Ben Sheets  (SP – OAK) –  Sheets is telling anyone that will listen that he is 100% healthy this season.  While this is normal talk for an injury prone player like Sheets, this is also the type of player that can help you win the league.  He has no stats from 2009 for your competition to see, so he could fly right under their radar.  Even if there are a few members of your league that are watching him this spring, they will likely be hesitant to bid more than a few dollars in order to land him.  Lemme give you another name that was very similar to Sheets’s situation in 2009… Chris Carpenter.  That worked out pretty well for those GMs that took the gamble on him.  If Sheet’s velocity is where it should be late in the spring, I will gamble on him for the right price.

Josh Hamilton  (OF – TEX) –  Shoulder problems last year, and already a shoulder contusion this spring.  For the most part, his story makes you want to root for him.  His career year in 2008 was awesome, but has to be put in context.  That was two years ago, after many years of his talent being wasted.  He is not some 22 year old superstar.  He is 29 years old, and an injury risk.  Root for him, but don’t pay as though he is going to be a core member of your keeper league for years.

Octavio Dotel  (RP – PIT) –  He is the favorite to start the season closing games for the Pirates, so he has to be on your radar.  Here is the skinny.  He has met with some success throughout his career, and has put up the occasional great season.  Yet he has not been able to hold down the closer’s role for long stretches whether due to injury or ineffectiveness.  Now 36 years old, this could easily be his last chance to hold a role this significant (and perhaps extend his career a couple of years).  His ERA in 2009 was great, but his K/9 rate dropped from 12.86 down to 10.83 (which is still by all means respectable), and his BB/9 rate went up from 3.9 to 5.2.  The lack of other good options should give him a nice long leash, but don’t be surprised if that leash eventually runs out.  Also note that he is dealing with some side soreness, which is not the start he was looking for.

Stephen Strasburg (SP – WAS) –  If you watch as much ESPN as I do, you have probably heard the story on this kid.  He is supposedly awesome, and Pudge Rodrigeuz recently threw his two cents in about Strasburg to the media.  When asked if Strasburg has stuff similar to Justin Verlander, he said that Nolan Ryan was a closer comparison.  That type of comment obviously has to be taken with a grain of salt, but it is exactly the type of thing that make fantasy baseball GMs drool about a player, and thus overpay for him.  The story I like even better is how Strasburg’s nickname is evolving.  Supposedly they are calling him “Jesus”, because when hitters make their out against him they walk away muttering, “Jesus!”.  Be careful reaching for Strasburg in your fantasy baseball draft or auction.  While the Nationals do need starters pretty badly, there is just no telling how much (or little) time in the majors he will get.

Mike Napoli  (C – LAA) –  Mike Napoli may get it.  He is working on his defense, apparently switching to a bigger glove.  Napoli has tremendous power, and has managed to keep him batting average high enough not to hurt fantasy teams.  His lack of ABs over the last three years is the only reason he is not considered among the elite catchers.  If his defense can improve to the point where Mike Scioscia can trust him for 120-130 games, he could be one of the big fantasy baseball breakouts of 2010.  Of course, a bigger glove is not going to help him call a better game for his pitchers.  It remains to be seen if it is an issue of his pitch calling or actually catching the ball that is the major part of the problem.

Francisco Liriano  (SP – MIN) –  Early reports are good, as was his stint in the Dominican League over the winter.  He says he feels like he is getting back into his rookie year form.  While I am not willing to pay as though that is certain, I could easily believe that he can make enough comeback to make a modest bid worth while.  Since his 2009 numbers were not very good, he is similar to Ben Sheets in that his profile should be fairly low.

Michael Brantley  (OF – CLE) –  My pick for A.L. ROY’s chances to actually win the award took a big hit yesterday when Russell Branyan was said to be the front runner for the starting first base job.  Such a move would put 2010 fantasy baseball sleeper Matt LaPorta into the outfield, and put uber-sleeper Brantley in AAA.  It remains to be seen if Branyan can stay effective and healthy at the same time, so don’t give up on Brantley quite yet.  He now he needs either LaPorta or Branyan to fail in order to get the ABs he needs.  He has the ability to step up should the opportunity to win a job present itself.

