 Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto, of Etobicoke, is poised for another big year. (GETTY IMAGES) |
Fantasy baseball columnist Joel Colomby ranks the starting corner infielders for the American and National Leagues. Dollar values are a guide for rotisserie league and head-to-head auctions.
FANTASY BASEBALL PREVIEW: Pt 1
THE CORNER INFIELDERS
(Tomorrow: The middle infielders)
FIRST BASEMEN
$30+
|
Albert Pujols LAA -- Halos will try and get him into all 162 games
Miguel Cabrera DET -- Will soon qualify as a 3B, adding to value
Joey Votto CIN -- Stock up in NL-only with Pujols, Fielder gone
Adrian Gonzalez BOS -- After April last season, he hit as advertised
Prince Fielder DET -- Move to Comerica will cut HRs, but not by much
Mark Teixeira NYY -- Will sacrifice a few HRs for bunts to beat shift
$20
Paul Konerko CHW -- Hit .300 with 30+ HRs, 100 RBIs past 2 years
Eric Hosmer KC -- Strength, textbook swing and just getting started
Michael Morse WAS -- He’ll be drafted as an OF most of the time
Ike Davis NYM -- On pace for 125 RBIs before season-ending injury
Lance Berkman STL -- Won’t match ’11 stats, but may not be far off
Adam Lind TOR -- AVG improved in both 2010 and ’11
$10+
Kendrys Morales LAA -- Under the radar after missing all of 2011
Gaby Sanchez MIA -- Marlins’ new park may eat up a few of his HRs
Freddie Freeman ATL -- He’s more about the AVG than the power
Paul Goldschmidt ARIZ -- All-or-nothing slugger will bat 8th to start
Carlos Pena TB -- Has 95 HRs past 3 years, but hasn’t topped .227
James Loney LAD -- Little power but capable of return to 90 RBIs
Carlos Lee HOU -- May hang on as DH when Astros join AL in ’13
Yonder Alonso SD -- Strong finish in Cinci, then dealt to tough park
Ryan Howard PHIL -- Torn Achilles will keep him out until June
Justin Morneau MIN -- Wrist surgery, concussion limiting him to DH?
Justin Smoak SEA -- Former top prospect fell apart after hurting thumb
Adam Dunn CHW -- Will climb back some, but it’s a lon-n-ng way up
Adam LaRoche WAS -- Will power return after shoulder surgery?
Aubrey Huff SF -- Once again, he’s only keeping it warm for Belt
Casey Kotchman CLE -- Too much of 89-point AVG jump was good luck
Garrett Jones PIT -- Likely platooning again, but could still swat 20 HRs
$1+
Todd Helton COL -- Plagued by an unreliable back, unreliable power
Chris Davis BAL -- All those K’s still dragging down his potential
Mitch Moreland TEX -- Broken bone in wrist may explain late stats dive
Brandon Allen OAK -- All that power does no good with a .200 AVG
Bryan LaHair CHC -- Hit 38 HRs at triple-A, but Rizzo is the future
Ty Wigginton PHL -- Starts for two months until Howard returns
BEST OF THE BENCH — Lyle Overbay ARZ, Mark Trumbo LAA, Matt Hague PIT, Jesus
Guzman SD. MINOR-LEAGUE WATCH — Brandon Belt SF, Anthony Rizzo CHC, Chris
Parmelee MIN.
THIRD BASEMEN
$30+
Jose Bautista TOR -- Dual OF/3B eligibility nudges him to top
Evan Longoria TB -- Nagging sore foot now finally out of the way
$20+
David Wright NYM -- Will benefit from pulled-in fences at Citi Field
Adrian Beltre TEX -- Had monster year AFTER signing huge deal
Ryan Zimmerman WAS -- High-end sleeper after missing first half of 2011
Pablo Sandoval SF -- Slimmed-down Panda just needs to stay off DL
Brett Lawrie TOR -- 40-40 upside, owners will settle for 20-20
Michael Young TEX -- Will be close to .300 and 100 RBIs as DH/1B
Alex Rodriguez NYY -- At 36, no guarantee he’ll recover his power
Aramis Ramirez MIL -- Strong 2nd half showed 2010 just an off-year
Kevin Youkilis BOS -- Can’t seem to stay upright for a full season.
$10+
Mark Reynolds BAL -- 35 HRs were great, but little beyond that
Mike Moustakas KC -- Elite promise, but early drafts not being kind
Edwin Encarnacion TOR -- He’ll be DH-only after this season.
Martin Prado ATL -- One bad year after two good. Will start in OF.
Chase Headley SD -- Contact without power will have him batting 2nd
Ryan Roberts ARIZ -- Cinderella story just missed a 20-20 season
Chone Figgins SEA -- Promoted to leadoff despite horrific 2011
Chipper Jones ATL -- He turns 40 next month but can still swing a bat
David Freese STL -- Playoff heroics may inflate his draft day value
Mat Gamel MIL -- Likely starting 1B, but Hart waiting if he falters
Scott Rolen CIN -- Getting a full season out of him is a long-shot
Juan Uribe LAD -- Aims to atone for last season’s awful L.A. debut
Placido Polanco PHIL -- Injuries, age have caught up to him past two years
$1+
Danny Valencia MIN -- As expected, his BABIP (and AVG) fell in ’11
Casey McGehee PIT -- Can he regain power numbers with the Bucs?
Lonnie Chisenhall CLE -- Hit .290 with four HRs in final five weeks
Brent Morel CHW -- Awesome HR/FB rate in Sept., hints at a breakout
Alberto Callaspo LAA -- Marginal power and likely to lose ABs to Trumbo
Ian Stewart CHC -- New team will give him chance to rescue career
Wilson Betemit -- BAL Should get enough ABs at DH to be rosterable
Casey Blake COL -- Oft-injured veteran out when Arenado is ready
Chris Johnson HOU -- Held off Parades, can he do so with Wallace?
Daniel Descalso STL -- Cards’ starting 2B known more for his glove
Josh Donaldson OAK -- Sizemore’s season-ending injury has A’s in a hole
BEST OF THE BENCH — Ryan Flaherty BALT, Brandon Wood COL, Brandon Inge DET,
Brett Wallace HOU, Kyle Seager SEA. MINOR-LEAGUE WATCH — Nolan Arenado COL,
Alex Liddi SEA.