Alex Rodriguez (NYY) – Was nothing short of deplorable last year, if you don't believe me ask Yankee fans and the New York tabloids. And Alex was a disappointment in the fantasy world as well for those who drafted him first or second overall. When it was all over Alex 'only' had 113 runs, 35 home runs, and 121 RBI. A slugging percentage drop from .610 to .523 was most noticable, and A-Rod doesn't steal all that much these days. But you know what??? That's still pretty good, and Alex can be had relatively 'cheap' this year as a late first-round pick. At the very least Alex is on pace to hit his 500th career home run by the end of the year at the ripe old age of 32. And if you're really lucky Steinbrenner could get frustrated enough to trade Alex to a team that might move him back to shortstop.
David Wright (NYM) - – The son of a longtime Norfolk, VA police officer (where the Mets AAA team resided for many years), Wright presents a St. Louis Cardinal-like demeanor in the New York limelight. Now entering his third full season, Wright is already challenging A-Rod for New York bragging rights. Wright has yet to crack the .300 barrier, but fulls a stat sheet quite nicely, adding 20 steals to go along with a .300+ batting average the last two years.
Miguel Cabrera (FL) – After hitting 33 home runs in both 2004 and 2005, Cabrera slumped to only 26 last year. If you can get past that however Cabrera is still top-shelf, reaching triple-figures in runs and RBI for a third straight season, and just missed out on a NL batting title finishing at .339. Still listed only at age 23, Cabrera is about to get even scarier, it will be very interesting what happens when Miggy and his agent start asking the Marlins for big-time money.
Aramis Ramirez (CHC) – When he is on, no one can be hotter. After a shaky first-half, A-Ram went .327/24/76 the rest of the way. Now signed long-term with a 5 year/$73 million contract, Ramirez should remain among the elite at the position.
Garrett Atkins (COL) – For whatever reason, Coors Field was not the offensive park it had been in years past. Still, Atkins was .346/15/74 at home as opposed to .313/14/47 on the road. So Atkins is merely good on the road, and exceptional at home. It will be interesting to see how MLB's new 'standardization' on baseball storage will effect Atkins at home this year. A few mocks I've seen have Atkins and A-Ram drafted at pretty much the same time.
Scott Rolen (STL) – Has faced some chronic shoulder problems in recent years, but if healthy Rolen should still be a solid .300/30/100 type guy. And hitting behind that Pujols guy is not bad neither.
Chipper Jones (ATL) – At a very similar career stage as Rolen, has his share of injury problems, but produces plenty when healthy. It's almost a coin-flip between those two.
Chone Figgins (ANG) – Some of his versatility is now gone, Figgins starts this year being eligible only at third and in the outfield. But if you're not getting enough steals in the outfield or the middle-infield, Figgins and his 50-60 steals are very attractive. Now for the downside, Figgins average took a dive last year and Mike Scioscia often writes his name at #8 or #9 as opposed to lead-off, on the lineup card.
Ryan Zimmerman (WSH) – Playing in the same division, Zimmerman appears to be on track to becoming a Beltway version of David Wright, recording the first of what should be many 100 RBI seasons in 2006. Ryan was especially stout at spacious RFK Stadium, hitting .327 there as opposed to .245 on the road.
Hank Blalock (TX) – Has taken a big regression the last two years, dropping from 32 to 16 home runs the last two seasons - and his batting average seems to have a hard time gettiing above the .270 level. All of that said, Blalock is still only 26 and in one of the best hitters parks in the majors. If Blalock puts up All-Star numbers this year it would not surprise me.
Troy Glaus (TOR) – On many days he's a solid selection in MLBAM's Beat the Streak home run game. On a pure fantasy game level though, we pretty much know what we'll get out of Troy, 40 home run potential, but also chronic injuries at a batting average that struggles to get above his weight. Troy filled in at shortstop eight times last year, if he saw extended action there that would give him extra value.
Adrian Beltre (SEA) – It's been two years since Beltre cashed in on a huge contract year with LA, complete with his agent comparing his career path to Eddie Matthews. That's was some pretty heady company. Beltre did start to justify himself again in the season's second half going .285/18/54. From August 1 on, Adrian had 16 bombs, which could bode well for returning to the elite tier this year, remember he is still listed as only being 27.
Eric Chavez (OAK) – He did avoid his usual awful April for once last year, the only problem is this time Chavez stunk it up from May 1 on. It has been since 2002 since Chavez has done as much as even 30 home runs in a season, he has gone over 100 RBI's four times - this could be a good bet for a career season.
Joe Crede (CWS) – It's been a painful process at times, but Crede has actually developed just fine, reaching the 30 HR plateau for the first time in 2006 while hitting around the .300 mark most of the year. However there are two problems, one is a back problem that hurt his performance late in the year that may eventually require surgery. The second factor is that super-prospect Josh Fields is breathing right down Crede's bad back, it might not take much of a hangnail to lead to a changing of the guard on the South Side.
Mark Taehen (KC) – This might be the closest thing to a recommended Royals player you will find coming into this season. Taehen got off to a bad start last year which earned him a quick trip to Omaha, but did go .318/40/11/40/7 in his last 53 games, multiply that by three and you have quite a season. Is also coming off off-season shoulder surgery.
