With how well Miguel Montero is playing as of late, it's hard to imagine Chris Snyder getting much playing time when he gets back from his rehab assignment in Reno.  And since we're in a selling mode and have an extra starting catcher signed for two and a half more seasons at a fairly reasonable $12M or so, I can only imagine that the D-Backs are looking to ship Snyder off and get some more prospect depth in their farm system, which is suddenly looking quite full amongst bats Brandon Allen, A.J. Pollock, Bobby Borchering (?), Jeremia Gomez, Pedro Ciriaco (although Ciriaco might be better referred to as a glove...), and Cole Gillespie, with arms like Jarrod Parker, Leyson Septimo, Patrick McAnaney, Cesar Valdez, Matt Torra, and Daniel Schlereth.  Off-topic lists aside, I was curious as to what the market for Snyderman, a great defensive catcher with a penchant for working great with pitching staffs, but with a bat that has struggled mightily this season after a career high .800 OPS last season.  However, one always is going to get a fairly high OBP from Snyder due to his penchant for drawing walks, and when he makes contact, he tends to hit the ball hard, leading to high slugging numbers.

First, there are a few conditions to a possible Snyderman deal that need to be understood.  First, there are two types of teams that are going to trade for him.  The first is if they're contending and need the catching help due to injury, the incompetence of the incumbent, or the incumbent being a prospect who's either struggling or just not ready for the everyday stresses.  The second is a team with an old catcher that is a fairly small-market team who could use someone on the cheap for the next two seasons, as well as insurance for the days their current guy can't handle, as catcher is one of those positions that old fogeys tend to break down at if they have to play daily.  Further, one can't ignore the NL/AL discrepancy, but it's not out of the question that he switches leagues.  So, here we go, division-by-division, after the jump:

AL West:

Los Angeles Angels: Contenders, but in the AL and have Mike Napola and Jeff Mathis - definitely not a match, the Angels are looking for a Matt Holliday-type bat, not an offensively-challenged catcher.

Oakland Athletics: Certainly not the type of move Billy Beane is known for, and with 25-year-old Kurt Suzuki and Landon Powell on the roster, it's hard to imagine anything happening.  However, those are the only two catchers on their 40-man roster, and Snyderman's .800 OPS from last season was better than any of Suzuki's (and his OPS this season is also better than Suzuki's for this season).  Really, Snyder's quite the Billy Beane-type player.  The batting average doesn't look great, but the slugging and on-base are very much average, especially for a defensive-oriented catcher.  Interesting, but probably nothing here.

Seattle Mariners: Already have a huge payroll, and already paying Kenji Johjima $7.66M, so it's hard to imagine them adding that $12M salary commitment for another catcher, even though Snyder's better than Johjima.

Texas Rangers: One of the teams that immediately came to mind as a decent fit for Snyder in a lot of ways - Snyder is from Texas, incumbent youngsters Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden are both struggling at the big-league level, Snyder is a pseudo-slugger to add to that stacked lineup.  This appears to be one of the best options for Snyder, at least in my mind.

AL Central:

Chicago White Sox: Have A.J. Pierzynski and Ramon Castro already, both making over $2.5M, and Pierzynski's better than Snyder.  Not to mention that fans would do horrible, unthinkable things to Kenny Williams if he were to trade more prospects to the D-Backs for struggling/injured/fatigued veterans.

Cleveland Indians: Not buying, already have Victor Martinez.  Simple enough.

Detroit Tigers: Another interesting one, the Tigers signed Texas backup Gerald Laird during the offseason to be their starter, and he has proceeded to stink up the batter's box to the tune of a .667 OPS, and backup Matt Treanor has been on the DL most of the season, having played in only four games.  For a team in the thick of a playoff race of a crappy division, adding a Chris Snyder might be a quiet but significant addition.  It's hard to fault Laird for what he's done calling games with young ace Edwin Jackson, but I have a hard time believe Snyderman would do that much worse with the kid, and to the tune of an OPS at least 50 points higher.

Kansas City Royals: They suck, and are already paying two catchers nearly $3M each (perennial stars John Buck and Miguel Olivo).  Buck is on the DL, however, and the team brought up Brayan Pena to back up Olivo.  If they feel Snyder could be a piece of their future to work with their young pitchers, there's a slim chance, but I'm gonna have to put that somewhere below 5%, especially since we want prospects.  Then again, they did trade prospects for Yuniesky Betancourt...  Hmm.........

Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer.  Mike Redmond.  5 catchers on the 40-man roster.  'Nuff said.

AL East:

Baltimiore Orioles: They suck, have Matt Wieters, and already signed Gregg Zaun to be his backup.  Nothing to see here.

Boston Red Sox: Hmmm...  We're definitely not giving them Montero anymore, but if they're really itching for another catcher as Varitek insurance, why not Snyderman?  He'd be much better than George Kottaras, and with the Sox's playoff hopes and budget, it seems like a platoon of Varitek and Snyder would A) be great defensively, B) keep both guys fresh, and C) provide solid offensive production from a position that doesn't always do that.  The Sox are definitely open to the idea of trading prospects for backup/role players, as they just demonstrated with the Adam LaRoche deal.  It seems to make enough sense.

