Mar 1, 2012; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero (26) during photo day at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

Talks broke off earlier this week between Miguel Montero and the Arizona Diamondbacks  regarding a contract extension for the All Star Catcher. Montero signed a one year deal worth $5.9 million dollars minutes before his arbitration hearing was scheduled on January 31st. Both sides agreed not to discuss anything regarding a new deal until after the 2012 season is complete. This is the same tact used last Spring Training with Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals, both sides agreeing to not let the contract talk become a distraction and the ending result was a World Series victory……and Pujols shuffling off to the Los Angeles Angels.

Now, I am not saying Montero is guaranteed to be a goner after the season. However, is it a coincidence that talks were shelved when word leaked that Yadier Molina and the Cardinals agreed to a 5 year, $75 million dollar extension? I would like to think not but as we know baseball, unfortunately like most things in life is dictated by money. Montero does own a home in the Phoenix area and has spent his entire career in the Valley. Maybe he gives the team a hometown discount; maybe he doesn’t. Complicating matters for Arizona fans is that Catcher Mike Napoli of the Texas Rangers  is also set to become a free agent at the end of the season. So it seems both Napoli and Montero will be seeking Molina-type numbers when the calendar hits November.

So should D-Back fans be worried about Montero leaving? Given the fact they are serious World Series contenders and both sides will not talk until after the season, I wouldn’t be concerned yet. There is so much potential for Arizona in 2012 that the only talk around the team should be about its on-field performance. As for a new Montero contract, while his offensive numbers are better than Molina’s, he is not the feared defender behind the plate the Cardinal backstop is. Plus, Molina is a two-time World Series Champion and hit one of the most memorable home runs of the past 20 years, his two run blast in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS pushing the Cardinals into the World Series. I would say a fair deal for Montero would be four years and between $48 and $51 million dollars. Anything over that will probably be the end of his career with the Diamondbacks.

But that’s a story for next offseason. Let Miguel Montero, the Diamondbacks and the fans enjoy what promises to be a fun 2012.

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However, I have changed the rankings a little bit which I will discuss below.

Part 1, which examines both starting and relief pitchers is here: MLB Network’s Top Ten Right Now: Dback’s Snubs (Pitchers)

This year’s MLB Network rankings: (Catchers):

1. Mike Napoli
2. Joe Mauer
3. Miguel Montero
4. Buster Posey
5. Alex Avila
6. Carlos Santana
7. Brian McCann
8. Yadier Molina
9. Matt Wieters
10. Carlos Ruiz

There are only two real changes from my list a week ago to now: the first was adding Mike Napoli to the mix. I avoided putting Napoli on my list last time because I figured he would be on the “DH” list for MLB Network and not the Catcher position considering he only caught 61 games for the Rangers last season. But they did include him so I needed to include him too. However, I will not put him FIRST as they have because he has never caught more than 100 games in a season. To be a valuable catcher, you have to actually, you know, play catcher a good amount. All nine guys above Napoli, with the possible exceptions of Buster Posey and Carlos Santana (which are yet to be seen) are workhorses for their particular franchises behind the plate.

The second change is that I moved Yadier Molina down the list simply because he will turn 30 this year and that is about the time catchers start to lose it. So here are my updated rankings of MLB’s catchers:

1. Brian McCann
2. Joe Mauer
3. Buster Posey
4. Miguel Montero
5. Alex Avila
6. Carlos Santana
7. Matt Wieters
8. Yadier Molina
9. Carlos Ruiz
10. Mike Napoli

Another strong start by Doug Davis.  Another wasted effort.  At least he didn’t pick up the loss today.  You can lay that one on Chad Qualls.  He gave up a ninth inning solo shot to Los Angeles Angels catcher Mike Napoli and that’s all they would need to top the Dbacks 2-1 in front of a Fox regional audience.

The Dbacks managed just six hits.  Let me repeat, six hits.  Sound familiar?  Well it really should be no surprise since there are more Dbacks on the disabled list than stories about Michael Jackson on the internet.

Dbacks are now 30-45 and quickly fading from relevancy.  It bears repeating, but, is it football season yet?