2016 MLB thread. THE CUBS HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE! Chicago Cubs are your 2016 World Series champions

rawex5 · Mar 9, 2012

Interesting starting pitchers positional power rankings.

rawex5 · Mar 9, 2012

Interesting starting pitchers positional power rankings.

proshares · Mar 10, 2012

Ranking the 30 Minor League systems (This guy is from Fangraphs, comments on scouts as well).

Spoiler [+]

I’ve spent the past five months writing the Top 15 prospects lists for all 30 clubs in Major League Baseball, which resulted in more than 450 minor league prospect reports. With those (finally) put to bed, I present you with a ranking on the minor league systems from worst to first. Rankings are based on both impact talent and overall depth within the systems.

The top scouts for each organization are chosen based on their impact on each organization’s system for 2012 and does not take into consideration players they’ve signed in the past that are no longer in the minors.

The Bottom 10

30. Chicago White Sox
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Keenyn Walker, OF
Top 2012 Prospect: Addison Reed, RHP
Org Strengths: Raw athletes
Org Weaknesses: Pitching depth, high-ceiling hitters
Top Scout: George Kachigian, who was responsible for signing Addison Reed, as well as Trayce Thompson.

29. Milwaukee Brewers
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Taylor Jungmann, RHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Taylor Jungmann, RHP
Org Strengths: Pitching depth
Org Weaknesses: High-ceiling bats
Top Scout(s): Ryan Robinson, who was responsible for Jed Bradley, Tyler Thornburg, Brooks Hall; Fernando Arango and Fausto Sosa Pena, who were responsible for Wily Peralta, Santo Manzanillo, Orlando Arcia.

28. Cleveland Indians
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Francisco Lindor, SS
Top 2012 Prospect: Francisco Lindor, SS
Org Strengths: Pitching depth
Org Weaknesses: Corner infield/outfield
Top Scout: Mike Soper, who is responsible for Francisco Lindor, T.J McFarland, Mike Rayl; special mention: Jason Lee, for his efforts in Taiwan (Chun Chen, Chen Lee).

27. Houston Astros
Top 2011 Draft Pick: George Springer, OF
Top 2012 Prospect: Jonathan Singleton, 1B/OF
Org Strengths: Right-handed pitching
Org Weaknesses: High-ceiling bats
Top Scout: Lincoln Martin, responsible for Delino DeShields and Telvin Nash.

26. Miami Marlins
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Jose Fernandez, RHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Christian Yelich, 1B/OF
Org Strengths: Pitching depth
Org Weaknesses: Infield depth
Top Scout(s): Tim McDonnell, responsible for Christian Yelich, Matt Dominguez, Rob Rasmussen, Ryan Fisher ; special mention: John Hughes for Noah Perio, Scott Cousins, Kyle Jensen, Mark Canha

25. Baltimore Orioles
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Dylan Bundy, RHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Dylan Bundy, RHP
Org Strengths: Athletic outfields
Org Weaknesses: Catching, left-handed pitching
Top Scout: Ernie Jacobs, responsible for Dylan Bundy and Parker Bridwell

24. Detroit Tigers
Top 2011 Draft Pick: James McCann, C
Top 2012 Prospect: Jacob Turner, RHP
Org Strengths: Left-handed pitching
Org Weaknesses: Right-handed starters
Top Scout(s): Marty Miller, responsible for Jacob Turner and Casey Crosby; Chris Wimmer, responsible for Drew Smyly, Andy Oliver, James McCann, and Brian Flynn

23. San Francisco Giants
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Joe Panik, SS
Top 2012 Prospect: Gary Brown, OF
Org Strengths: Outfield depth, catchers
Org Weaknesses: Starting pitching
Top Scout: Ciro Villalobos, responsible for Ehire Adrianza, Hector Sanchez, and Jesus Galindo

22. Chicago Cubs
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Javier Baez, SS
Top 2012 Prospect: Javier Baez, SS
Org Strengths: Right-handed pitching depth
Org Weaknesses: Catching, Left-handed pitching
Top Scout(s): Jose Serra, responsible for Welington Castillo, Rafael Dolis, Junior Lake, Marco Hernandez, Jeimer Candelario, and Jose Rosario; special mention: Lukas McKnight for Dan Vogelbach, Chris Carpenter (now with Boston), and Zeke DeVoss.

21. Colorado Rockies
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Tyler Anderson, LHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Nolan Arenado, 3B
Org Strengths: Left-handed pitching, middle infield
Org Weaknesses: Right-handed pitching depth
Top Scout(s): Jon Lukens, responsible for Nolan Arenado, Tyler Matzek, Peter Tago, Will Swanner and Rolando Fernandez, responsible for Wilin Rosario, Rosell Herrera, Edwar Cabrera, Hector Gomez, Cristhian Adames, and Jayson Aquino

The Middle 10

20. Philadelphia Phillies
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Larry Greene, OF
Top 2012 Prospect: Trevor May, RHP
Org Strengths: Right-handed pitching, raw athletes
Org Weaknesses: Polish hitting prospects
Top Scout: Sal Agostinelli, responsible for Sebastian Valle, Freddy Galvis, Maikel Franco, Cesar Hernandez, Carlos Tocci, Jonathan Villar (now with Houston), Domingo Santana (now with Houston); special mention: Tim Kissner, reponsible for Justin De Fratus, Kyrell Hudson, Travis d’Arnaud (now with Toronto), Anthony Gose (now with Toronto).

19. Los Angeles Angels
Top 2011 Draft Pick: C.J. Cron
Top 2012 Prospect: Mike Trout, OF
Org Strengths: Pitching depth
Org Weaknesses: Outfielders, catchers
Top Scout(s): Leo Perez, responsible for Jean Segura, Luis Jimenez, and Fabio Martinez, ; John Gracio, responsible for C.J. Cron, Taylor Lindsey, Kole Calhoun, Carlos Ramirez, and Andrew Romine.

