It is very unlikely that even a rookie fantasy baseball owner needs to be told much about Jorge Posada. The 13-year veteran has appeared in five All Star games, starting two of those, and has played in five World Series' winning three of those. But last season was an odd one for 'Georgie'. 

Posada entered 2007 with a career .267 batting average. His best average in a single season was .287 in 2000. But he got off to a hot start last year, including a .394 average in the month of May. He managed to avoid a second half slump - something that is usually a given for catchers - and actually batted better after the break. With a .395 clip in September Posada finished the year with an amazing .338 average.

In the off-season, Posada briefly flirted with the free agent market before siging a four-year contract with the Yankees. That means he will be able to finish his career in pinstripes and walk away from Yankee Stadium as the third best catcher to ever play there. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. What is he going to do in 2008?

In the last four years Posada has averaged 21 Home Runs and 84 RBI. Those numbers did not spike last year despite the high average. He actually had three fewer HRs and three fewer RBI in 2007 compared to 2006. One other number that did jump for him was his 91 runs scored. In the three previous seasons he scored an average of just 68 times.  The big question is, will he bat near .338 again? The obvious answer is no. It is most likely that Posada will finish near, or even below, his career average of .277 - yes, last year's success increased it 10 points. Just call 2007 a fluke. One he can look back on in his old age and brag to his golfing buddies about - "Hey! I batted .338 for the Yankees ya know!" So, if he finishes 2008 with a .270 average, 20 HRs and 70 to 80 RBI and runs, he would have nothing to be ashamed of. 

In some fantasy drafts this spring there will likely be an owner or two that looks at that average and picks Posada just after, or even before, Joe Mauer. That would be a mistake. Mauer has youth on his side and should continue to improve. Posada will continue to take more days off, especially in the heat of the summer, and his numbers will fade. In the GSI Mock Draft he was chosen at the top of the eighth round a few picks after Brian McCann and a few rounds after Mauer. That seems just about right.