Chone Figgins  (3B? – SEA) –  I have been doing a lot of stat trivia on Twitter lately, and I keep coming across Figgins’ name.  He had a great year last season.  He was the only player in the majors that walked at least 100 times and stole over 20 bases in 2009.  His OBP was almost .400, and he stole over 30 bases for the 6th straight season.  However, the reason that I am writing about him today is that the Mariners are considering moving him to second base.  An excellent defender at third, I would be surprised if this actually happened.  Yet his 2010 fantasy baseball value would take a huge jump should they make this move official.

Catcher

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Jorge Posada (NYY) –  There is no question that he is getting up there in age.  He also has recent injury history that makes him a risk.  However he will remain a starter on one of the most powerful offensive lineups in the league.  There are just better options that could break through and remain better for longer than Posada.  I would rather focus my attention on a longer-term option.  They will also likely be cheaper.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $12

Miguel Montero (ARI) –  I had Montero on my team last season, and he was a pleasure.  In 234 second-half ABs, Montero hit 11 HR with 40 RBI and a .316 batting average.  While many of your competition will focus on the big-hype Matt Wieters, if you can keep Montero for the right price, he could be a gem.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $14

Mike Napoli (LAA) -  This guy is a tease.  In the last two seasons, he has hit 40 home runs in only 609 ABs.  While this number is about a full season of ABs for the normal position player, as we know, catchers average closer to 500.  Either way, the power Napoli offers cannot be denied.  A “full” season for him of 500 ABs would probably result in 30+ HRs.  Napoli has also seemed to get his batting average up to acceptable levels (though his BABIP has risen every season of his career).  The problem with Napoli is that he just doesn’t play enough to get a full season.  Mike Scioscia likes to mix it up behind the plate, perhaps due to Napoli’s below-average defense.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $13

Russell Martin (LAD) –  What was once a no-brain protect has dropped dramatically in value.  Once, he was the best power/speed option at the position (and he still may be).  However, an across the board drop in all scoring categories for a second straight season should keep the bidding on Martin low.  He could easily have a resurgence in 2010, but don’t pay to keep him as though it is certain.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $9

Matt Wieters (BAL) - Don’t overpay for the hype.  He certainly can hit.  He has some power.  But he is still very young, and the power that would make him the keeper we are looking for may take some time to develop.  Keep in mind how long it took for Joe Mauer to find his pop.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $11

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First Base

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Paul Konerko (CWS) –  Don’t expect a rebound to his previous power and batting average levels.  For that matter, don’t pay for his name.  His line-drive rate has dropped significantly, his fly-ball rate was a career high in 2009, and his RBIs have been very disappointing over the last two seasons.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $10

Carlos Pena (TB) –  Prodigious power, a low batting average.  Pena has hit 46, 31,39 home runs respectively in the last three seasons.  Even more impressive is that he did so in under 500 ABs in each season.  That batting average, however, has gone from good, to bad, to awful, in those three seasons as well.  There is some hope of recovery since Pena’s BABIP in 2009 was .253.  That is over 50 points lower than in 2007 and 2008, and over 100 points lower than in 2006.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $19

Lance Berkman (HOU) –  I have owned Berkman in two different keeper leagues over the last several seasons.  Last season I had enough.  I traded him away in both leagues, and am not looking back.  It is not that I don’t believe he can be valuable, because he still can.  What is frustrating is not being able to predict what kind of season he will have.  His power in the first half of 2009 was great, hitting 18 HRs.  Yet for the second season, his second half saw his fantasy value tank.  He is just too inconsistent.  Not to mention, his supporting cast is not as strong as it used to be in his glory days.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $23

Billy Butler (KC) –  If you are going to keep a player based on upside rather than proven production, do so at one of the thiner positions where a true breakout will be much more valuable.  Billy Butler is a nice player, and could hit .300 and approach 30 home runs in 2010.  However, he has not proven to be worthy of reaching for, and certainly not paying top dollar for.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $13

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Second Base

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Dan Uggla (FLA) –  At second base, there are no-brainers and there are non-protects.  There are very few “bubble guys”.  Uggla will be seen in many leagues to be a no-brain protect.  He is, after all, a great source of power for a middle infielder.  The batting average is a strike against him, but so long as you aren’t paying the same price for him as for the elite at the position, you should keep him.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $23