18. Cincinnati Reds
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Robert Stephenson, RHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Devin Mesoraco, C
Org Strengths: Infield depth
Org Weaknesses: Advanced pitching
Top Scout: Tony Arias, responsible for Yonder Alonso (now with San Diego), J.C. Sulbaran, Neftali Soto, Henry Rodriguez, Yorman Rodriguez, Gabriel Rosa, Juan Duran, and David Vidal.

17. Washington Nationals
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Anthony Rendon, 3B
Top 2012 Prospect: Bryce Harper, OF
Org Strengths: Outfielders
Org Weaknesses: Right-handed pitching
Top Scout(s): Tyler Wilt, responsible for Anthony Rendon, Rick Hague, Jason Martinson, and Paul Demny; Tony Arango, responsible for Brad Peacock (now with Oakland), Chris Marrero, and Michael Taylor.

16. New York Mets
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Brandon Nimmo, OF
Top 2012 Prospect: Zack Wheeler, RHP
Org Strengths: Pitching
Org Weaknesses: Catching, power-hitting prospects
Top Scout(s): Ismael Cruz, responsible for Jeurys Familia, Cesar Puello, Jenrry Mejia, Jordany Valdespin, Juan Urbina, Wilmer Flores, Aderlin Rodriguez, Domingo Tapia, Juan Lagares; special mention: Marlin McPhail for Matt Harvey, Reese Havens, Cory Mazzoni, and Josh Edgin.

15. Minnesota Twins
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Levi Michael, SS
Top 2012 Prospect: Miguel Sano, 3B/SS
Org Strengths: Pitching
Org Weaknesses: Middle infield, catcher
Top Scout(s): John Leavitt, responsible for Aaron Hicks, Chris Parmelee, Travis Harrison, Matt Summers; Fred Guerrero, responsible for Miguel Sano, Adrian Salcedo, Manuel Soliman and Jorge Polanco.

14. Seattle Mariners
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Danny Hultzen, LHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Jesus Montero, C
Org Strengths: Pitching
Org Weaknesses: Up-the-middle depth
Top Scout: Bob Engle, responsible for Phillips Castillo, Guillermo Pimentel, Erasmo Ramirez, Victor Sanchez, and Carlos Triunfel

13. Los Angeles Dodgers
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Chris Reed, LHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Zach Lee, RHP
Org Strengths: Hard-throwing pitchers
Org Weaknesses: Left side infield depth
Top Scout(s): Calvin Jones, responsible for Zach Lee, Chris Withrow, and Ryan O’Sullivan; Lon Joyce, responsible for Allen Webster, James Baldwin, Ethan Martin, and Jake Lemmerman.

12. Kansas City Royals
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Bubba Starling, OF
Top 2012 Prospect: Wil Myers, OF
Org Strengths: Pitching
Org Weaknesses: Polished prosects
Top Scout(s): Steve Connelly, responsible for Wil Myers and Chris Dwyer; Rene Francisco, responsible for Elier Hernandez, and Noel Arguelles.

11. Boston Red Sox
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Matt Barnes, RHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Xander Bogaerts, SS
Org Strengths: Infield depth
Org Weaknesses: Pitching depth
Top Scout(s): Jim Robinson, responsible for Will Middlebrooks, Alex Wilson, Brandon Workman, and Drake Britton; Rich Fagnant, responsible for Matt Barnes and Ryan Lavarnway.

The Top 10

10. New York Yankees
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Dante Bichette Jr., 3B
Top 2012 Prospect: Manny Banuelos, LHP
Org Strengths: Balanced depth among hitters
Org Weaknesses: High-ceiling pitchers
Top Scout(s): Jeff Deardorff, responsible for Mason Williams, Dante Bichette Jr., and J.R. Murphy; Scott Lovekamp, responsible for Adam Warren, .J. Mitchell, Bryan Mitchell, Jake Cave, Mark Montgomery, and David Adams.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Gerrit Cole, RHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Gerrit Cole, RHP
Org Strengths: Pitching
Org Weaknesses: Left-side infield depth
Top Scout: Mike Leuzinger, responsible for Josh Bell, Robbie Grossman, Colton Cain, Victor Black, and Matt Curry.

8. Arizona Diamondbacks
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Trevor Bauer, RHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Trevor Bauer, RHP
Org Strengths: Pitching
Org Weaknesses: Infield, catching depth
Top Scout: Hal Kurtzman, responsible for Trevor Bauer, Ryan Wheeler, and Charles Brewer.

7. Oakland Athletics
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Sonny Gray, RHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Jarrod Parker, RHP
Org Strengths: Outfielders
Org Weaknesses: Left-handed pitching
Top Scout: Matt Ranson, responsible for Sonny Gray, and Aaron Shipman.

6. St. Louis Cardinals
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Kolten Wong, 2B
Top 2012 Prospect: Shelby Miller, RHP
Org Strengths: Power arms
Org Weaknesses: Outfield/infield depth
Top Scout(s): Juan Mercado, responsible for Carlos Martinez, Oscar Taveras, and Victor DeLeon; Ralph Garr Jr. responsible for Shelby Miller, Tyrell Jenkins, and C.J. McElroy Jr.

5. Texas Rangers
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Kevin Matthews, LHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Jurickson Profar, SS
Org Strengths: Up-the-middle depth
Org Weaknesses: Corner infield, outfield
Top Scout: Mike Daly, responsible for Jurickson Profar, Christian Villanueva, Rougned Odor, Ronald Guzman, Luis Sardinas, and Nomar Mazara.

4. Atlanta Braves
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Sean Gilmartin, LHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Julio Teheran, RHP
Org Strengths: Infield depth
Org Weaknesses: Outfield depth
Top Scout(s): Gerald Turner, responsible for Andrelton Simmons, Matt Lipka, and Evan Gattis; Brian Bridges, responsible for Zeke Spruill, J.J. Hoover, Todd Cunningham, and Adam Milligan.

3. Tampa Bay Rays
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Taylor Guerrieri, RHP
Top 2012 Prospect: Matt Moore, LHP
Org Strengths: Pitching
Org Weaknesses: Power-hitters
Top Scout(s): Jack Powell, responsible for Matt Moore; Eddy Toledo, responsible for Alex Colome, and Enny Romero.

