The Twins have decided to replace Joe Nathan with Matt Capps at closer according to Kelsie Smith via Twitter.

From Rotoworld.com:

Manager Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson met with Nathan after Saturday's game -- a game in which he blew his second straight save opportunity -- and decided it would be a good idea to put him in less stressful situations. It's the right move, as Nathan simply hasn't looked like himself thus far. Capps has struggled in his own right his last two outings, but he was pitching well before that and has the tools to succeed in the ninth inning. Assuming his stuff does come around, we would expect Nathan to eventually get his job back, but it's not a given.

Nathan apparently said that he was hurting the team by trying to close and will attempt to regain his form. Maybe with less pressure and more time to recover from his 2010 Tommy John surgery, he will return to his old position and continue to close out games for the Twins. It wasn’t that long ago that Nathan was viewed as the best closer in the game.

Here's the deal folks, if you haven't signed up for the ScoresReport.com $500 Contest at FanDuel.com, you're a fool. I hate to be harsh, but the truth hurts sometimes.

As of this post, we have 13 entries and seven of those contestants are going to at least quadruple their money, just for playing one day of fantasy baseball. Not a season, not a month, not even a week: ONE DAY. This Friday, April 1st. Are you telling me you don’t have the cojones to take me on in fantasy baseball for the chance to win $200? I don’t care if you play fantasy baseball or not; as of right now you have the chance to turn $5 into $200 all for filling out a lineup so what are you waiting for? Sign up today! (Details are below.)

What do I have to do to win $200 and stick it to you, Anthony?
Sign up at FanDuel.com and enter the ScoresReport.com $500 Contest. It’s easy to sign up and the entry fee is only $5. Once you’re signed up, FanDuel will give you the opportunity to select nine players from the following April 1 MLB games (click here for more detailed rules, or see below). If you beat me and fellow TSR members (and longtime fantasy baseball enthusiasts) Jamey Codding and David Medsker, you'll win $5. If you finish in the top 7, you'll win even more cash, up to $200.

What are the rules?
- Each player has a salary, and you only have $35k to spend.
- You must pick the following positions: P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF, RF
- The game starts Fri 1st Apr at 1:05pm EDT so enter before then.
- Again, if you manage to finish above our three experts you win an extra $5

How does the scoring work?
Once you’ve selected your team, they’ll be awarded these points in these categories: Hitters: 1B = 1pt, 2B = 2pts, 3B = pts, HR = 4pts, RBI = 1pt, R = 1pt, BB = 1pt, SB = 2pts, Out = -.25pt Pitchers: W = 7pts, ER = -1pt, SO=1pt, IP = 1pt.

Can I win a cash prize if I come in second?
Yes, $100, as well as for third place ($75), fourth place ($50), fifth place ($30), sixth place ($25) and seventh place ($20). So for signing up for a $5 contest, you could win $20 as long as you come in seventh. You can finish in at least seventh place right? Right? Right?!

What’s the catch?
No catch. Sign up is easy, the entry fee is only $5 and all you have to do is beat me in fantasy baseball for one day...ah, so there’s the catch. There's no way you're beating me in fantasy baseball.

Sign up for the ScoresReport.com $500 Contest.

Here's the deal folks, if you haven't signed up for the ScoresReport.com $500 Contest at FanDuel.com, you're a fool. I hate to be harsh, but the truth hurts sometimes.

As of this post, we have eight entries and seven of those contestants are going to at least quadruple their money, just for playing one day of fantasy baseball. Not a season, not a month, not even a week: ONE DAY. This Friday, April 1st. Are you telling me you don’t have the cojones to take me on in fantasy baseball for the chance to win $200? I don’t care if you play fantasy baseball or not; as of right now you have the chance to turn $5 into $200 all for filling out a lineup so what are you waiting for? Sign up today! (Details are below.)

What do I have to do to win $200 and stick it to you, Anthony?
Sign up at FanDuel.com and enter the ScoresReport.com $500 Contest. It’s easy to sign up and the entry fee is only $5. Once you’re signed up, FanDuel will give you the opportunity to select nine players from the following April 1 MLB games (click here for more detailed rules, or see below). If you beat me and fellow TSR members (and longtime fantasy baseball enthusiasts) Jamey Codding and David Medsker, you'll win $5. If you finish in the top 7, you'll win even more cash, up to $200.

What are the rules?
- Each player has a salary, and you only have $35k to spend.
- You must pick the following positions: P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF, RF
- The game starts Fri 1st Apr at 1:05pm EDT so enter before then.
- Again, if you manage to finish above our three experts you win an extra $5

How does the scoring work?
Once you’ve selected your team, they’ll be awarded these points in these categories: Hitters: 1B = 1pt, 2B = 2pts, 3B = pts, HR = 4pts, RBI = 1pt, R = 1pt, BB = 1pt, SB = 2pts, Out = -.25pt Pitchers: W = 7pts, ER = -1pt, SO=1pt, IP = 1pt.

Can I win a cash prize if I come in second?
Yes, $100, as well as for third place ($75), fourth place ($50), fifth place ($30), sixth place ($25) and seventh place ($20). So for signing up for a $5 contest, you could win $20 as long as you come in seventh. You can finish in at least seventh place right? Right? Right?!

What’s the catch?
No catch. Sign up is easy, the entry fee is only $5 and all you have to do is beat me in fantasy baseball for one day...ah, so there’s the catch. There's no way you're beating me in fantasy baseball.

Sign up for the ScoresReport.com $500 Contest.

Hey TSR readers, you now have an opportunity to win $200 and stick it to me just for putting your fantasy baseball knowledge to the test for one day. One day! Win one day of fantasy-filled fun, win $200 and prove that you’re better than me in fantasy baseball. That’s it. Two hundred dollars. Stick it to me. It’s easy, fun and you’re going to love it.

What do I have to do to win $200 and stick it to you, Anthony?
Sign up at FanDuel.com and enter the ScoresReport.com $500 Contest. It’s easy to sign up and the entry fee is only $5. Once you’re signed up, FanDuel will give you the opportunity to select nine players from the following April 1 MLB games (click here for more detailed rules, or see below). If you beat me and fellow TSR members (and longtime fantasy baseball enthusiasts) Jamey Codding and David Medsker, you'll win $5. If you finish in the top 7, you'll win even more cash, up to $200.