Gordon Beckham (CWS) –  Now switching to second base for the 2010 season, Beckham sees added fantasy value.  With power potential and speed enough to steal bases, Beckham will be overpriced in auctions based on his upside.  If you have him in a keeper league and can keep him for a low price, don’t even think about letting him go.  You will not get him back for anywhere near the single digit price you probably have him for.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $19

Ben Zobrist (TB) –  I like this kid.  His numbers are on the upswing and he offers production in at least 4 of the 5 scoring categories.  However, like all players, it is safer to pay top dollar after establishing a track record for more than one season.  Bump his value up a couple of dollars if the 13 games he played at shortstop in 2009 qualifies him in your league.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $21

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Third Base

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Chone Figgins (SEA) –  The stolen bases are nice.  But going from the Angels to the Mariners hurts Figgy’s value.  It remains to be seen where he will bat in the order (my guess is second), and may struggle to reach 100 runs in 2010.  He offers little power (even less now at Safeco) and his batting average is all over the map from one season to another.  At best a three category contributor.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $21

Pablo Sandoval (SF) –  I nearly didn’t put him in this “bubble” category because it is common knowledge that this kid can rake.  I would keep him in a heartbeat, and expect good power with a very good batting average.  On the weak hitting Giants, he will probably hit in the heart of the order.  MAX PROTECT PRICE $25

Ian Stewart (COL) –  I am not a fan of keeping young players who’s power makes them attractive while their batting average is low.  It is that kind of player that goes for too much bid money, and could wind up losing playing time.  Stewart falls into that category.  He was not a high batting average guy in the minors, and there is no reason to believe that he will just become one in the big leagues.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $12

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Shortstop

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Jason Bartlett (TB) –  Perhaps the biggest (if not most unexpected) fantasy baseball breakout of 2009, Bartlett is sure to be one of the tougher decisions for fantasy owners for 2010.  The batting average was huge at .320 and the power just kept coming to the tune of 14 HRs.  You can expect the batting average to correct a bit based on his BABIP, and the power was just too out of nowhere to believe in entirely.  However, Bartlett can be seen as an option worth of protecting since he will likely be the most valuable shortstop on the board if dropped.  Also worthy of note is that he will lead off should Carl Crawford be traded as is widely speculated.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $21

Alexei Ramirez (CWS) –  Ramirez is exactly the reason that you have to contain your expectations when paying for unproven young talent.  Alexi failed to meet the marks he set in 2008 during his second season in 4 out of the 5 categories despite logging 60 more ABs in 2009.  The potential is still there for a nice 5-category season, but remember that he is not some 23 year old.  He will be 29 this year.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $18

Elvis Andrus (TEX) –  Moving Michael Young to third base to make room for Andrus, the Rangers must expect big things from him to hand the starting job over to a 20 year old.  He made good on his first year in the bigs, and provided good fantasy value to his owners.  His batting average may not develop past his current mediocre level for another couple of seasons, but Andrus should be a fairly reliable option.  Now that Julio Borbon has been anointed the starter in center, thoughts of Andrus leading off should be over.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $14

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Outfield

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Torii Hunter (LAA) –  He is a lock for good, but not great production in all five categories.  That makes him dependable.  It also makes his ceiling fairly limited.  While potential breakouts such as Adam Jones and Andrew McCutchen will be bid up by GMs looking for the next big thing, Hunter will just continue giving good low-profile value.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $20

Chris Coghlan (FLA) –  Man, I hope you guys don’t overpay for Coghlan.  His numbers show that the batting average will remain high, but there will probably be little else to woo fantasy owners.  Not much power, not much speed (though the SB number could tick up slightly), and the loss of infield qualification dictates that you not go overboard for the 2009 N.L. ROY.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $11

Nyjer Morgan (WAS) –  The speedster successfully escaped Pittsburgh and ran wild once arriving in Washington.  Again, we are not talking about a youngster, as it took a good while for Morgan to break into the bigs and hold a spot there.  He is fast and can hit for average, however, and can help lock in a nice finish for your team in the stolen base category.  If your list of protects is studly, or slanted greatly towards power, pay an extra dollar or two for his services.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $17