2. Toronto Blue Jays
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Tyler Beede, RHP (did not sign) | Jacob Anderson, OF (signed)
Top 2012 Prospect: Anthony Gose, OF
Org Strengths: Catching
Org Weaknesses: Left-handed pitching
Top Scout(s): Eric McQueen, responsible for Deck McGuire, Dwight Smith Jr., and Chris Hawkins; Marco Paddy, responsible for Adeiny Hechavarria, Adonys Cardona, and Roberto Osuna.

1. San Diego Padres
Top 2011 Draft Pick: Cory Spangenberg, 3B/2B
Top 2012 Prospect: Yonder Alonso, 1B
Org Strengths: Right-handed pitching
Org Weaknesses: Outfield depth
Top Scout: Randy Smith, responsible for Rymer Liriano, Simon Castro (now with White Sox), Edinson Rincon, and Adys Portillo.

The importance of Stephen Drew.

Spoiler [+]

Stephen Drew is not the Diamondbacks best player – that would be Justin Upton. He’s not the best player at his own position, nor do his numbers (including a career .270/.330/.442 line) jump off the page at first glance. And yet, given the current state of Major League shortstops, Drew’s health might be as critical to the teams success as any other variable.

Drew is recovering from a fractured ankle, and his status for Opening Day is in serious doubt. More likely, he’ll continue to rehab once the season begins and join the team in early May. How quickly he’s able to get back to what he was before the injury could very well determine how successful the Diamondbacks will be in 2012, however.

That’s because a player’s value is directly related to how good he is compared to the alternative options a team can field, and indirectly, how much better he is than his peers at the same position on other teams. And right now, Major League shortstops are a barren wasteland of offensive talent.

There are essentially three guys in the sport who can play shortstop and be significant difference makers at the plate – Troy Tulowitzki, Jose Reyes, and Hanley Ramirez. The latter two are now teammates, so Ramirez has shifted off the position, even further diluting the pool of talent at shortstop around the game. Last year, Major League shortstops hit .263/.317/.380, and only the Rockies and Mets received an .800 OPS or better from their combination of shortstops. For comparison, seven teams got at least that level of production in 1999, and three teams got a .900 OPS or better from their shortstops.

Granted, 1999 was the zenith of offensive shortstops – Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Nomar Garciaparra all had MVP caliber seasons, and even Omar Vizquel had a monster year at the plate – but we’ve still seen a significant loss of offensive production from the position over the last 10 years. When evaluating Drew’s value, we have to account for the enormous black hole that the Diamondbacks have to put in the line-up when he’s not on the field.

Last year, Arizona gave 350 plate appearances to shortstops not named Stephen Drew, and those players combined to hit .246/.292/.328. Their .621 OPS was worse than Carlos Zambrano’s career mark at the plate. Zambrano’s a good hitting pitcher, but he’s still a pitcher, and the non-Drew shortstops provided less offensive value than he has during his big league career. And yet, rather than look for upgrades to help give the team a bit more punch at the plate when Drew isn’t able to play, Arizona rewarded both Willie Bloomquist and John McDonald with two year contract extensions. This isn’t so much a criticism of Kevin Towers as it is an example of just how thin the crop of available players at the position currently is – the bar is now so low that just being able to defend at an adequate level and having a pulse qualifies you for a multi-year deal.

This is why Drew offers such a significant value for the Diamondbacks, and why he’s such an advantage for the Diamondbacks if he’s healthy. Dan Szymborski’s ZIPS projections have Drew hitting almost exactly at his career numbers, and the .765 OPS he’s projected for is a better total than 25 teams got from their shortstops last year.

Over the last three years, only nine shortstops have posted a higher WAR than Drew, and eight of the nine have needed more plate appearances to beat his total. On a per plate appearance basis, only The Big Three significantly outperformed Drew since the beginning of the 2009 season. And, of course, Ramirez’s move to third means that it’s now really The Big Two.

Drew might not get the recognition of his more famous teammates, but when he’s on the field, he’s one of the best players in the game at his position. The drop-off when he’s out of the line-up is staggering, and he provides a significant advantage for the Diamondbacks when he’s at full health. If the D’Backs are going to repeat as NL West Champions, they’ll need Drew to get healthy in a hurry.

2012 Batter Profiles: A-C.

Spoiler [+]

Bobby Abreu [sup][1][/sup]
[table][tr][td]Debut: 1996 | BirthDate: 3/11/1974 | Team: Angels | Position: DH[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]667 [/td][td]146 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]24 [/td][td]78 [/td][td]88 [/td][td].255 [/td][td].352 [/td][td].435 [/td][td].348 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]585 [/td][td]127 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]21 [/td][td]60 [/td][td]54 [/td][td].253 [/td][td].353 [/td][td].365 [/td][td].325 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Abreu is clearly in the twilight on his career, and the sun could finally set in 2012. With Albert Pujols now taking up Mark Trumbo’s old spot in the Halos lineup, Abreu could be the odd man out should the team choose to go with a slightly more defense-friendly lineup featuring Albert Callaspo at third base. Abreu still knows how to get on base, but at this point in his career, that’s all he can really do. If you think the veteran will get 400 at bats and you need an OBP specialist for some reason or another, Abreu should still be available on the waiver wire, so you won’t need to spend a draft pick on him. (Zach Sanders)

Quick Opinion: With Albert Pujols now taking up Mark Trumbo’s old spot in the Halos lineup, Abreu could be the odd man out. At this point, Abreu is just an OBP specialist who should find a comfortable spot on the waiver wire.

