Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report

March 14, 2011 @ 04:14:01

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Fantasy baseball players must follow changes in preseason rankings, including how injuries, depth chart changes and transactions can affect their fantasy baseball teams. Stay up to date with notable adjustments in KFFL's fantasy baseball projections to outperform competitors.

Promoted

Rajai Davis, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

It was time for a Rajai Reckoning. The Jays have no one else to rely upon in center field, and Davis is the club's leadoff hitter heading into the season. He could easily give you Juan Pierre's production (or better) and in a mixed league usually comes a couple of rounds after the Chicago White Sox's one-dimensional threat.

Manny Ramirez, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Not worth high-priced Chase

One can't help but see a difference in the urgency from Tampa's DH with outfielder eligibility. When is the last time you watched Manny play on something like a one-year, $2 million deal? He's used to pulling in about 10 times that.

The one thing Manny can do is hit. He has always loved to hit, and he has always been an outstanding hitter. The Rays' offense will once again be formidable, and Man-Ram is shaping up to have some upside - relative to his limitations, but upside nonetheless - as part of it.

Derek Lowe, SP, Atlanta Braves

The righty is displaying the same kind confidence he had at the end of last season. Then, Lowe had regained a feel for his slider and enjoyed a brilliant run through September as well as a solid couple of postseason outings. He's not suddenly back among the fantasy ace ranks, but he's likely to be a solid NL choice and at times a mixed league asset.

Peter Bourjos, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Although the hits don't hurt, most encouraging for Bourjos this spring are the four walks he has drawn against five K's. The youngster is entering his age-24 season and should be a fine AL thefts contributor. At the bottom of the Halos' lineup, he'll face little pressure to perform, especially since his superb D makes him a virtual lock to play regularly anyway.

Kyle Lohse, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

The right-hander isn't a Cy Young Award contender, but he's healthy after struggling in his return from forearm surgery last year. He has displayed his refreshed arm this spring by fanning nine and walking zero in 13 frames. Lohse could easily be an NL-only contributor, at least, and should be available in the end game.

Demoted

Zack Greinke, SP, Milwaukee Brewers

Naturally, the right-hander falls a few pegs because he'll miss a couple of starts, maybe more. Don't overreact to the news of the ribs injuries Greinke sustained, though. Don't let one of the club's co-aces slip more than a smidge.

Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies

We have to be honest with ourselves: This knee issue sounds like a long-term thing, whether it's just affected performance or it's actually time missed. The Phils are bracing for a period without Utley. How far past opening day will that last? His season isn't necessarily in jeopardy, but a return to the "dependable" category doesn't seem likely in 2011. In a mixed league, second base is deep enough that incurring the risk Utley brings isn't worth an outsized gamble.

Derrek Lee, 1B, Baltimore Orioles

No reason to toss in the towel, but the slow approach the O's are forced to take because Lee had offseason thumb surgery and is dealing with some lingering wrist pain in ST is enough to remind you of the dangers. Lee isn't exactly a stranger to wrist problems. The factors paired could affect his power output. The 35-year-old could still earn a few bucks, or more, but that's much likelier to happen if he comes at a discount.

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Nicholas Minnix

KFFL's baseball editor plays in LABR and Tout Wars and won the FSWA Baseball Industry Insiders League in 2010.

The University of Delaware alum is a regular guest on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio and Baltimore's WNST AM 1570. Follow him on Twitter.

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