Neither major league team in Texas has an established starting catcher, but the immediate future behind the plate is much brighter for the Rangers. They will have two terrific catching prospects on the roster.

With veteran Gerald Laird dealt to Detroit in December, the more experienced catching prospect is 23-year-old Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The switch-hitter’s progress at the plate has been slow in the majors, but as a part-time player last season, he showed more patience and jumped on right-handed pitching in July and August before an inflamed elbow shut him down on Sept. 1.

Rookie Taylor Teagarden joined the Rangers the day Saltalamacchia was injured. He hit from the start and batted .319/.396/.809, with five doubles and six home runs in 53 plate appearances. The 25-year-old Teagarden, a right-handed hitter, will make his case this spring for a fair share of playing time. His hot September followed a disappointing season offensively in the minors, so the rookie’s performance with the Rangers may not be a true gauge of his readiness.

Although Teagarden may need more Triple-A fine-tuning as a hitter, his long-term future is a bright spot for the organization. The Rangers also have Max Ramirez, a 24-year-old hitting prospect who may be better suited for first base or DH duties. The Red Sox have shown interest in Ramirez over the winter.

For fantasy owners, how Saltalamacchia and Teagarden perform at the plate is all that matters. Texas skipper Ron Washington, though, is more concerned about how the two inexperienced backstops handle a pitching staff that doesn’t throw enough strikes and hasn’t learned how to win.

A year ago, the Astros had reason to be excited about J.R. Towles, arguably their best prospect. The right-handed-hitting catcher had handled pitching at every stop and flashed his power potential the last two years. After climbing through three minor league levels in 2007, Towles closed the season by going 15-for-40 (.375) with five doubles and 12 RBIs for Houston.

Towles struggled offensively from the start a year ago, and it was all downhill from there in three disastrous stints with the Astros. From April 25 on, in his final 109 major league plate appearances, he was 9-for-97 (.093) with three doubles as his only extra-base hits and 32 strikeouts. He finished at .137 and slugged .253 in 54 games.

Obviously Towles, with just 427 at-bats in the high minors, wasn’t ready. Although the 25-year-old prospect offers a promising package of pop and speed, his extreme difficulties in 2008 suggest it may not surface in 2009.

Meanwhile, Houston’s other options include Humberto Quintero and Toby Hall, two former prospects who lack the bat to be regulars. Quintero, on the other hand, is an excellent defensive catcher. His 2008 performance behind the plate made him the starter down the stretch, despite hitting .226/.270/.298 in 59 games for the season. Among all catchers with at least 50 games behind the plate, Quintero ranked seventh with a caught-stealing percentage of 31.8 percent.

Hall has experienced a burning sensation and stiffness in his throwing shoulder, and he awaits the results of an MRI exam. If he’s healthy, he’s a good bet to be Houston’s backup, someone who might get more playing time than most second-string catchers.

The Astros also have Rule 5 pickup Lou Palmisano, a former prospect who has been slowed by injuries in a six-year minor league career. Knee surgery limited him to 27 games in 2008. As a hitter, the 26-year-old Palmisano has stalled at the Double-A level, but the Astros acquired him after he ripped up the Arizona Fall League during the offseason.

Houston manager Cecil Cooper has already met individually with his catchers. Alyson Footer of mlb.com reports that the skipper told Towles that Quintero is "a nose ahead of him" on the depth chart, but a solid spring could go a long way. Cooper reminded Palmisano that in 2008, right-hander Wesley Wright went from Rule 5 pickup to a key member of the Astros bullpen.

This segment appeared today in an opening look around spring training camps in “Thom’s Take,” a feature of STATS Fantasy Advantage. SFA is the fantasy tool to make running your teams easier. For $19.95 for the entire 2009 season, you receive a portfolio that allows you to easily track your players, complete player news and notes regarding injuries and performance, access to STATS’ extensive databases and “Thom’s Take,” which provides fantasy information and prospect features throughout the season. You may order STATS Fantasy Advantage at stats.com.