Dustin Ackley [sup][2][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2011 | BirthDate: 2/26/1988 | Team: Mariners | Position: 2B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]376 [/td][td]91 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]39 [/td][td].273 [/td][td].348 [/td][td].417 [/td][td].340 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: It was a fine debut season for the 23-year-old Ackley. He hit for average and power, and even managed to steal six bases in 376 plate appearances. His strikeout rate was a tad high, but Minor League rates suggest he could improve in that category. Second base is still a relatively weak position, and Ackley now becomes one of the better options there. With a full season under his belt, he might hit 15-20 home runs and steal 10-15 bases. He’s only going to get better from here. (Chris Cwik)

Quick Opinion: Ackley had a nice debut season and should build on it in his sophomore year. He’s got the potential for double-digit power and steals at a weak fantasy position.

Ryan Adams [sup][3][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2011 | BirthDate: 4/21/1987 | Team: Orioles | Position: 2B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]96 [/td][td]25 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]9 [/td][td].281 [/td][td].333 [/td][td].326 [/td][td].298 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Adams could be in line for playing time depending on Brian Roberts’ health situation. He’s got average power for a second baseman, but will strike out too much to post a strong average. (Chris Cwik)

Brandon Allen [sup][4][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2009 | BirthDate: 2/12/1986 | Team: Athletics | Position: 1B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]56 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]5 [/td][td].267 [/td][td].393 [/td][td].400 [/td][td].351 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]195 [/td][td]35 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]23 [/td][td].200 [/td][td].277 [/td][td].377 [/td][td].286 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Allen has great pop and good plate discipline from the left side of the dish, but the problems in his game may be insurmountable. He has serious problems making contact with the ball; so much so that a strikeout rate below the 30% mark would actually be a big-time improvement. Allen has the ability to hit 25-plus bombs if given the chance to play regularly, but will anyone be able to stomach his problems long enough to give him that chance? The 26-year-old will have to compete hard for a job in Oakland, and now that the team has accrued a bevy of outfielders, they are rumored to be looking for a trade partner for Allen. Take him as a flier in deep keeper leagues or deep AL-only leagues. (Zach Sanders)

Quick Opinion: Allen has the ability to hit 25-plus bombs if given the chance to play regularly, but will anyone be able to stomach his problems with strikeouts long enough to give him that chance?

Yonder Alonso [sup][5][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2010 | BirthDate: 4/8/1987 | Team: Padres | Position: OF[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]2 [/td][td].207 [/td][td].207 [/td][td].276 [/td][td].210 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]98 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]9 [/td][td].330 [/td][td].398 [/td][td].545 [/td][td].409 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Alonso will hit enough to play anywhere if his Minor League numbers (.296/.374/.486 in 409 plate appearances at Triple-A) and 2011 Major League cameo (.330/.398/.545 in 98 PAs) are any indication, but he faces a tougher peer group at first base than he would have in left field. If Alonso can forget his new home park and stay within himself rather than becoming pull happy and trying to make the power numbers appear out of nowhere, he has a far better chance of being a fantasy asset. There’s plenty to like, especially in NL-only where he has less competition, but you can’t blame anyone in redraft leagues for waiting a season to see how he’ll handle the National League West in general and PETCO Park specifically. (Dan Wade)

Quick Opinion: A more mature player with Alonso’s skills moving into PETCO Park wouldn’t be cause for much concern, but he never had no-doubt power on his way up and now his home park won’t help. Hopefully, the Padres’ coaches will be able to help him stay within himself and produce a well-rounded player.

Jose Altuve [sup][6][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2011 | BirthDate: 5/6/1990 | Team: Astros | Position: 2B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]234 [/td][td]61 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]26 [/td][td].276 [/td][td].297 [/td][td].357 [/td][td].289 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Altuve’s short stature and free-swinging approach make him an easy player to root for, but it doesn’t necessarily make him a strong fantasy option. There’s some upside here, however. Altuve is only 21-years-old, has hit for strong averages over his career, and displays speed on the base-paths. Due to his hacktastic approach, his value will likely be very dependent on his BABIP next season. A middle infielder capable of hitting .290 with 20+ steals has value. A middle infielder that hits .250 with no plate discipline, not so much. (Chris Cwik)

Quick Opinion: Altuve shouldn’t be relied on as a starter in mixed leagues, but he’s shown enough skill to be a late-round sleeper or an injury replacement.

Pedro Alvarez [sup][7][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2010 | BirthDate: 2/6/1987 | Team: Pirates | Position: 3B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]386 [/td][td]89 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]64 [/td][td]42 [/td][td].256 [/td][td].326 [/td][td].461 [/td][td].343 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]262 [/td][td]45 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]18 [/td][td].191 [/td][td].272 [/td][td].289 [/td][td].256 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Pedro entered 2011 with the chance to really break out. Instead he fell right on his face. In 2010, he hit 29 home runs between his time in the minors and majors. He was able to put up an okay .256 average. It took a .341 batting average on balls in play to keep his average that high since he had a 30% strikeout rate. The batting average on balls in play wasn’t totally out of line with the .335 BABIP he put up in the minors. In 2012, that BABIP fell like a rock and the rest of his stats came with it — his average went from .256 to .191. It wasn’t just his average that took a hit, as Alvarez’ home runs were down 75% (16 to four) while his plate appearances were only down 32% (386 to 262). He is not hitting the ball hard enough to strike out 30% of the time. Only Mark Reynolds and Drew Stubbs had a strikeout percentage over 30% among all qualified hitters in 2011. There is little sign of his strikeout rate declining, so it will be imperative for him to have a high BABIP to be an everyday starter. In 2012, a late round or $1 flier might be a good idea. The key for him to have more value, though, is to get his strikeout rate in the 20% range and I just don’t see that happening. (Jeff Zimmerman)

Quick Opinion: Pedro Alvarez doesn’t hit with enough power to be an effective fantasy player if he continues to strike out over 30% of the time.