What are the rules?
- Each player has a salary, and you only have $35k to spend.
- You must pick the following positions: P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF, RF
- The game starts Fri 1st Apr at 1:05pm EDT so enter before then.
- Again, if you manage to finish above our three experts you win an extra $5

How does the scoring work?
Once you’ve selected your team, they’ll be awarded these points in these categories: Hitters: 1B = 1pt, 2B = 2pts, 3B = pts, HR = 4pts, RBI = 1pt, R = 1pt, BB = 1pt, SB = 2pts, Out = -.25pt Pitchers: W = 7pts, ER = -1pt, SO=1pt, IP = 1pt.

Can I win a cash prize if I come in second?
Yes, $100, as well as for third place ($75), fourth place ($50), fifth place ($30), sixth place ($25) and seventh place ($20). So for signing up for a $5 contest, you could win $20 as long as you come in seventh. You can finish in at least seventh place right? Right? Right?!

What’s the catch?
No catch. Sign up is easy, the entry fee is only $5 and all you have to do is beat me in fantasy baseball for one day...ah, so there’s the catch. There's no way you're beating me in fantasy baseball.

Sign up for the ScoresReport.com $500 Contest.

A headline like that can only involve Brian Wilson.

The 2010 MLB saves leader wore a pair of green shoes during a spring training game against the Angels on Thursday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. He will auction off said green spikes, with all the proceeds going to help the relief efforts in Japan. (Visit his website for the deets.)

In a small twist of irony, the green kicks didn’t bring him much luck. Wilson strained a ribcage muscle in the same game and might miss Opening Day now. He will be re-evaluated on Monday and if he’s out for an extended period of time, there's reason to believe he could start the season on the DL.

Fantasy Spin: Owners trying to prepare for their upcoming draft can probably draft Wilson with confidence, although it might not be a bad idea to snag Sergio Romo or Jeremy Affeldt with one of your last picks because they would fill in for the breaded one if need be. Affeldt collected four saves last year for the Giants, but Romo is actually the more logical choice to take over the ninth inning duties. He was lights out down the stretch last year as Wilson’s setup man, finishing with an impressive 2.18 ERA and a 5.00 K/BB ratio.

Want to win cold hard cash and stick it to me in fantasy baseball all at the same time? Well you’re in luck my friend, because FanDuel.com is giving you the opportunity.

Sign up at FanDuel.com and enter the ScoresReport.com $500 Contest. It’s easy to sign up and the entry fee is only $5. (So you skip that No. 1 at McDonalds this week. You've been meaning to drop a few lbs. anyway.) Plus, if you beat our three experts, you'll get your $5 back. There are prizes for first ($200), second ($100), third ($75), fourth ($50), fifth ($30), sixth ($25) and seventh ($20) place.

Once you’re signed up, FanDuel will give you the opportunity to select nine players from the following April 1 MLB games (the contest only runs for one day):

CWS @ CLE Fri 3:05pm EDT
NYM @ FLA Fri 7:10pm EDT
BOS @ TEX Fri 4:05pm EDT
HOU @ PHI Fri 1:05pm EDT
PIT @ CHC Fri 2:20pm EDT
ARI @ COL Fri 4:10pm EDT
MIN @ TOR Fri 7:07pm EDT
BAL @ TAM Fri 7:10pm EDT
ANA @ KAN Fri 8:10pm EDT
SEA @ OAK Fri 10:05pm EDT
SFG @ LOS Fri 10:10pm EDT

Tournament Rules

- Each player has a salary, and you only have $35k to spend.

- You must pick the following positions: P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF, RF

- The game starts Fri 1st Apr at 1:05pm EDT so enter before then.

- If you manage to finish above our three experts you win an extra $5

Scoring
Hitters: 1B = 1pt, 2B = 2pts, 3B = pts, HR = 4pts, RBI = 1pt, R = 1pt, BB = 1pt, SB = 2pts, Out = -.25pt Pitchers: W = 7pts, ER = -1pt, SO=1pt, IP = 1pt

Along with sticking it to yours truly, you'll have an opportunity to compete against fellow TSR staff members (and longtime fantasy baseball enthusiasts) Jamey Codding and David Medsker. It’s simple, easy and fun, and you can win $200. We’re already signed up and our teams are in, so get on it!

Sign up for the ScoresReport.com $500 Contest.

If you’re anything like me, I hate it when my favorite team signs an aging veteran free agent. I’ve uttered the phrase, “Please God don’t let them sign that crusty old vet,” too many times to count.

But those “crusty old vets” hold a ton of importance to a team’s success, especially in baseball where World Series-winning rosters usually have a mixture of both youth and veteran experience. Take the World Champion Giants for example. They won because of their young pitching, but it wasn’t Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain or Madison Bumgarner who wound up holding the World Series MVP Trophy at the end. It was 35-year-old Edgar Renteria, who was cursed by the SF faithful for being yet another horrible Brian Sabean signing, but wound up being a Fall Classic hero.

Today’s media doesn’t pay enough homage to the older MLB players. In fact, when fellow TSR contributor David Medsker and I were brainstorming ideas for a new feature, the first thing I brought up was that we should do an all 24-and-younger MLB team comprised of…well the idea is pretty self explanatory.

It wasn’t until David and I exhausted that idea before he sent me an e-mail that simply read: “Has anyone done an all 35-and-over team?”

Perfect. The moment I read it I burst into laughter. Could you imagine compiling a team of players that were only 35 years or older when present day teams usually build around youth? I love it.

Unfortunately, the guys over at Off Base Percentage beat us to the punch by compiling their own 35-plus year old team, so David and I decided to actually hold a live draft in order to make two teams. (Take that OBP.)

Below is a round-by-round breakdown of our all 35-and-older MLB draft. We selected a player for every infield position, plus three outfield positions, four starting pitchers (we only had eight to choose from), three relievers, one DH and two bench spots. Once the draft started, David and I quickly developed different strategies for building our rosters, so it was interesting to see how the draft played out. Take a look and let us know if you would have gone a different route.

David Medsker: GM of team “Springfield Geezers”
Anthony Stalter: GM of team “He’s Still in the League?”

Round 1

Springfield Geezers: Alex Rodriguez
He's Still in the League?: Derek Jeter

David: A-Rod was unquestionably the best position player on the board, and while starting pitching was scarce, I remembered the one time I took a pitcher in the first round (Jason Schmidt, 2005). Never again.

Anthony: I’ll admit it: I screwed the pooch by not taking Ichiro with the first pick. That’s not to say I don’t like Jeter (whom I believe will bounce back this season at the plate), but Ichiro has been the poster child for consistency his entire career. My first pick of my first 35-and-older MLB draft and I screwed up. Bow + Head = Shame.