Nate McLouth (ATL) –  He took a step back from his 2008 campaign, but 2009 still saw McLouth approach the 20-20 mark.  His ground ball rate has gone up almost 10% in the last two seasons, but his OBP remained constant.  While he may not take the step forward we were hoping for in 2009, he is still a fine source of power and speed.  Just think 2nd or 3rd outfielder, not 1st or 2nd.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $16

Raul Ibanez (PHI) –  Oh, what a disappointment the second half of 2009 was.  After crushing the ball and hitting 22 HRs with a .309 BA in the first half, the .238 batting average with 12 HRs in the second was a letdown.  Ibanez is old, and he never showed the type of power that he did in the first half of 2009.  Do not count on it continuing.  If you have him dirt cheap keep him, but there are better options out there with higher upside.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $11

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Starting Pitchers

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Johan Santana (NYM) –  I put him here in case there was some doubt in your mind that he should be protected.  He should be, and as a top pitcher.  Monitor his health up until the last moment you have to turn in your protects.  But if you hear no bad news, assume all is well and pay what you have to.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $30

Cole Hamels (PHI) –  I am a believer that Hamels just had an off season.  He works off his fastball with one of the best change-ups in the game.  His K/9 rate was almost unchanged from his very good 2008, as was his BB/9 rate.  The main difference in his numbers was his BABIP, which was 36 points higher than 2007 and 55 points higher than in 2008.  If you have him at top tier price, you can probably let him go and get him back cheaper in the auction.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $26

Javier Vazquez (NYY) –  With the season Vazquez had in 2009, many GMs will just automatically keep Vazquez.  Personally, I would be looking to trade him to someone else.  The change back to the American League and a hitter’s ballpark is going to crush his ratios, and make anyone who pays top dollar for him very sorry.  The good news is that since his 2009 was so much better than expected, you probably have him at a fairly cheap price.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $16

Yovani Gallardo (MIL) –  The touted youngster put up a nice season in 2009, which is sure to make fantasy GMs drool in anticipation of drafting him.  However, he suffers from a common affliction among young pitchers, which is a tendency to walk batters.  He is worth keeping at a moderate price, but know if you let him go, it will cost you to get him back.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $18

Tommy Hanson (ATL) –  The youngster posted a great stat-line in his first taste of the big leagues.  A 2.89 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP is nothing to sneeze at.  But neither is the fact that he has never thrown more innings during a season than he did in 2009 (194 IN between AAA and MLB).  To me, that is not enough of a sample size to pay for the hype that surrounds such a player.  Young pitchers are the most unpredictable commodity in fantasy baseball, and you should realize that before keeping such an unproven player.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $13

Ubaldo Jimenez (COL) –  Jimenez took a nice step forward in 2009, but that still leaves a ways to go.  I mean, he went from a 1.44 WHIP to a 1.23 WHIP.  Better?  Yes.  Worthy of paying as an elite pitcher?  No.  The potential is there for Jimenez to improve further, but there are options that have better control out there.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $16

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Closers

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Before we get into specific cases of closers, note that this is the fantasy baseball position that changes most often, and quickest.  Be sure to keep up with it by using our “Closer Report“.

Francisco Cordero (CIN) –  I am not a huge fan of closers that put up a high WHIP, and Cordero is one of these.  It is hard to argue with the results, since he has posted at least 22 saves in every season since 2004.  Yet in that same time span his WHIP has only been under 1.29 once.  That says to me that it will not take much decline for him to lose his job.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $18

Ryan Franklin (STL) –  Franklin is not some fireballing young kid that took the team by storm.  Instead, he was the lesser of the evils available in the Cardinal bullpen in 2009.  Sure, he came through with one of his better seasons, but with a track record of WHIP numbers as likely to be over 1.4 as under 1.2, Franklin had better be at the right price if you intend to protect him.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $13

Rafael Soriano (TB) –  The new closer for the Rays yanked the job away from Mike Gonzalez in Atlanta last season.  His second half was significantly worse than his first, yet he has the makeup of a closer and his secondary numbers point to success.  Injury is a risk with his history, and he also has some competition in the deep Ray’s pen if he should stumble.  MAX PROTECT PRICE: $19

Third Base

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Top Tier: Alex Rodriguez

Despite the fact that Alex Rodriguez did not put up the best numbers at third base in 2009, I still rank him a the top of this position.  He could explode for a monster season in any given year, and should still be considered as one of the top overall fantasy commodities.  He has more power than any other option except for Reynolds, still steals bases, and is a lock for 100 RBI.  Even with all of the quality options in the second tier, none of them is the complete package that is the Almighty A-Rod.