Alexi Amarista [sup][8][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2011 | BirthDate: 4/6/1989 | Team: Angels | Position: 2B/OF[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]56 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]2 [/td][td].154 [/td][td].182 [/td][td].250 [/td][td].188 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Amarista, 22, got a cup of joe last year and is both versatile –- he can play second, short and outfield –- and speedy enough to carve out a career as a utility man. But the Angels are overcrowded at the moment, so his 2012 impact will be minimal. (Jason Catania)

Alfredo Amezaga [sup][9][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2002 | BirthDate: 1/16/1978 | Position: 2B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]87 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]6 [/td][td].182 [/td][td].247 [/td][td].195 [/td][td].208 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: It’s been about five years since Amezaga had any fantasy value, and that’s not likely to change in 2011. He might come up and steal some bases at some point, but otherwise don’t bother. (Mike Axisa)

Robert Andino [sup][1

[/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2005 | BirthDate: 4/25/1984 | Team: Orioles | Position: 2B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]66 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]6 [/td][td].295 [/td][td].333 [/td][td].459 [/td][td].341 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]511 [/td][td]120 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]63 [/td][td].263 [/td][td].327 [/td][td].344 [/td][td].305 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Andino more than held his own as 2011′s ‘Brian Roberts injury replacement’ at the keystone. At first glance, his .263/.327/.344 triple-slash isn’t awe-inspiring. Okay, maybe not at second glance, either. Still, Andino was a versatile piece for a pretty bad Orioles club, playing 100-plus innings at three different spots without embarrassing himself. He knows how to field, take a walk (career 7.3 percent rate), and steal a base or two. As far as utility infielders go, a team could do worse. With Roberts and J.J. Hardy up the middle, Andino is a good injury replacement/utility infielder. (Brandon Warne)

Quick Opinion: Andino is the kind of guy to target if your draft completely falls apart up the middle. That’s about it. He’ll probably carry a passable average, may swipe a bag or two, and can fill in across the diamond. But if you’ve drafted Andino, you probably haven’t prepared.

Elvis Andrus [sup][11][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2009 | BirthDate: 8/26/1988 | Team: Rangers | Position: SS[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]674 [/td][td]156 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]32 [/td][td]35 [/td][td]88 [/td][td].265 [/td][td].342 [/td][td].301 [/td][td].298 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]665 [/td][td]164 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]37 [/td][td]60 [/td][td]96 [/td][td].279 [/td][td].347 [/td][td].361 [/td][td].323 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Andrus does two things extremely well, steal bases and score runs. Among shortstops only Jose Reyes scored more runs and only Reyes and Bonifacio stole more bases. His average is middling-to-poor and he has very little power. Despite stealing 30-plus bases in each of his three seasons he very rarely hits a triple. He’s been a bit of an anomaly the past two seasons, posting a higher OPS on the road then at hitter-friendly Arlington (not that you’re drafting him for his OPS prowess). He’ll be atop the Rangers potent lineup once again, and unless they suddenly morph into the Seattle Mariners, they figure to be amongst the league leaders in runs scored. He’s a good $15, 5th-6th round value. (Erik Hahmann)

Quick Opinion: Don’t overspend if shortstops fly off the board early. He’s a good player but far from elite, even at his position. If he keeps his OBP in the .340-.350 range then 40 stolen bases and 90 runs scored are well within his reach.

Matt Angle [sup][12][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2011 | BirthDate: 9/10/1985 | Team: Orioles | Position: OF[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]95 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]12 [/td][td].177 [/td][td].293 [/td][td].266 [/td][td].287 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Over the past two seasons, Angle has stolen 67 bases while being caught just 10 times. He’ll probably be a fifth-outfielder/pinch runner with the Orioles and will be a cheap source of steals when he does play. Can he play second base? (Chris Cwik)

Rick Ankiel [sup][13][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 1999 | BirthDate: 7/19/1979 | Position: OF[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]240 [/td][td]49 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]24 [/td][td]31 [/td][td].232 [/td][td].321 [/td][td].389 [/td][td].314 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]415 [/td][td]91 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]37 [/td][td]46 [/td][td].239 [/td][td].296 [/td][td].363 [/td][td].294 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Slick Rick had another miserable season at the plate in 2011, showing little of the home run power that made him fantasy-worthy during his Cardinals days and taking two trips to the disabled list for a sprained wrist and a strained rib cage muscle. Ankiel batted just .239/.296/.363 and clubbed nine homers in 415 plate appearances, and that was with him enjoying the platoon advantage nearly 80 percent of the time. A free agent at press time, Ankiel’s career prospects are bleak. He’s a platoon bat who shouldn’t see the light of day against lefties, and even that utility is questionable given his injury history and recent lack of power (his ISO has slipped from the low-.200s with St. Louis to just .124 this past year). (David Golebiewski)

Quick Opinion: Is it too late to convert back to the mound? It’d be shocking if Ankiel secures regular playing time in 2012. His best-case scenario is being a righty-bopping half of a platoon — if he can avoid injury and regain his power stroke. Neither of those things is terribly likely.

Matt Antonelli [sup][14][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2008 | BirthDate: 4/8/1985 | Team: Orioles | Position: 2B[/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Through 2007, there was little reason to think that Antonelli was going to be anything less than an average major leaguer. He’d posted good Minor League numbers, including a line of .307/.404/.491 between High- and Double-A in 2007, demonstrating excellent plate discipline (83:94 strikeouts to walks in 629 plate appearances) and above-average power for a second baseman. And he entered 2008 as Baseball America’s 50th overall prospect. A combination of injury and miserable ball-in-play figures rendered him a shadow of himself between 2008 and ’10, though. Last season marked a great recovery, as Antonelli slashed .297/.393/.460 (.342 BABIP) with a 47:59 BB:K in 359 plate appearances for the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate Syracuse. Signed to a Major League contract by new Orioles GM Dan Duquette, Antonelli will compete for time at both second and third base. (Carson Cistulli)

Quick Opinion: A former prospect, Antonelli overcame a three-year stretch of injuries and weak contact to post good Triple-A numbers in 2011. Signed to a big league deal in the offseason, he’ll compete for time in the Oriole infield.