Round 2

He's Still in the League?: Chris Carpenter
Springfield Geezers: Ichiro

Anthony: I knew Carpenter would be one of my first two picks because after David chose A-Rod, I wasn’t going to build my team around offense. Pitching still wins championships and Carp was clearly the best starter available. Again, I blew it by not taking Ichiro with one of my first two picks but just let it go, okay? Back off.

David: Had I picked second, Ichiro would have been one of my first two picks, so seeing him "fall" to me in the second round was a bonus. Anthony took the best pitcher on the board, and when I see a run starting, I tend to do the opposite - time to get another bat.

Round 3

Springfield Geezers: Paul Konerko
He's Still in the League?: Alfonso Soriano

David: Thirty-nine dingers last year. Pauly still has some pop, plus he is by far the best first baseman of this group.

Anthony: This is when I really started to hate my draft and I wanted to beg David for a re-do. I’ll gladly take the 20-25 home runs from Soriano, but his numbers are clearly in decline and he plays an awful left field. There’s no doubt that the Ichiro blunder was still fresh on my mind.

Round 4

He's Still in the League?: Tim Hudson
Springfield Geezers: Bobby Abreu

Anthony: But I quickly righted the ship with the selection of Hudson. Now I have the top two pitchers from the available talent pool and I’m completely invested in my pitching staff. As long as I didn't directly look my offense in the eye I was okay with the way my team was shaping up.

David: And now I'm in trouble. Anthony now has the two best pitchers on the board, so I may as well take one more hitter before drafting my first pitcher. Abreu is a perennial member of my real-life fantasy team (it's a points league, and his high walk rate is gravy), so this one was a no-brainer.

Round 5

Springfield Geezers: Ted Lilly
He's Still in the League?: Vladimir Guerrero

David: Sigh. Lilly is by no means a #1 starter, but I couldn't afford to let Anthony take him as his #3 starter. Definitely a defensive maneuver. I would much rather have taken Vlad the Impaler here, but there is great depth at the DH slot. I can make it up in the next round.

Anthony: Finally one of my draft moves paid off. As David noted above, my selection of Hudson caused him to grab Lilly and therefore, Vlad “fell” to me. With this pick, I’m starting to feel a little more optimistic about my offense.

Round 6

He's Still in the League?: Torii Hunter
Springfield Geezers: David Ortiz

Anthony: And now I feel a little better about my defense, too. Hunter obviously isn’t the same player he was earlier in this career but he’ll anchor things in the outfield. I don’t expect much of a drop-off from the offensive numbers he put up last year either (.281 average/76 runs/23 home runs/90 RBI/9 SBs).

David: Big Papi is not a bad consolation prize in the DH slot. Plus, as much as Baltimore’s offense has improved this offseason, Ortiz is still going to have far more run-scoring opportunities than Vlad, even if he lands in the 6-hole like he's projected to.

Round 7

Springfield Geezers: Mariano Rivera
He's Still in the League?: Derrek Lee

David: All right, so I didn't get the two best pitchers. But I definitely have the best closer, and a ton of offense to give him loads of save opportunities.

Anthony: I don’t know if he meant to or not, but David read me like a book here. I wanted Rivera to pair with my solid starting pitching, but he snagged him a pick before I was going to take him. Lee’s thumb is a concern but if he stays healthy he should be more productive than he was a year ago.

Round 8

He's Still in the League?: Joe Nathan
Springfield Geezers: Jorge Posada

Anthony: I was somewhat worried that David would take the top two relievers, so I grabbed Nathan while he was still available. Hopefully he’ll return to form and I’ll have a top-notch closer to go with my solid rotation.

David: There are lots of over-35 catchers, but there is only one who's still producing at the plate, and that is Posada. I never take catchers this early in a fantasy draft, but given the position scarcity, this seemed like the one to take the plunge on.

Round 9

Springfield Geezers: Raul Ibanez
He's Still in the League?: Mark DeRosa

David: He's only one year removed from 34 homers and almost 100 runs batted in, and he's one of the most well-liked players in baseball. Can't think of a better guy to round out my outfield. And with Anthony taking one of the two second basemen on the board, I can now punt on the position until the last round.

Anthony: I’ll be honest, I just didn’t want to wind up with Craig Counsell, so I scooped up DeRosa while he was still available. A wrist injury ruined his 2010 campaign, but when he’s healthy De-Ro can play multiple positions and is the ultimate clubhouse guy. I’m happy to have him on my team…as long as it's not Craig Counsell.

Round 10

He's Still in the League?: Derek Lowe
Springfield Geezers: Miguel Tejada

Anthony: And boom goes the dynamite. I now have three quality starters while David is stuck with Ted Lilly as his No. 1. I may average 0.5 runs a game but hopefully my pitching will match up with his offense.

David: Anthony now has three starters and I have one, so it's time to pick off another scarce infield position and then go pitcher-crazy. Tejada is no one's first choice these days, but he still has some pop.

Round 11

Springfield Geezers: Hiroki Kuroda
He's Still in the League?: Magglio Ordonez

David: Choosing my second pitcher was like choosing between an anvil on my head and a baseball bat to the kneecaps. In the end, I went with the guy with the best combination of low ERA and high strikeout numbers, plus a dandy 1.19 WHIP.

Anthony: Since David took all the best bats and I went with all the good pitching, I'm now left with a team full of defensive liabilities and injury concerns. That said, Maggs still hit .303 with 12 home runs last year in 84 games. I’ll take it at this point.

Round 12

He's Still in the League?: Carl Pavano
Springfield Geezers: Francisco Cordero

Anthony: Had to do it. At this point, pitching is my strength so I rounded out my rotation with the best arm available in Pavano. Hopefully my franchise is nowhere near New York and I should be fine.

David: Anthony has now taken his fourth pitcher, which means I can now punt on this position as well since he's capped. May as well bulk up wherever I can, which means relievers. CoCo seems like a better bet than the guy that was just talking about retiring.

Round 13

Springfield Geezers: Hideki Matsui
He's Still in the League?: Ryan Franklin

David: Godzilla hit 21 home runs in what was considered an off year for him, plus he can serve as a fourth outfielder, though now that I think about it, my entire outfield is left-handed, as are my catcher and DH. Should match up well against Anthony's starters.

Anthony: Franklin gives me another closer option if Nathan is hurt all year again. I probably should be adding more offense so that David doesn’t keep loading up on bats but at this point, my pitching is what will make or break me.

