioner Navarro. Riggans has shown he can hit at Triple-A (.284 average over parts of the last two seasons), and the Rays like his defense, so he has a chance to stick as the No. 2 catcher if he shows he's healthy.

When the Rays got Dioner Navarro, Riggans was no longer the franchise's catcher of the future. However, after a good season with the bat at Triple-A and a cup of coffee in the bigs, he proved to be a possible long-term backup to Navarro. He has a chance to make the Opening Day roster.

Tampa Bay's catcher of the future could challenge for regular big league playing time as soon as 2007. With a hot bat in the minors, he could see some time in the bigs this year. Staying healthy has always been a problem for Riggans, however, so don't make him the only catcher on your reserve list in keeper leagues.