J.P. Arencibia [sup][15][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2010 | BirthDate: 1/5/1986 | Team: Blue Jays | Position: C[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]37 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]3 [/td][td].143 [/td][td].189 [/td][td].343 [/td][td].232 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]486 [/td][td]97 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]78 [/td][td]47 [/td][td].219 [/td][td].282 [/td][td].438 [/td][td].309 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: J.P. Arencibia came as advertised: a power-hitting catcher who won’t take a walk, and who struggles to make contact. In his first full season as the everyday catcher in Toronto, Arencibia delighted by hitting 23 home runs and driving in 78 runs. There’s little doubt he can match those numbers in 2012, but he’s got a lot of work to do moving forward. Mainly: Improving his .219 batting average, and .283 on-base percentage. Those numbers are nasty. With Jeff Mathis set to be the back-up catcher in Toronto, Arencibia will again carry the load for the Blue Jays behind the plate in 2012, and is the type of high risk/high reward player you’ll want to select in the later rounds of your league’s draft. (Navin Vaswani)

Quick Opinion: With J.P. Arencibia penciled in as Toronto’s number one catcher, you know what you’re going to get: power numbers, and little else. Look away from the batting average and on-base percentage; they’re hideous. Draft him, sure. But late. And not for much. You’ve been warned.

Alex Avila [sup][16][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2009 | BirthDate: 1/29/1987 | Team: Tigers | Position: C[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]333 [/td][td]67 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]31 [/td][td]28 [/td][td].228 [/td][td].316 [/td][td].340 [/td][td].297 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]551 [/td][td]137 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]82 [/td][td]63 [/td][td].295 [/td][td].389 [/td][td].506 [/td][td].383 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Avila always showed power and patience in the Minor Leagues. He’s also a strong defensive catcher. Kudos to the Tigers for developing another skilled player at a skill position. But, like Austin Jackson before him showed, not all breakouts are created equal. Avila’s .366 batting average on balls in play is not likely to be repeatable, and with his strikeout rate and batted ball profile, he’s likely to have a much worse batting average in his sophomore season. That’s okay. The power and patience should stick around, and the catching position as a whole puts up poor batting averages. Just don’t draft Avila as a .300 hitter. (Eno Sarris)

Quick Opinion: The power, patience and defense are all real. Avila will be a good player this year. He just won’t have as nice of a batting average.

Mike Aviles [sup][17][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2008 | BirthDate: 3/13/1981 | Team: Red Sox | Position: 2B/3B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]448 [/td][td]129 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]32 [/td][td]63 [/td][td].304 [/td][td].335 [/td][td].413 [/td][td].331 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]309 [/td][td]73 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]39 [/td][td]31 [/td][td].255 [/td][td].289 [/td][td].409 [/td][td].307 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: The Red Sox committed to Aviles as their utility infielder in 2012 after trading Jed Lowrie to Houston, and then upped the ante by trading away Marco Scutaro. Aviles might even get into an offense/defense platoon with Nick Punto at short, which would make him a sleeper in deeper leagues. He put together some nice fantasy seasons with the Royals in 2008 (.325, 10 home runs, eight RBI) and 2010 (.304, eight home runs, 14 stolen bases), and even last year he managed to swat seven homers and steal 14 bases in just 91 games (309 plate appearances). Just 19.8% of his career balls in play have been pulled though, so Aviles won’t get too much help from the Green Monster during his home games at Fenway, where routine fly balls to left turn into doubles. There’s a chance he could see some time in right field against left-handed pitchers, but those starts figure to be few and far between. Aviles has value if he can get his batting average back over .300, but he won’t have a ton of power or speed. (Mike Axisa)

Quick Opinion: Aviles could provide double-digit homers and steals with regular playing time, but it remains to be seen how the Red Sox infield will shake out in 2012.

Erick Aybar [sup][18][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2006 | BirthDate: 1/14/1984 | Team: Angels | Position: SS[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]589 [/td][td]135 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]22 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]69 [/td][td].253 [/td][td].306 [/td][td].330 [/td][td].288 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]605 [/td][td]155 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]30 [/td][td]59 [/td][td]71 [/td][td].279 [/td][td].322 [/td][td].421 [/td][td].332 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: 2011 Erick Aybar looked a heck of a lot like 2009 Erick Aybar, but the newer model flashed a bit of power last year. Aybar’s fly ball percentage dropped while his home runs per fly ball doubled his previous career marks in route to hitting a career best 10 home runs. His low strikeout rate will help keep his batting average at a reasonable level, but adding a few home runs to his resume will help even more. Even if Aybar can’t keep up with his 2011 power numbers, he’s a nice late round shortstop option. Expect him to hit .275 with five homers and 25 steals and then hope for even more. Hitting at the top of a lineup that includes Albert Pujols is always a plus, and Aybar could potentially score 80+ runs this season if the Angels allow him to hit leadoff. (Zach Sanders)

Quick Opinion: Aybar will hit for a solid average and steal you some bases, and the addition of Albert Pujols to the Angels’ lineup should allow him to cross the dish more often.

Jeff Baker [sup][19][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2005 | BirthDate: 6/21/1981 | Team: Cubs | Position: 1B/2B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]224 [/td][td]56 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]21 [/td][td]29 [/td][td].272 [/td][td].326 [/td][td].413 [/td][td].326 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]212 [/td][td]54 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]20 [/td][td].269 [/td][td].302 [/td][td].383 [/td][td].300 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Baker’s infield flexibility and lefty-mashing talents make him a strong bet to get 200 plate appearances each year, but as a liability against righties, he would need a few injuries to Ian Stewart or Darwin Barney in order to open consistent opportunities. He has shown flashes of power, but his true talent level appears to be near league average with the bat (~99 wRC+) and above average with the glove. Deep leagues with deep benches could use him as a plug-and-play, but that’s about it. (Bradley Woodrum)

Quick Opinion: As a decent defender and a lefty masher, the 30-year-old Baker does not offer much in the way of fantasy value.