Second Tier: Evan Longoria, Ryan Zimmerman, Kevin Youkilis, Mark Reynolds, David Wright, Pablo Sandoval, Michael Young, Aramis Ramirez, Chone Figgins

Evan Longoria is certainly coming along nicely.  He made nice progress with his BB/K rate in 2009 and should continue to be ranked among the top third basemen for years to come.  But then when you look at Ryan Zimmerman, you realize that he may be almost the same player.  When you look at his stats from 2009, they are every bit as good (if not better) than Evan Longoria’s.  In fact, Longoria and Zimmerman put up an OPS within 2 points of each other in 2009 (Longoria – .890, Zimmerman – .889).  His AB/HR rate is not quite as good as Longoria’s, but if you can get Zimmerman at a discount he could be just as valuable to your fantasy baseball team.  Kevin Youkilis just had his second quality season in a row with an OPS over .900 (2009 – .961 : higher than Longoria or Zimmerman!).  His batting average is very nice, and his AB/HR rate over the last two seasons has been almost identical (2008 – 18.6, 2009 – 18.2 AB/HR).  With the table-setters he has hitting in front of him, expect the RBIs to continue as well.  If your league discounts him at all because he has not actually hit the 30 HR plateu, grab him.

When it comes to Mark Reynolds, you have to remember that no matter how much you bid, or how early you take him, last year’s monster season will not count for 2010.  It can easily be argued that Reynolds should be placed in the top tier after his awesome 2009, but a repeat is nowhere near certain.  It was his first season hitting over 40 HR, so a correction is likely, and I do not think the SBs will last.  For a complete analysis of why I think Reynolds is overrated, see my Overrated Fantasy Hitters article.  Just as I believe that Reynolds’ numbers are likely to regress toward his previous stats, I believe that David Wright is likely to rebound in 2010.  Do I think he will hit 30 HRs while playing half his games in Citi-Field?  No.  But somewhere in the low-to-mid 20s is certainly doable.  A rebound to 20-100-30-90-.310 is not very hard to believe.  I would take that in a second if people sleep on Wright.  I devoted a complete article with stats and analysis as to why.  Click here to read it.

Pablo Sandoval is amazing.  Even when he swings at balls outside the strike zone, Sandoval’s contact rate is over 75%.  If his power grows just a little more he could wind up being something special.  However, the supporting cast in San Francisco and the ballpark are working against his run and RBI totals, so it is worth discounting his price just a dollar or two.  Michael Young’s 2009 stat-line is crazy.  He hit for a career high batting average and had the best AB/HR rate of his career.  Strangely enough, he had his lowest RBI total since 2002.  He rebounded in the second half of the season, having the same number of RBI as in the first half, but in 147 fewer ABs.  He showed that he is not done yet, and someone that can give you 600+ ABs with a batting average around .315 is just huge for your team.

Chone Figgins found a new home on the Mariners, and should keep stealing his bases.  Funny that the one thing the Mariners knew they had was a leadoff hitter (Ichiro) and they signed another one instead of a power bat.  Beware, since they did not have much power, Figgy may not even hit the 100 runs mark in 2010.  Just because Aramis Ramirez only hit 15 HR in 2009, don’t discount him too much.  His AB/HR rate and RBI total were right on target with his career averages.  His batting average remained high (.317), and he even set a new career high in OBP (.389).  If he is healthy, he could easily rebound to be as good as any of these other options in 2010.

Third Tier:  Chipper Jones, Jorge Cantu, Gordon Beckham, Jhonny Peralta, Casey Blake, Adrian Beltre

The third tier may be small, but it is comprised of fairly safe bets.  Will they put up huge numbers?  Most likely not.  However, each of these options are safe enough that you can depend on them to play the entire season (barring injury of course).  Chipper Jones is not the superstar he once was, but should be good for a plus batting average and 20-something home runs.  Jorge Cantu has bounced back from a couple of slow seasons to prove that he is a major league regular.  Jhonny Peralta and Casey Blake are both options that aren’t flashy, but can offer a 20-90 season with a decent batting average.