Round 14

He's Still in the League?: Jim Thome
Springfield Geezers: Scott Rolen

Anthony: Thome was the best bat available, so there you have it. At this point, I was concerned about not adding more infield depth but I address that later.

David: My last three picks are already spoken for, so I may as well bulk this team up any way I can. Rolen might be worried about playing time when players report to camp, but I have a plan that I think he will find most agreeable.

Round 15

Springfield Geezers: Darren Oliver
He's Still in the League?: Takashi Saito

David: This was tough. I flirted with taking Saito, but ultimately decided to get at least one lefty in the bullpen, and Oliver's numbers last year were shockingly good.

Anthony: I would have loved to have Oliver, so nice pick, David. I went with Saito, whom I’m happy with.

Round 16

He's Still in the League?: Chipper Jones
Springfield Geezers: Livan Hernandez

Anthony: Again, another injury prone bat to throw into the mix. I’m a Giants fan and therefore hate Casey Blake, so I went with Chipper. I don’t feel good about the decision, but I feel better than if I would have said the name “Casey Blake.”

David: And so begins my default picks. Livan's a horse, I'll give him that, but then I remember watching him as a rookie dazzle in the NLCS against Atlanta, where he recorded his 15th strikeout on a called third strike to Fred McGriff that was a good 10 to 12 inches off the plate. Haven't liked him since then.

All 2011 Fantasy Articles | 2011 Position Rankings

Man, Chase Utley has become a yearly case study for fantasy owners, hasn’t he?

Two years ago Utley was coming off offseason hip surgery and owners were afraid to draft him, even at a thin second base position. Last year, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained thumb at the end of June and for the first time in five years he failed to score at least 90 runs.

Now there are reports that the patellar tendonitis that he’s been battling in his knee may be worse than the Phillies initially thought. He recently received a cortisone injection and even GM Ruben Amaro said the knee hasn’t responded as the club hoped it would. The second baseman took batting practice over the weekend, but there’s no timetable for his participation in spring games and therefore, fantasy owners are left with yet another Chase Utley conundrum.

Assuming you were planning on targeting him before the knee injury became an even bigger concern, do you still draft him in the second round (which is what his ADP is in a 12-team league)? Do you pass on him altogether and target the next best options in Dustin Pedroia, Dan Uggla or Ian Kinsler? Do you hope he falls and then scoop him up later when he represents more value?

Hopefully the situation will become clearer the closer we get to Opening Day. If it’s revealed that Utley will miss the first two months of the season, then obviously you’ll have to alter your draft strategy (as in, don’t take him in the second round and be the butt of your buddies’ jokes for the next five years). But if there’s still a cloud of uncertainty surrounding his health, you could wait to see if he falls into the third or even fourth round and then take him when his value far exceeds his draft position. (After all, we’re talking about a guy that when healthy, will produce a stat line around .285-100-25-90-15 at a thin position.)

The key is to pay close attention to the spring training reports so that you can better assess his worth on draft day. You don’t want to invest a second round pick in a player that will either a) miss a significant amount of time and thus leave you with Omar Infante for half a season or b) battle a troublesome knee all year and make you wish you had Omar Infante.

But passing on Utley altogether just because there are some concerns about his knee wouldn’t be wise. Maybe in a week or two you can hit the panic button, but for now play it cool and you could wind up drafting a key player much lower than he was originally supposed to go.

All 2011 Fantasy Articles | 2011 Position Rankings

Ah, the fantasy closer. They’ll screw with you just as bad as that hot chick you used to have a thing for back in high school.

Damn she looks good today…No wait, it’s a trick. She’s making me think that I need her to become a winner. Well I don’t. I don’t need her. I’ll just go out with two less attractive girls and I’ll be just fine. Or…yeah, I don’t need any girl! I’m going to punt girls altogether and focus on other things like schoolwork, sports and hanging out with my friends. I don’t need her – I don’t need any of them!..Oh, but look at her. She's everything I need. She’s way better than two less attractive girls or no girls at all and hey, if she breaks my heart it’s okay. Sure, I would have passed on the two less attractive girls but then I can take on three really, really, really less attractive girls that still might give me what I need in the end. It wouldn’t be so bad…wait, NO! I don’t need her! Stay away from me you freaking serpent woman!

And the cycle continues year after year.

Look, no matter how you want to tackle the conundrum that is the fantasy closer, just make sure you have a plan of attack. If you want to take one of the top guys in the sixth or seventh round, fine. Just know going into your draft whether or not you’re going to invest in saves or take your chances with two or three guys that you select later in your draft. (Or, punt the stat altogether and load up on offense and starters.)

If you want our advice, draft two or three closers in the 12th round and beyond and call it a day. Maybe the combination of Brian Wilson and Huston Street will get you 80 saves, but a trio of Francisco Rodriguez, Leo Nunez and Joel Hanrahan could rack up the same amount and here’s the kicker: you wouldn’t need to invest picks in the seventh and 13th rounds to acquire K-Rod/Nunez/Hanrahan (who can all be had in the 14th round or later).

If you want to take our advice and select closers later in your draft, here are five pitchers to keep an eye on. All of them are projected to go in the 13th round or later in 12-team leagues.

Francisco Rodriguez, Mets
Is he a little whacked? Sure, but who isn’t? Is his stuff the same as it was earlier in this career when he was with the Angels? No, but K-Rod has adapted well by ditching his slider and relying on his fastball and changeup to get hitters out. He’s a 35-save man these days and he’ll chip in 70 strikeouts while keeping his ERA in the 3.20-range and his WHIP below 1.20. As previously mentioned, pair Rodriguez with guys like Leo Nunez and Joel Hanrahan and you’ll be fine. (It’s also comforting to know that this is a contract year for K-Rod and thus, he better be on his best behavior.)

Jose Valverde, Tigers
Elbow injuries in the second half of the year ruined a solid first half for Valverde in 2010. But if he’s healthy and can hold of Joaquin Benoit for the closer job, he should muster 30-plus saves and 60-65 Ks. Just keep an eye on him in spring training. If it looks like he’s having health issues, cross him off your list and move on. There are plenty of other options late in your draft.

John Axford, Brewers
While Trevor Hoffman collapsed last year, Axford came out of nowhere to thrive. He struck out 11.79 batters per nine innings and actually improved bumped that rate to 12.38 after the All-Star Break. His ground ball percentage of 48.1 has us encouraged about his potential in 2011. He certainly doesn’t have the makeup of a traditional closer, but that shouldn’t bother you. It’s probably reasonable to expect 25-30 saves, 80-85 Ks and an ERA around 3.20.

Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers
We think Broxton has major comeback potential this season after imploding in 2010. Will he be one of the top closers in the game again? Maybe not, but at the very least he should a) hold onto his job the entire year and thus, b) greatly improve his production in 2011. After compiling just 22 saves and 73 Ks with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP last year, you can probably expect a line of 32-85-3.40-1.30 from Broxton in 2011.

Joe Nathan, Twins
Nathan’s an interesting case study because some owners will either treat him like the plague or count on him being one of their late-round sleepers. He probably won’t be 100% by the start of the season as he continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery, but the key is that he’s making progress. If you can nab a couple of closers in rounds 12-17, Nathan might be there in 18th and you can shelve him until he’s ready. Then, assuming he returns to full health, you’ll reap the rewards of being patient and planning ahead on draft day.

2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Relievers

1. Brian Wilson, Giants
2. Heath Bell, Padres
3. Joakim Soria, Royals
4. Mariano Rivera, Yankees
5. Neftali Feliz, Rangers
6. Carlos Marmol, Cubs
7. Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox
8. Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers
9. Francisco Rodriguez, Mets
10. John Axford, Brewers
11. Andrew Bailey, A’s
12. Chris Perez, Indians
13. J.J. Putz, Diamondbacks
14. Jose Valverde, Tigers
15. Huston Street, Rockies
16. Brad Lidge, Phillies
17. Ryan Franklin, Cardinals
18. Drew Storen, Nationals
19. Francisco Cordero, Reds
20. Joe Nathan, Twins
21. Craig Kimbrel, Braves
22. Matt Thornton, White Sox
23. Leo Nunez, Marlins
24. Frank Francisco, Blue Jays
25. Brandon Lyon, Astros
26. Fernando Rodney, Angels
27. Kevin Gregg, Orioles
28. Hong-Chih Kuo, Dodgers
29. Ryan Madson, Phillies
30. Joel Hanrahan, Pirates
31. Chris Sale, White Sox
32. Jake McGee, Rays
33. Evan Meek, Pirates
34. Sergio Romo, Giants
35. Daniel Bard, Red Sox
36. Octavio Dotel, Blue Jays
37. Rafael Soriano, Yankees
38. Luke Gregerson, Padres
39. Rafael Betancourt, Rockies
40. Jonny Venters, Braves

Fellow TSR fantasy baseball writer David Medsker recently reminded me of something legendary manager Sparky Anderson once said:

“Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I’ll win a pennant every year.”

It got me thinking: What if you could build a fantasy team this year comprised only of players in the last years of their contracts? Granted, unless your league was made up of owners who have lived in a cave for the past five years, you couldn’t draft Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano and Jose Reyes on the same team. But since this is just for stickers and giggles, don’t sweat the details. (Seriously, have a little fun for once in your life.)

Without further ado, I give you the All-Contract Year Fantasy Team.

(Note: I’ve indicated if a player has a club option for next year.)

All 2011 Fantasy Articles | 2011 Position Rankings

Catcher: Jorge Posada, Yankees
Obviously Posada’s best days are behind him and now that the Yankees have Russell Martin to help share the catching duties this season, it appears as though the 39-year-old backstop is destined to finish his career as a DH. Hopefully the transition will mean fewer trips to the disabled list for Posada, who has landed on the DL four times in the past three years combined. There’s still 15-20 home runs left in his bat and with this being the final year of his contract, he needs to show the Bombers that he’s worth keeping around past this season. (Yadier Molina of the Cardinals also has a $7 million club option with a $750K buyout for next season, so he’s another possibility if you’re concerned about Posada’s durability.)

First Base: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
I’m not going to insult anyone’s intelligence by writing about why Albert Pujols is the best first base-eligible player in a contract year, but what I will do is note that both Adrian Gonzalez and Prince Fielder’s current deals also run out in 2011. Talk about an interesting 2012 free agency year it'll be for first basemen.

Second Base: Robinson Cano, Yankees
Cano has a $14 million club option with a $2 million buyout, so he’s not a true-blue free agent like some of the other names on this team. Regardless, he’s easily the best fantasy second baseman in the game and should be the first two-bagger to come off your draft board. Brandon Phillips ($12 million/$1 million buyout) and Aaron Hill ($8 million for 2012, $8 million for 2013, $10 million for 2014) also have club options for next season, so they're possibilities as well. (Although you would have some splannin' to do if you decided to take Phillips or Hill over Cano when it came to picking this team's second baseman.)

Shortstop: Jose Reyes, Mets
The third-best fantasy shortstop is heading into a contract year, as is the fifth-best (Jimmy Rollins, Phillies). You could probably make a case for taking Rollins over Reyes, but you'd be reaching. Reyes will swipe more bases, hit for a higher average and score more runs while matching his Philadelphia counterpart in home runs (or coming damn close). Plus, Reyes is four years younger, so he would obviously have the edge in a keeper league, too.

Third Base: Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
It was slim pickings at third base but Encarnacion (who has a $3.5 million club option for next season) gets the edge over Jose Lopez. Encarnacion can’t hit for average, won't drive in many base runners and he dealt with wrist and shoulder injuries last year. But at least he’ll hit 25-plus home runs. (Hey, it’s something.)

Outfielders: Juan Pierre, White Sox; Bobby Abreu, Angels; Grady Sizemore, Indians; Nick Swisher, Yankees; Carlos Beltran, Mets
Yiiiiiikes. What happened? Pujols, Cano and Reyes filled three of the first four positions on this team but the talent has now fallen off a cliff. (Thanks a lot, Edwin Encarnacion.) At least we’ll garner plenty of steals with Pierre and Sizemore (kind of...and if he can stay healthy), and power with Abreu, Swisher and Beltran (kind of…if he can stay healthy). Not a very impressive collection of names but it could be much, much worse.

DH/Extra Hitters: David Ortiz, Red Sox; Vladimir Guerrero, Orioles
Our DH/EH position is looking pretty good with Ortiz and Guerrero, both of which should hit 20-plus home runs. Jim Thome’s contract also runs out at the end of the year, as does Jack Cust and Hideki Matsui’s. Thus, there are plenty of DH/EH options for this team.

