| Player |
Team |
Positions |
Notes |
| Kevin Youkilis |
BOS |
1B, 3B |
With his power blooming, Youk stands as a No.1 option at either CI spot |
| Alexei Ramirez |
CHW |
2B, SS, OF |
Ramirez's versatitiliy at shallow positions drives up his value by a full round or two |
| Garrett Atkins |
COL |
1B, 3B |
He has lost some pop of late, but he's still serviceable in the early middle rounds |
| Aubrey Huff |
BAL |
1B, 3B |
Best year since '03 should inflate his value, but he's a good 3B option if he's eligible |
| Chris Davis |
TEX |
1B, 3B |
Midrange option at best at either corner - a power option with a low contact rate |
| Jorge Cantu |
FLA |
1B, 3B |
Florida's corner positions are still unsettled, with youngsters possibly pushing Cantu |
| Hank Blalock |
TEX |
1B, 3B |
The brittle but promising slugger is a great late pick as a CI or a Plan B at 3B |
| Carlos Guillen |
DET |
1B, 3B |
Highly skilled hitter coming off down year; should add OF to his resume in '09 |
| Conor Jackson |
ARI |
1B, OF |
Has at least batted .284 and belted 12 dingers in last 3 years; reliable late-round value |
| Casey Blake |
LAD |
1B, 3B |
A steady (read: little upside) fantasy CI, Blake should be at center of LA lineup |
| Mike Aviles |
KC |
2B, 3B, SS |
A late-round pick in deep mixed by virtue of his triple play of middle-infield stock |
| Mark DeRosa |
CLE |
2B, 3B, OF |
Promising Tribe offense should bounce back, with DeRosa there to take advantage |
| Nick Swisher |
NYY |
1B, OF |
His PT and '09 team are now uncertain, but he's a good bench pick in deep drafts |
| Ty Wigginton |
FA |
3B, LF |
Wait for him to find a new home before considering him as a weak CI in deep mixed |
| Asdrubal Cabrera |
CLE |
2B, SS |
Hit .416 in 77 ABs in September; Cabrera is an upside MI in deep mixed if he runs |
| Jed Lowrie |
BOS |
3B, SS |
To start, the youngster might need the Sox to trade either SS Julio Lugo or 3B Mike Lowell |
| Clint Barmes |
COL |
2B, 3B, SS |
After winning the battle last year, Barmes to be starting 2B heading into the spring |
| Brandon Inge |
DET |
C, 3B |
The Mendoza Line dweller has some power but is at best a low-end No. 2 C in deep setups |
About Tim Heaney
Tim's work has been featured by USA Today/Sports Weekly, among numerous publications, and recognized as a finalist in FSWA's awards. The Boston University alum competes in Tout Wars and LABR and has won numerous industry leagues in both baseball and football.
During baseball and football season, he's on The Reality Check with Glenn Clark every Wednesday on 1570 AM WNST in Baltimore. He hits the airwaves every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio, where he often crashes other shows, as well.
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