Gordon Beckham has upside for sure, however he could wind up being the most expensive option in the tier in 2010 fantasy baseball auctions since his upside is so high.  Disclaimer: I have a weakness for Adrian Beltre.  In Boston I feel that he could rebound significantly.  A good lineup around him and a ballpark where he can pull the ball into the Green Monster 60 times a season is just what the doctor ordered for his fantasy value.

Fourth Tier: Casey McGehee, Martin Prado, Placido Polanco, Ian Stewart, Mark Teahen, Jake Fox, Mark DeRosa, Troy Glaus

Unlike the third tier, the guaranteed production in the fourth tier is not above average.  However, there are a few options in this tier possessing enough upside to make them the better choice if they come much cheaper (which many of them will).  I particularly like Casey McGehee.  He showed good power (but not so drastic that your competition will be falling over themselves to get him) and also a very good batting average.  With a solid lineup around him he could develop into nice fantasy asset.  Martin Prado will probably be taken at second base before the players at third are this thin, but he should play all year.  I am a little skeptical about his power, but if cheap he is worth the gamble.

Jake Fox will get his chance to be a full-time player in 2010.  The ballpark is not one I would want my sleeper to play in, but you could do worse at the hot corner.  Troy Glaus will man first base in 2010 for the Braves.  His health will always be an issue, but 20 HR (probably with the usual poor BA) could be yours cheap.  Placido Polanco – steady but mediocre.  I do not expect that Mark DeRosa will hit for as much power as we have come to expect playing half his games in San Francisco.

The Rest: Garrett Atkins, Brandon Inge, Brandon Wood, Chris Davis, Edwin Encarnacion, Ty Wigginton, Jeff Baker, Emilio Bonifacio, Josh Fields, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Chase Headley, David Freese, Alex Gordon

As usual, when we are in the bottom tier, playing time is an issue for many of these options.  The steadier ones may be predictable, but they are unspectacular in their level of production.  Kevin Kouzmanoff, Chase Headley, and Ty Wigginton are the safest of these options, but none possess a large amount of upside.  Headley has put up two seasons where his numbers were very similar after accounting for the difference in ABs.  The Padres do not have much hitting outside of Adrian Gonzalez (and maybe Kyle Blanks), so a large jump in RBI or runs is doubtful.  However, he should gain over 500 ABs as a regular starter.  Ty Wigginton is a perennial waiver-wire pickup that has to fight for playing time every year, but usually winds up posting numbers that can be helpful to a fantasy team.  In 2009, his numbers took a hit, as he posted half the number of HRs for which he is usually dependable.   Much like Headley, Kouzmanoff could wind up playing all year, but his fantasy numbers are less than excellent.  He does possess some power, but his OBP and batting average have not shown any improvement over the last three seasons.  The best thing that could happen to his fantasy value would be a trade out of San Diego.

Everyone loved Chris Davis for 2009.  In my two keeper leagues, he was protected for way more than I would have considered smart.  He has plenty of power, but strikes out a ton and may have playing time issues in 2010.  Garrett Atkins could recover from his awful 2009, but leaving Colorado is not a formula for a hitter to improve.  Expect a slight recovery, but not a resurgence back to his prime.  Even if Brandon Inge is able to duplicate the power he showed in 2009, that batting average is brutal.  He can’t hit lefties.  Josh Fields does offer some upside in 2010 if he can win some playing time.  Alex Gordon also has upside, but with the current makeup of the Royals’ roster, he and Gordon could be fighting for one position if David Dejesus holds onto the left field job.  The sleeper of the bunch is Brandon Wood.  Sure, everyone knows his name because he has been a sleeper for years.  However, it looks like the Angels feel he is ready for a full time job.  They said the same thing about Kendry Morales last season and look at the results.  If you get down this low without a third baseman, you may as well go for the upside.

The Rockies have signed Chris Iannetta to a three-year deal.  Iannetta was the big 2008 breakout catcher, but his 2009 was a step backward.  Hopefully the thin air will get back under some of those fly balls and he can regain the ground he lost.

The Astros have to win the award for busiest early team.  They just signed Pedro Feliz.  At this point Feliz’s glove is more valuable than his bat.