Starting Pitchers: C.C. Sabathia, Yankees; Adam Wainwright, Cardinals; Chris Carpenter, Cardinals; Roy Oswalt, Phillies; Hiroki Kuroda, Dodgers; Ryan Dempster, Cubs; C.J. Wilson, Rangers; Joel Pineiro, Angels
Jackpot! We’d be set with Sabathia (who has the chance to opt out of the remaining four years of his contract), Carpenter ($15 million club option with a $1 million buyout), Oswalt ($16 million mutual option with a $2 million buyout) and a bunch of Double-A arms, but we’re happy to take guys like Kuroda, Dempster and Wilson to fill out the rotation. Too bad Wainwright had to have Tommy John surgery or else you might as well just hand us all of the pitching categories this year. (There were also some intriguing names that we didn’t take, such as Javier Vazquez, Edwin Jackson, Brandon Webb, Aaron Harang and Scott Kazmir.)

Closers: Heath Bell, Padres; Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox; Francisco Rodriguez, Mets
Again: Jackpot. Check out the names that were also available: Jonathan Broxton (who you could use to replace whack-job K-Rod if you wanted to), Joe Nathan and Jose Valverde ($9 million club option).

All 2011 Fantasy Articles | 2011 Position Rankings

There seems to be two types of fantasy owners when it comes to drafting starting pitchers:

Fantasy Owner #1: Hello Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum or Felix Hernandez in the early rounds. I’m going to draft at least one stud early and wish the dopes that wait to grab pitchers in the middle to late rounds good luck. Hope they like playing Russian Roulette.

Fantasy Owner #2: While the morons are grabbing supposed studs in the first couple of rounds, I’m loading up on offense since it’s more predictable than figuring out what starters won’t have Zack Grienke-type 2010 campaigns. I’ll grab my pitchers in the middle rounds and be just fine.

No matter which fantasy owner you are, the No. 1 factor when it comes to drafting pitchers is understanding how the scoring system is set up in your league. If you play in a rotisserie league, then you’re probably fine employing Fantasy Owner #2’s philosophy and then making adjustments throughout the year depending on what you need (i.e. trading away saves for strikeouts, or speed for wins and ERA).

On the flip side, if you’re in a head-to-head league where you know a pitcher like Halladay can be the difference between winning and losing a couple of categories, then you may want to think about nabbing a starter early. Again, it’s all about understanding how the scoring is set up in your league.

If you fall into the mindset of Fantasy Owner #1, then you’re well aware of what guys like Halladay, “The Freak,” “King Felix,” Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia bring to the table. Thus, we won’t waste your time waxing poetically about what those starters can do for your team.

Instead, we’ve compiled a group of pitchers that will be available in the middle or late rounds that are skilled in a couple of important categories: Innings, strikeouts and ground balls. Why those categories you ask? We like to keep things simple around here, so here’s our basic philosophy when it comes to pitchers: The more innings they pitch, the more likely they are to pick up wins. The more hitters they strike out, the less the ball is in play where a number of different factors enter into the equation (i.e. defense, the type of park it is, whether or not the shortstop is looking at the hot chick in the third row behind the dugout instead of getting into the correct position, etc.). Finally, the more ground balls that a pitcher can induce, the less likely he is to give up home runs or extra base hits.

With those three factors in mind, here are several names you’ll want to keep an eye on in the middle rounds.

Francisco Liriano, Twins (14-10, 191.2 IP, 9.44 K/9, 0.331 BABIP, 53.60%)
Seeing as how he’s going in the seventh round of most 12-team leagues, don’t wait too long to draft Liriano if you want him. There are rumors that he may get traded to the Yankees, which may only up his fantasy value (assuming owners aren’t scared off by whether or not he can pitch in the Bronx Zoo) so again, don’t fall asleep on him come draft day. His strikeout and walk rates were outstanding last year, but the return of the ground ball has us most excited about his potential this season. After having Tommy John surgery over three years ago, Liriano is back among the elite.

Max Scherzer, Tigers (12-11, 195.2 IP, 8.46 K/9, 0.297 BABIP, 40.30%)
Innings are always a concern with Scherzer but strikeouts never are. After the Tigers sent him to the minors in the middle of the season, Scherzer returned to punch out a batter per inning over his final 23 starts while keeping his ERA below 2.50. He’s a health concern, but if he can avoid the DL there’s a chance he could rack up 190 Ks and 15 wins.

Jonathan Sanchez, Giants (13-10, 193.1 IP, 9.54 K/9, 0.252 BABIP, 41.50% GB%)
You bet your ass there’s some concern about a) the fact that he pitched a month longer last year as the Giants won the World Series and b) the fact that he'll be a tad overvalued on draft day. But he was one of the hottest regular season finishers of 2010, finishing 10th in ERA (2.61), 26th in WHIP (1.16) and third in strikeouts (101) among pitchers with 75-plus innings after the All-Star Break. You may see his ERA raise from 3.07 last year to around 3.60 this season, but he could also rack up 215 strikeouts and 10-15 wins while sporting a WHIP in the low 1.20s. Not bad for a guy you can get in the 13th round of a 12-team league.

Wandy Rodriguez, Astros (11-12, 195 IP, 8.22 K/9, 0.303 BABIP, 47.90% GB)
Thanks to the piss-poor team that the Astros have fielded around him, Rodriguez might not win more than 12 games this season. But don’t let that keep you from drafting a guy that had a 2.11 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 9.70 punch-outs per nine innings in 14 starts after the All-Star Break last season. Too bad he didn't pitch for a better team because he'd probably find himself rated higher than #25 in our rankings.

Chad Billingsley, Dodgers (12-11, 191.2 IP, 8.03 K/9, 0.301 BABIP, 49.60% GB)
So he’s not the ace the Dodgers expected him to be: that has nothing to do with fantasy baseball. Whether the guy is a solid No. 2 or No. 3, or the ace of a staff, that's not your concern. Billingsley produced a career-best 49.6% ground ball rate and held left-handers to .252. His WHIP (1.28) and ERA (3.57) probably won’t drop significantly (or at all) this year, but we expect him to compile 10-15 more strikeouts and maybe another win or two.

Colby Lewis, Rangers (12-13, 201 IP, 8.78 K/9, 0.275 BABIP, 37.90%)
You’re right – Lewis doesn’t fit our profile as a ground ball pitcher. As a starter in Arlington, he’s prone to giving up the long ball but he fits our other categories nicely. After pitching for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 2008 and 2009, Lewis returned last year to throw over 200 innings for the AL champion Rangers. He also racked up nearly nine Ks per nine innings and kept his ERA below 3.75. Expect similar numbers this year and perhaps a handful more wins.