John Baker [sup][2

[/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2008 | BirthDate: 1/20/1981 | Team: Padres | Position: C[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]88 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]7 [/td][td].218 [/td][td].307 [/td][td].282 [/td][td].268 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][td].154 [/td][td].267 [/td][td].154 [/td][td].211 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: The Moneyballer does take a walk. In OBP leagues, his .356 career on-base percentage is also a positive. But in a good year, he puts up about league-average power and batting average, which isn’t super exciting in most fantasy leagues. Now add in the fact that he’s moved to San Diego, where there’s an incumbent catcher who seems decent enough (Nick Hundley), and then remember he’s missed most of the past two years coming back from Tommy John surgery. He wasn’t a great defensive catcher before the injuries, either. It’s not a thrilling package. But Baker can help if he’s kept away from southpaws, and if the Padres can stand his throwing problems, he could even matter in deep two-catcher leagues. (Eno Sarris)

Quick Opinion: As long as you don’t let him see a lefty, John Baker can help your real-life team. Unfortunately, those skills don’t really translate to fantasy — unless a powerless mediocre batting average plays at catcher in your league.

Josh Bard [sup][21][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2002 | BirthDate: 3/30/1978 | Position: C[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]126 [/td][td]24 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]9 [/td][td].214 [/td][td].276 [/td][td].357 [/td][td].281 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]86 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]5 [/td][td].210 [/td][td].256 [/td][td].333 [/td][td].261 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Bard signed a Minor League contract with the Mariners in 2010 and played poorly. He then signed a Minor League contract in 2011 and played poorly. The next step was inevitable: he signed a Major League deal with the Dodgers, backing up Rod Barajas. There’s a a good chance Bard sees upwards of 200 plate appearances; there’s a better chance that you won’t want to witness them. (Patrick Dubuque)

Clint Barmes [sup][22][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2003 | BirthDate: 3/6/1979 | Team: Pirates | Position: SS[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]432 [/td][td]91 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]50 [/td][td]43 [/td][td].235 [/td][td].305 [/td][td].351 [/td][td].284 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]495 [/td][td]109 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]39 [/td][td]47 [/td][td].244 [/td][td].312 [/td][td].386 [/td][td].308 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Now with his third team in three years, Barmes has always been a plus defender, but that doesn’t matter much in this context. His bat rebounded some in 2011 after a disastrous final season in Colorado, but he was still below average offensively, and a move to PNC park isn’t likely to help. He’s doesn’t post a particularly high average, nor a good on-base percentage, his days of double-digit steals are gone, and while he might slip 10 over the wall, I wouldn’t bet on it. NL-Only players could do worse, but think of Barmes last-ditch option rather than a player worth counting on. (Dan Wade)

Quick Opinion: Barmes may have been a popular name for bargain-hunting teams this offseason, but the National League has a fair number of better options at shortstop, making him an largely unappealing fantasy option.

Darwin Barney [sup][23][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2010 | BirthDate: 11/8/1985 | Team: Cubs | Position: 2B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]85 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]12 [/td][td].241 [/td][td].294 [/td][td].291 [/td][td].266 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]571 [/td][td]146 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]43 [/td][td]66 [/td][td].276 [/td][td].313 [/td][td].353 [/td][td].296 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Defense will probably always be his calling card, but Barney can steal a few bags and — under new manager Dale Sveum — he might get more green lights. Still, even if his true talent is probably around .290 wOBA, his defense makes him an acceptable starter or a strong utility player — so he certainly should start through 2012 and have a nice long career, though maybe not as a starter. And definitely not as a fantasy star. (Bradley Woodrum)

Quick Opinion: Barney’s batting average, which should hang around the .270s, and his occasional steals present the only true fantasy values he offers.

Jason Bartlett [sup][24][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2004 | BirthDate: 10/30/1979 | Team: Padres | Position: SS[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]532 [/td][td]119 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]47 [/td][td]71 [/td][td].254 [/td][td].324 [/td][td].350 [/td][td].302 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]618 [/td][td]136 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]40 [/td][td]61 [/td][td].245 [/td][td].308 [/td][td].307 [/td][td].279 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Of all qualified hitters last season, Bartlett’s .307 slugging percentage was the worst in baseball. So he’s not going to hit for power. His batting average is also extremely dependent on his batting average on balls in play. He will steal some bases, but it’s worth noting that he was caught more often than usual last season. If that’s the first sign that he’s losing his effectiveness on the bases, Bartlett could be in for a big fall next season. (Chris Cwik)

Quick Opinion: Bartlett is a borderline fantasy option because he plays at such a weak position. If he slips an further, he’s not likely to be a fantasy asset.

Daric Barton [sup][25][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2007 | BirthDate: 8/16/1985 | Team: Athletics | Position: 1B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]686 [/td][td]152 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]57 [/td][td]79 [/td][td].273 [/td][td].393 [/td][td].405 [/td][td].359 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]280 [/td][td]50 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]21 [/td][td]27 [/td][td].212 [/td][td].325 [/td][td].267 [/td][td].273 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: One year after posting a .393 OBP, Barton found himself back in Triple-A at midseason in 2011, unable to repeat his success. His one primary skill — drawing walks and getting on-base — has limited value in fantasy, even in OBP leagues. A first baseman needs to bring power and run production to the table, and Barton has never topped 13 homers in a single season, majors or minors. He’s proven to be a bit of a fly ball hitter in his 1,765 plate appearances with the Athletics (just 36.5% grounders), but the ballpark in Oakland just eats up anything less than a mammoth blast. That said, Barton’s isolated slugging percentage is just .145 on the road and .159 in the minors, so there doesn’t appear to be much untapped potential in there. The Athletics have a glut of first base/designated hitter types, guys who can both hit for power and get on base, so Barton is going to have to take some major step forwards in short order next season. Until he does, he’s not worth a fantasy roster spot, especially not at first base. (Mike Axisa)

Quick Opinion: The on-base numbers are fantastic, but first baseman who can’t hit for power are close to useless in fantasy leagues. The Athletics other first base/designated hitter types could force Barton out of the picture early next season, too.