The Pirates have signed shortstop Bobby Crosby.  Crosby could get a fresh start with a new team.  He will most likely not start full time right away, but could push for increased playing time if he hits well.

Rafael Soriano has been traded to the Tampa Bay Rays.  This comes days after Soriano accepted the Braves’ offer of arbitration.  Soriano was excellent last season, and was one of the true gems that I found for cheap in our auction.  He took over for an inconsistent Mike Gonzalez and didn’t look back.  Unfortunately, this trade hurts Soriano’s fantasy baseball value in my eyes.  In Atlanta, he was the big dog, clearly the best of the bunch.  In Tampa, he has more competition, and the competition is closer in talent level.  J.P. Howell, Dan Wheeler, Randy Choate, and Grant Balfour all showed decent stuff in 2009.  If Soriano pitches as he did in the first half of 2009 then he should be fine (1.48 ERA, 0.90 WHIP).  He did struggle in the second half though (4.81 ERA, 1.27 WHIP), and similar struggles in 2010 could lead to competition for a 9th inning role.

The Astros just keep the bullpen train rollin’ with the siging of Brandon Lyon.  Lyon had a decent year in 2009, and should begin the season as the team’s closer.  Hopefully one of the two pen signings will wind up a success in the 9th inning.

Well this next announcement is a little upsetting to me.  I have been known to bid too much on Rich Harden.  I like the guy, and think if he could just stay healthy, he could be special (even if just for a year or two).  His 2009 was sub-par, and that trend could continue now that he has signed with the Texas Rangers.  Moving to the American League, and a hitter’s park to boot, I fear I will have to let Harden go this year.  Oh well…

The Astros began rebuilding their bullpen by trading for relief pitcher Matt Lindstrom.  Lindstrom struggled both with health and his control in 2009, and wound up watching Leo Nunez fill the closer roll for much of the year.  As a 2009 Lindstrom owner, I would advise everyone to wait on him until he figures out how to throw another pitch.  He has a great fastball, but when he can’t locate it he has problems.  His slider is not good enough to rely on.  Lindstrom definitely needs a changeup.

The Rangers have trade Kevin Millwood to the Orioles for relief pitcher Chris Ray.  I was a big believer that Ray could make a comeback last season, and drafted him in several leagues.  Needless to say, he did not pan out that well.  Going to a hitter’s park is not going to help him keep the ball in the yard.  The opposite is also true.  Millwood could have a surprise good season removed from The Ballpark in Arlington.

“Su-prise, su-prise, su-prise.”  -Gomer pile.  Andy Pettitte has signed with the Yankees.  Go figure.  The guy still commands a high price, and can still pitch to win.  Fantasy-wise, he is overrated.

Another marathon negotiation has finally ended.  Randy Wolf has signed with the Milwaukee Brewers.  You have to give props to Wolf, as he turned his out of the blue career year into big bucks.  I personally do not expect him to come close to the excellent ratios that he put up in 2009.  That was the first season since 2002 that Wolf posted an ERA under 4.0 or a WHIP under 1.27.  Don’t do what the Brewers did and overpay for him in your fantasy draft or auction.

It is finally official, Chone Figgins is a Seattle Mariner.  We’ve heard about it for days now, but it has just now happened.  I am unsure why the Mariners felt this was such a great player that they had to lock him up so early.  The ONE thing they already have is a leadoff hitter, and I don’t see the Mariners pissing off their best player by dropping him to the second spot.  One thing they do not have is power.  Only Jose Lopez, and Russell Branyan hit more than 20 HRs in 2009.  Figgins will start at third base, and most likely hit second.

It looks as though the New York Yankees have acquired outfielder Curtis Granderson in a three way deal with the Tigers and the Diamondbacks according to FOXSports.com.  Granderson was not the only fantasy commodity that changed hands in this deal, as the Tigers and D’Backs swapped starting pitcher Max Scherzer and Edwin Jackson.  The Yankees also traded away Ian Kennedy, Austin Jackson, and Phil Coke in the deal.  Obviously, this increases the value of Granderson as he now will be hitting in a top MLB lineup.  The value difference on Scherzer is less clear.  He is on a better team (we think) than he was before and he is in a better ballpark for pitchers, but he now goes to the American League.  Edwin Jackson could find an easier time of it in the lower pressure environment of the National League West.