Ryan Dempster, Cubs (15-12, 215.1 IP, 8.69 K/9, 0.294 BABIP, 47.40% GB)
Dempster certainly isn’t flashy and at 33, his numbers are starting to decline. But he’s posted three consecutive 200-inning seasons and his 8.69 K/9 ratio was his best in any season in which he qualified for the ERA crown.He's someone that could slide into the late rounds and therefore, present a ton of value as you're looking to fill your final rotation spots. You may have to play the matchup game with him more than other pitchers we’ve listed, but you could do worse than a guy that will keep his ERA below 4.00 and rack up 190 Ks and 10-15 wins.

Others to Watch: James Shields (Rays); Ian Kennedy (D'Backs); Edwin Jackson (White Sox); Ted Lilly (Dodgers); Gio Gonzalez (A's); Shaun Marcum (Blue Jays); C.J. Wilson (Rangers).

Starting Pitchers 2011 Fantasy Rankings:

1. Roy Halladay, Phillies
2. Tim Lincecum, Giants
3. Felix Hernadnez, Mariners
4. Cliff Lee, Phillies
5. CC Sabathia, Yankees
6. Jon Lester, Red Sox
7. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
8. Tommy Hanson, Braves
9. Justin Verlander, Tigers
10. Zack Greinke, Brewers
11. Chris Carpenter, Cardinals
12. Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies
13. Dan Haren, Angels
14. Mat Latos, Padres
15. Josh Johnson, Marlins
16. Cole Hamels, Phillies
17. Main Cain, Giants
18. Jered Weaver, Angels
19. David Price, Rays
20. Yovani Gallardo, Brewers
21. Roy Oswalt, Phillies
22. Francisco Liriano, Twins
23. Max Scherzer, Tigers
24. Chad Billingsley, Dodgers
25. Wandy Rodriguez, Astros
26. Matt Garza, Cubs
27. Ted Lilly, Dodgers
28. Shaun Marcum, Brewers
29. Brett Anderson, A’s
30. Tim Hudson, Braves
31. John Danks, White Sox
32. Hiroki Kuroda, Dodgers
33. Jonathan Sanchez, Giants
34. Daniel Hudson, Diamondbacks
35. Colby Lewis, Rangers
36. Clay Buchholz, Red Sox
37. Ricky Nolasco, Marlins
38. Jeremy Hellickson, Rays
39. Brett Myers, Astros
40. Jhoulys Chacin, Rockies
41. Johnny Cueto, Reds
42. Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays
43. Phil Hughes, Yankees
44. Madison Bumgarner, Giants
45. Trevor Cahill, A’s
46. Jaime Garcia, Cardinals
47. Josh Beckett, Red Sox
48. Ryan Dempster, Cubs
49. Ricky Romero, Blue Jays
50. C.J. Wilson, Rangers
51. Brian Matusz, Orioles
52. Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals
53. Ian Kennedy, Diamondbacks
54. Edinson Volquez, Reds
55. Jair Juerrjens, Braves
56. Bronson Arroyo, Reds
57. Wade Davis, Rays
58. James Shields, Rays
59. Johan Santana, Mets
60. Anibal Sanchez, Marlins

All 2011 Fantasy Articles | 2011 Position Rankings

We’ve always viewed outfield as your one-stop shopping when it comes to fantasy baseball. Once your roster has taken shape and you’re looking to address potential weaknesses, the outfield position can be extremely useful.

Obviously we don’t need to sell you on Ryan Bruan, Carl Crawford or Carlos Gonzalez. They’ll go in the first round. We also don’t need to convince you to take Josh Hamilton, Matt Holliday or Matt Kemp, who will all go in the second. We even don’t need to say much about Shin-Soo Choo, Nelson Cruz, Justin Upton or Andrew McCutchen, because you know their value in the third and fourth rounds.

But when you start to get deeper into your draft and you notice that you lack speed or power, that’s when knowing what players can help is beneficial.

Need speed?...

Juan Pierre, White Sox
Pierre gets labeled as a “one category player,” but that’s not really the case. Sure he stole a whopping 68 bases last season, but he also hit .275 and scored 96 runs. Obviously you’re not drafting him for his power, but he’s more than just a base stealer - draft him with confidence.

Michael Bourn, Astros
The problem with Bourn is that he’s usually overrated on draft day. He was one of only three players to steal 50 bases last season and people will overpay to have him on their roster. Unlike Pierre, who’ll score 90-plus runs and hit between .275 and .280, Bourn will probably top out at 85 runs, hit .265 and rack up only 40 RBI. Granted, those numbers are only slightly worse than Pierre’s, but just know that if you draft Bourn, you’re probably overpaying for steals (which maybe you're fine with).

Raja Davis, Blue Jays
Along with Pierre and Bourn, Davis was one of the three players last year to swipe 50 bags. The problem is that he might not come close to doing it again if he doesn’t draw more walks. That said, he’s projected as the Jays’ starting centerfielder and his defense will give him plenty of opportunities to play. He may not steal 50 bases again this year, but 45 is certainly a reasonable expectation.

Looking for power?...

Jay Bruce, Reds
Dude strikes out way too much but he’s only 24 so one would think that the more plate appearances he receives, the less he’ll spend walking back to the dugout after a punch out. Don’t expect Bruce to hit .300 but there’s reason to believe he’ll crack 30 home runs after hitting 25 dingers last season. His best years are still ahead of him.

Delmon Young, Twins
Just like Bruce, Young (25) hasn’t even reached his prime yet. He started to find his power stroke last year when he hit 21 long balls, so 25 is a realistic number for him this season. He’ll also hit .290 and drive in 100 RBI, so he’ll give you a boost in other categories as well.

Mike Stanton, Marlins
Stanton hit 22 home runs in his first 100 big league games so the sky’s the limit for this young Fish. But tread lightly: he’s only 21 and could be in store for a major letdown as pitchers start to find holes in his swing. Still, this kid has future home run champ written all over him.

Late Round Bargains...

Andres Torres, Giants
Some people believe that Torres is a one-hit wonder but some people are also idiots. (Just look at me! Wait...what?) Torres may only hit .260 and he’s not going to drive in more than 65 runs but he'll swipe 25 bags this year and hit at least 15 home runs. He also bats leadoff, so scoring 85-90 runs shouldn’t be a problem either (more if guys like Freddy Sanchez, Auburey Huff, Buster Posey and Kung Fu Panda have good seasons batting behind him). If he finishes with a stat line of .260-86-15-64-24 and you drafted him in the 17th or 18th round are you really going to be upset? We didn’t think so.

