First base is probably the most loaded position, but Kendry Morales is a fine late round target. He's failed so far in the majors, but he's still just 25 years old and hit .341 with 15 homers and 64 RBI in 317 at-bats in Triple-A last season. It came in a hitting environment, but he doesn't strike out a ton, and the Angels figure to hand over the starting first base job to him after Mark Teixeira left town. Morales is definitely someone to go after in AL-only leagues.
Coco Crisp is another player likely to be undervalued after three disappointing seasons in Boston. He's unlikely to return to his 2005 form in Cleveland, but Kansas City will give him a full-time job and also likely have him leading off. The power regression is probably here to stay, but he can get on base at an OK clip, so 30 steals and 80-100 runs are possible. Over the final two months last year, he hit .341 in 123 at-bats with an impressive 18:15 K:BB ratio.
I find it quite funny how many are attributing the Cardinals' Super Bowl run to a newly found running game and the resurgence of Edgerrin James, when in fact, the team has a lower YPC (3.3) in the postseason than they did during the regular season (3.5).
I doubt Derrek Lee ends up on any of my teams this year. He still has value hitting in the middle of the Cubs lineup, and he's a good bet to be an asset in batting average with 8-10 steals added in. However, last year's .823 OPS was his second lowest of the decade, and although it looked like he was finally over his wrist issues with eight homers in April, Lee hit just three home runs after July 27 and never hit more than two in any month after the All-Star break. At age 33, counting on a bounce back would be a poor bet.
Surprised to see Antonio Margarito get straight up dominated by Shane Mosley. Not only did the loss ruin future enticing matchups, but the pre-fight controversy taints Margarito's career as well. Another big blow to the crumbling boxing industry.
I suggest avoiding Mark Reynolds altogether, no matter the discount. Sure, the power is for real, but the hit in BA just isn't worth it. The guy hit .226 after the break last season, and it was hardly a fluke. He set the MLB record with 204 strikeouts – which amounts to one K every 2.64 at-bats. Good thing his career BABIP is .353 or he wouldn't be breaking the Mendoza Line. Stay far away.
I was tempted to rank Victor Martinez as my No. 1 fantasy catcher this year, and he's certainly a top-3 option in my view. It's often best to target the catcher coming off an injury riddled year over the one who was successful yet worked hard the previous season, as the position is the most daunting in baseball. Martinez's train wreck of a campaign in 2008 can be directly related to injuries, and he proved he still has plenty left in his bat with a solid September. This is someone who averaged 21 homers, 99 RBI and a .302 BA over the previous four seasons before last year. Kelly Shoppach's emergence can also be viewed as a good thing, as Martinez could be asked to play more first base and DH, as his bat will always be in the lineup one way or the other and less work behind the plate will keep him fresher and healthier. I'd certainly feel safer taking him over the dangerously overused Russell Martin.
I'm finished touting Delmon Young as the next big thing. It's clear he can maintain a fine batting average despite his free swinging ways, and it's possible he even ups his SB total to 20-plus this season, but his complete lack of power really limits his upside, despite his raw tools. Last year's 10 homers should not be considered a fluke considering his 1.23 G/F rate. In fact, if you remove line drives, he hit an astonishing 1.98 groundballs for every fly ball. He was a bit unlucky with just 7.6 percent of his fly balls going for homers (he puts more balls in play than most because he rarely walks), but that's commensurate with his career, so no big uptick should be counted on. It's possible he finally lives up to his perceived potential, as he's still just 23, but he's not a top-50 OF option as of now.
For a good laugh, check out Richard Justice's recent article about Brad Ausmus. A quick excerpt: "The Astros have had some good players through the years…They've never quite had one as valuable to the franchise as Brad Ausmus. This guy was all about winning…Some of you will quibble about his individual stats. All you're doing is showing how little you know about baseball." Truly mind-boggling.
I'm perennially disappointed, but I wouldn't mind gambling yet again on Hank Blalock. You simply can't go into the season relying on him as your starting third baseman with all the injury concerns, but there's still significant upside. He's posted an .871 OPS in between injuries over the past two seasons, and when he finally got healthy during the final month of last year, he hit .337 with eight homers and 23 RBI. With that ballpark and hitting in the middle of a potent Texas lineup both on his side, some big numbers could be in store for the 28-year-old still entering his prime. The fact he's slated to DH this season should help keep him healthy as well.
Sticking with the Rangers, few closers are better targets than Frank Francisco. Of course, there's risk with his relative lack of track record and poor command, but he's extremely tough to hit, holding opponents to a .200 BAA in 2008. Finally healthy after undergoing TJ surgery three years ago, Francisco posted an incredible 11.84 K/9 IP mark last season. After the All-Star break, he recorded a 2.45 ERA and 0.74 WHIP with a 38:6 K:BB ratio over 25.2 innings.