Alex Gordon (KC) – A shocking story recently when a NASA astrouaut drove 900 miles with diapers on in an attempt to hijack a sportscard show featuring hundreds of Alex Gordon rookie cards. Yeah, those cards with Gordon wearing #70 are going to be worth a mint 15 years from now. While he might be the talk of the collecting world right now, the former #2 overall pick should be able to break the Royals starting lineup this year. That said, don't expect immediate results on a perennially awful team. If all goes right, Gordon should be able to fill up a stat sheet (steals and home runs included) and is worth a mid-round draft pick. Just make sure you have a backup plan in case Gordon has a false-start to his MLB career.
Chad Tracy (AZ) – After 27 home runs during the 2005 season, Tracy took a step back with his slugging percentage dropping from .553 to .451 last year. As might be expected, Tracy did much of his damage at home in 2006, with 14 HR along with a .313 batting average.
Edwin Encarncion (CIN) – He was money in months starting with the letter A, driving in 24 runs in both April and August - but was wildly inconsistent the rest of the year. At age 24, there is plenty of possible upward potential.
Morgan Ensberg (BAL) – A personal killer for me in fantasy baseball last year, after a hot month of May, Ensberg stunk it up the rest of the year trying to play through a bum shoulder. Ensberg would return to 30 HR/100 RBI form as long as Mike Lamb (who's been lurking for years) and others don't cut into his playing time
Aubrey Huff (BAL) – After bouncing through Tampa and Houston last year, I think you will see Huff in an idea situation in Baltimore, probably in the outfield and hitting out of the #6 hole. He should still be in his prime so 30 HR/100 RBI is a possibility.
Akinori Iwamura (TB) – The Red Sox paid over $100 million to produce their Japanese import while the Yankees forked down over $25 millon for theirs. Then there are the D-Rays, a $4.5 million posting fee is heavy duty for them. Iwamura averaged 35 home runs and a .300 plus average his last three years in Japan. I wouldn't expect even close to that in Tampa, but Iwamura would at the very least offer versitility as he's expected to play at second, third, and in the outfield
Pedro Feliz (SF) – Made a nice run at 100 RBI last year, but his batting average is still a challenge. Feliz has settled into being a regular third baseman rather than being a utility man. At this point it appears that he will never be the bellcow of the Giants offense.
Shea Hillenbrand (SF) – Discussed in slightly more detail in the first base preview, Shea appeared in 25 games at third last year and figures in the Halos first/third/DH mess..
Brandon Inge (DET) – Was never even a consideration as a catcher, but did pound out 27 home runs with the Tigers last year. Problem is his batting average is slowly becoming a problem again.
Andy Marte (CLE) – His minor league numbers are not overly eye-popping, but has been handed Cleveland's third base job after the team jettisoned Aaron Boone in the off-season. Marte lands into a nice offensive situation and at the very least will not be any worse than Boone was.
Ryan Braun (MIL) – I'm listing him a lot higher than you may see him on the magazine stand. Here's why. It's said the Brewers would be completely comfortable giving Braun a shot if veteran Corey Koskie is still not over his post-concussion syndrome. Every single report I've hear on Koskie in the off-season has not been encouraging, and it would not surprise me if he followed Mike Matheny right into retireent. Braun was the Brewers top Minor League player of 2006, hitting .290 with over 20 home runs and steals. The Univeristy of Miami product was the eight overall pick of the 2005 amateur draft.
B.J. Upton (TB) – The one-time premiere prospect was so bad defensively at second that the D-Rays had no choice but to move him, and now he stands behind Iwamura at third. I'm sure Tampa will still find a good number of at-bats for him, and could be among the leaders in steal of eligible third basemen.
Josh Fields (CWE) – A highly touted prospect himself, Fields in the long run could have a better career than Braun. Only problem right now is that he's road-blocked by Joe Crede, Jim Thome is cemented as the DH, and that the White Sox are hesitant to move him to the outfield. Beside being a good hitter with power, Fields also dropped in 26 stolen bases in AAA last year. If some injury issues occur in Sox camp then Fields becomes a definite late-draft consideration.
Kevin Kouzmanoff (SD) – You are probably not going find Kouzmanoff listed among the third basemen because the prospect basically only saw time at DH late in the season at Cleveland. But Kevin is a third baseman by trade and he starts the year as the frontrunner there in San Diego over journeyman Russell Branyan. Kouzmanoff wore out minor league pitching to the tune of nearly .380 in 2006 along with some power.
Rich Aurilia (SF) – Yes, he will qualify here as well as first and short in 2007..
Wilson Betemit (LA) – Career utility man could get his first shot at starting gig this year, although prospect Andy LaRoche is very much in the picture. Had 18 home runs/53 RBI in just 379 AB's last year.
Wes Helms (PHI) – Eligible at first and third and in a good lineup in great hitters park.
Mike Lamb (HOU) – Will get his usual 350 AB's and somewhere around 15 home runs. More of a fill-in man than someone you look for 150 games from.
Aaron Boone (FL) – His career has hit the rails nearly as bad as brother Bret. Boone will be a rare veteran on the Marlins roster and is expected to fill in at a number of positions.
Jose Bautista (PIT) – Hit 10 home runs in his first 183 AB's but tailed off badly after that, will also be eligible in the outfield.