New York Yankees: Although Posada's about to be relegated to first or DH soon, they still have Jose Molina, and are falling in love with Francisco Cervelli, which makes enough sense since he's only 23 and producing.  They also have mega-prospect Jesus Montero, but I've heard his chances of staying behind the plate are slim.

Tampa Bay Rays: Dioner Navarro has been absolutely tracherous offensively this season, and backup Shawn Riggans is on the DL.  Another one that makes sense, Navarro can move to the backup position where he belongs (and where his modest $2.1M salary allows him to be put), and Snyder can give them better production in a starting role while the young (25-year-old) Navarro continues developing.

Toronto Blue Jays: They have Rod Barajas, but, well, he's Rod Barajas.  Also don't seem to have much in terms of backups.  However, the Halladay trade dictates whether or not they'd be willing to add pieces.  If Halladay gets dealt, and it's appearing more and more like that will be the case, they're not going to add Snyder.  Likely nothing.

NL West:

Arizona Diamondbacks: Oh, wait...  Oops.

Colorado Rockies: Likely not looking for a catcher with Yorvit Torrealba making $3.75M to back up Chris Ianetta, who is putting up pretty gaudy numbers for a catcher (.795 OPS), although they might be Coors-enhanced.  Still not likely to deal prospects for a third catcher who would likely be second on the depth chart.

Los Angeles Dodgers: As if we would trade with them, they have Russell Martin and Brad Ausmus already in place.  Another complete non-match.

AAAA San Diego Padres: Have both Henry Blanco and Nick Hundley on the DL, but I can't see them dealing prospects for 2 1/2 years of Snyder when they're not going to be contending within 2 1/2 years.

San Francisco Giants: Backup Eli Whiteside sucks (.515 OPS), and 35-year-old Bengie Molina is having a massive offensive down year, with an OPS actually lower than Snyderman's.  If they do deal for Snyderman though, it's a Gregg Zaun/Matt Wieters situation, where the veteran comes in to start until the prospect gets promoted to the majors and then the veteran is immediately relegated to being the full-time backup.  With the contract as back-loaded as it is ($6.75M owed to Snyderman in 2011), it doesn't make much sense.

NL Central:

Chicago Cubs: A great fit in a lot of ways.  Prospect Geovany Soto is on the DL and has been slumping all season.  Backup Koyie Hill is DFA material.  Snyderman could make for a steadying presence at the position until Soto gets back, and then can platoon with Soto while Soto figures it out again.  Maybe Snyderman could also show some of that leadership and make Carlos Zambrano less of a prick.  We can only hope, right?

Cincinnati Reds: Paying Ramon Hernandez a lot of money to be on the DL and not be very good when he isn't.  But the Reds aren't really in the midst of a playoff hunt, especially after the Jay Bruce injury.  If they wanted to make a run for it, a Snyder deal wouldn't be a bad start.

Houston Astros:  Pudge Rodriguez is pretty sturdy, and is the starter, but he is 37, and their backups suck.  Another team that would have to ask itself whether or not it would be worth it to shell out money and prospects for a platoon guy for this season, although Snyderman would probably start once Pudge retires/goes elsewhere.  Would also be a feel-good story, as Snyderman is from Houston.

Milwaukee Brewers: Jason Kendall is old and has been wearing down for a while.  Snyderman wouldn't be a bad pickup to complement Kendall for the Brewers, who may as well take all of the spare pieces we don't want and just give us our farm system aside from Gamel and Escobar.  Sounds a lot like the Astros/Reds/Red Sox situations.  Same song, new platoon partners.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Just signed Ryan Doumit to a contract extension a winter or two I believe, and he's quite servicable at the position.  One of the few positions the Pirates don't suck at, and wouldn't look to improve, if they were looking to improve any position.

St. Louis Cardinals: Yadier Molina.  End of story.

NL East:

Atlanta Braves: Have Brian McCann and David Ross.  They're pretty set.  They need to add for a playoff run, but just not at catcher.

Florida Marlins: John Baker has rather good pruduction for the position, is cheaper, and has Ronny Paulino as a servicable backup.  In other words, not here either.

Philadelphia Phillies: Carlos Ruiz and Snyderman are essentially the same player.  Not really an upgrade, and they have much bigger fish to fry.  Fish named Roy Halladay.

Washington Nationals: Have no need to acquire a 28-year-old catcher when they're paying Josh Bard and are going to suck for at least the next four or five years.

So that's everybody, and there are a surprisingly large number of suitors, either of the "struggling prospect to platoon with" variety, or the "older, broken-down veteran who needs someone to platoon with to take some of the onus off of himself and will then need a replacement" variety.  My count shows eight teams (not counting the idiots in Kansas City) - Oakland, Texas, Detroit, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Houston, and Milwaukee - all as teams that could stand to take at least a look at acquiring Chris Snyder, and since Snyder is clearly the best catcher on the market, due to the lack of sellers and the few sellers having a lack of talent, it's not too hard to imagine someone biting at Snyder and giving us something of value.  Stay tuned on this.