Jose Bautista [sup][26][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2004 | BirthDate: 10/19/1980 | Team: Blue Jays | Position: OF[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]683 [/td][td]148 [/td][td]54 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]124 [/td][td]109 [/td][td].260 [/td][td].378 [/td][td].617 [/td][td].422 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]655 [/td][td]155 [/td][td]43 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]103 [/td][td]105 [/td][td].302 [/td][td].447 [/td][td].608 [/td][td].441 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: It’s hard to believe, but Jose Bautista topped his monster 2010 season with an even better 2011 campaign. While both his home run and RBI totals dropped last season, Bautista led all of Major League Baseball — and it wasn’t even close — with a walk rate of 20.2%, leading people to mention Bautista and the great Barry Bonds in the same sentence. Thanks to his incredible patience at the plate, Bautista registered his second-lowest strikeout rate of his career, all while spending time in right field and at third base for the Blue Jays. After a scorching start to the season in April and May, Bautista cooled considerably, especially after the All Star break, but he still put up MVP-type numbers in Toronto. We’ll have to wait and see whether Bautista can hit .300 again — he finished 2011 batting .302. With a .309 batting average on balls in play in 2011, and a better lineup around Bautista in 2012, there’s no reason to think he can’t. But this we do know: Bautista’s a stud, one of the most productive hitters in baseball, and if you have the chance to draft him, and don’t, it might be time to take a good, hard look in the mirror, and question your life choices. (Navin Vaswani)

Quick Opinion: Bautista’s 2011 was magical, as he finished second to only Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury in WAR. The risk the Blue Jays took in signing Bautista long-term after his monster 2010 season looks to be paying off, and should you have the chance to draft Bautista, no matter what league you’re in, do it. You won’t regret it.

Mike Baxter [sup][27][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2010 | BirthDate: 12/7/1984 | Position: OF[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][td].125 [/td][td].111 [/td][td].125 [/td][td].099 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]40 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]6 [/td][td].235 [/td][td].350 [/td][td].441 [/td][td].349 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Mike Baxter is one of those ‘tweeners’ that never showed enough power, speed or glove to stick at any position. At 27 years old, he’s going to attend spring training with the Mets to try to make the Major League team without any options remaining. (Eno Sarris)

Jason Bay [sup][28][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2003 | BirthDate: 9/20/1978 | Team: Mets | Position: OF[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]401 [/td][td]90 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]47 [/td][td]48 [/td][td].259 [/td][td].347 [/td][td].402 [/td][td].336 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]509 [/td][td]109 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]57 [/td][td]59 [/td][td].245 [/td][td].329 [/td][td].374 [/td][td].315 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Despite average-#%% batting averages on balls in play and a strikeout rate within a sniff of the league number, Bay has settled in with a bad batting average. That might be okay if he had his old power, but that disappeared with his move to the National League. He’ll still steal you double-digit bags because he’s aware on the basepaths, and with a little love from the new walls in Citi Field, he might be able to manage 15-20 home runs in 2012. Still, if that comes with a mediocre batting average, it’s not that useful. Pick him in your final rounds if your outfield could use some help, but don’t put too many eggs in that basket. (Eno Sarris)

Quick Opinion: Oh baybee, Jason’s lost what we need. The power’s gone, the batting average has tanked, and Mets fans are ready for the day he’s no longer patrolling left field in Citi. At least they moved the walls in!

Gordon Beckham [sup][29][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2009 | BirthDate: 9/16/1986 | Team: White Sox | Position: 2B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]498 [/td][td]112 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]49 [/td][td]58 [/td][td].252 [/td][td].317 [/td][td].378 [/td][td].305 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]557 [/td][td]115 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]44 [/td][td]60 [/td][td].230 [/td][td].296 [/td][td].337 [/td][td].284 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: Supposedly a polished prospect that would hit the majors quickly. Gordon Beckham proved the report correct by managing 430 .270/.347/.460 plate appearances a year after he was drafted. Unfortunately, all Beckham has done since is regress. His walk rate, strikeout rate, swinging strike rate, reach rate and isolated power have all gone in the wrong direction since. Since he’s now been pretty terrible for 1000+ PAs and was only good for those first 400 PAs, it’s hard to keep waiting for that bounce back. If you set your sites on 2010 as a possibility, then he might make for a decent pick: .250 with double-digit home runs and five stolen bases doesn’t make for a ton of upside, though. (Eno Sarris)

Quick Opinion: Don’t keep waiting for Gordon Beckham to be the Gordon Beckham he debuted as. Since 2009, he’s spent twice as long being below average as he did being (slightly) above average.

Josh Bell [sup][3

[/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2010 | BirthDate: 11/13/1986 | Team: Orioles | Position: 3B[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’10 [/td][td]161 [/td][td]34 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]15 [/td][td].214 [/td][td].224 [/td][td].302 [/td][td].228 [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]65 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]6 [/td][td].164 [/td][td].215 [/td][td].164 [/td][td].179 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: After a successful 2009, Bell has done little to convince the Orioles that he’s the future at third base. Though his Major League performance has been terrible, Bell has shown some pop throughout his minor league career. With Chris Davis and Mark Reynolds in the fold, Bell will have to fight for playing time in 2012. He’s the best defender of the bunch, and might actually get his opportunity. He’s going to have to cut down on his 34.5% strikeout rate to keep the job at third, but at least the other two guys have the same problem. (Chris Cwik)

Quick Opinion: Bell hasn’t shown much since 2009, but might finally have an opportunity for playing time this season. He’ll need to cut down on his strikeouts in order to be a serviceable fantasy option.

Brandon Belt [sup][31][/sup][table][tr][td]Debut: 2011 | BirthDate: @$++/1988 | Team: Giants | Position: 1B/OF[/td][/tr][tr][td]Yr [/td][td]PA [/td][td]H [/td][td]HR [/td][td]SB [/td][td]RBI [/td][td]R [/td][td]AVG [/td][td]OBP [/td][td]SLG [/td][td]wOBA [/td][/tr][tr][td]’11 [/td][td]209 [/td][td]42 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]21 [/td][td].225 [/td][td].306 [/td][td].412 [/td][td].314 [/td][/tr][/table]

Profile: “Belt was not in the lineup Wednesday

proshares · Mar 10, 2012