Denard Span, Twins
Span’s average should jump back up from .264 to around .285 and he’ll hit more than three home runs this year. Considering he’ll steal around 25 bases, drive in 60-plus RBI and score around 90 runs, you could do much worse in the later rounds.

Ryan Raburn, Tigers
Raburn probably won’t steal more than five bases and his average might drop with more plate appearances (the Tigers plan on starting him in left field, so he'll have an everyday role this season), but he could hit 20 home runs with 85 RBI and score 75-80 runs. Again, not bad for a guy you can get late in your draft.

Dexter Fowler, Rockies
Fowler has had a bumpy experience in the big leagues, but he could be ready for a breakout campaign. He could easily double the 13 steals he had in 2010 and his average should rise as he gets more and more comfortable with big league pitching.

2011 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Rankings:

1. Ryan Braun, Brewers
2. Carl Crawford, Red Sox
3. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
4. Josh Hamilton, Rangers
5. Matt Holliday, Cardinals
6. Matt Kemp, Dodgers
7. Shin-Soo Choo, Indians
8. Nelson Cruz, Rangers
9. Justin Upton, Diamondbacks
10. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
11. Jose Bautista, Rays
12. Jayson Werth, Nationals
13. Jason Heyward, Braves
14. Alex Rios, White Sox
15. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox
16. Hunter Pence, Astros
17. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
18. Andre Ethier, Dodgers
19. B.J. Upton, Rays
20. Jay Bruce, Reds
21. Shane Victorino, Phillies
22. Mike Stanton, Marlins
23. Corey Hart, Brewers
24. Chris Young, Diamondbacks
25. Delmon Young, Twins
26. Curtis Granderson, Yankees
27. Michael Bourn, Astros
28. Colby Rasmus, Cardinals
29. Torii Hunter, Angels
30. Drew Stubbs, Reds
31. Aubrey Huff, Giants
32. Ben Zobrist, Rays
33. Brett Gardner, Yankees
34. Juan Pierre, White Sox
35. Bobby Abreu, Angels
37. Carlos Quentin, White Sox
38. Vernon Wells, Angels
39. Adam Jones, Orioles
40. Nick Markakis, Orioles
41. Grady Sizemore, Indians
42. Angel Pagan, Mets
43. Carlos Lee, Astros
44. Nick Swisher, Yankees
45. Michael Cuddyer, Twins
46. Jason Bay, Mets
47. Sean Rodriguez, Rays
48. Travis Snider, Blue Jays
49. Andres Torres, Giants
50. Manny Ramirez, Rays

All 2011 Fantasy Articles | 2011 Position Rankings

Third base: it's almost as bad as shortstop.

In retrospect, we'd like to add a twelfth MLB player we would not want to be in 2011, and that is Jose Bautista. Going undrafted in most leagues, he scored over 200 points more than any other third basemen in one of our leagues last season, which means he now has a giant fantasy bullseye on his chest, and if he doesn't finish in the top five among third basemen this year, he'll be considered a bust. The reason? The sixth-ranked third baseman in the draft projections is a second baseman (Martin Prado). Yikes.

"Ski-doosh."

But fear not, fellow roto-geeks. There are some bargain picks to be had at the hot corner once the big five (Evan Longoria, Alex Rodriguez, David Wright, Ryan Zimmerman, and Bautista) are off the board. Obviously your best bet is to get one of them, but if that is not an option, stock up on as many other positions as you can, and with some luck, these men below will hopefully keep you competitive.

Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
The Greek God of Walks will obviously do more than just keep you competitive, but you'll need to wait a few games (ten in most leagues) before you can play him there. Once he's set, though, just sit back and enjoy the show. And by the show, we mean the shots of Youkilis cursing at himself on the bench whenever he makes an out. Competitive bugger, that Youkilis.

Pablo Sandoval, Giants
The Panda lost 38 pounds this offseason, and is already tearing the cover off the ball in spring training. We love players who have something to prove, and after compiling a limp .268-61-13-63 stat line in 2010, Sandoval is that guy. But is he really sloted to bat eighth in the order? That's a little disconcerting.

Aramis Ramirez, Cubs
Contract year, ahoy! Yes, the Cubs have an option for 2012, but it's at $16 million, and it will only be guaranteed if Ramirez wins the MVP or the Cubs go to the World Series. (In other words, it will not be guaranteed.) He looked like his old self by year's end after a putrid first half, and with the addition of Carlos Pena, the Cubs lineup has the potential to be dangerous. It could also implode at a moment's notice - witness yesterday's dugout dispute, which involved the normally laid-back Ramirez - but we expect Aramis to sing for his supper.

Mark Reynolds, Orioles
Talk about an ideal situation. Reynolds is currently projected to bat seventh for the new-look O's, and even there, he'll have Derrek Lee in front of him and Matt Wieters behind him. He won't have any of the pressure to produce that he had in Arizona, and one has to think that will have a huge impact on his approach at the plate. Of course, we're still avoiding him like the plague in our points-based leagues (those 200 strikeouts are death), but he's definitely worth a late flier in 5x5 leagues.

Casey McGehee, Brewers
He led the Brewers in RBI last year. Let us guess - you thought that honor belonged to Ryan Braun or Prince Fielder? So did we. McGehee could stand to take a few more walks (all right, a lot more walks), but he's a damn fine hitter overall.

Pedro Alvarez, Pirates
He's probably going to strike out a ton this year now that the teams have him on video, but he's probably also going to hit close to 30 dingers and drive in 100 runs, and can likely be had in the 17th round. Works for us.

Chris Johnson, Astros
Meet the new Mark Reynolds, same as the old Mark Reynolds? Time will tell, but he could be good for 20 homers, if you can stomach the strikeouts.

Martin Prado, Braves / Chone Figgins, Mariners
Why, again, would you play either at third base when they're eligible at second base?

Use him while you can

Michael Young, Rangers
Who the hell knows what he'll be eligible at next year.

Below is our official ranking of third basemen.

1. Evan Longoria, TB
2. Alex Rodriguez, NYY
3. Ryan Zimmerman, WAS
4. David Wright, NYM
5. Jose Bautista, TOR
6. Kevin Youkilis, BOS (will not be eligible at beginning of season)
7. Adrian Beltre, TEX
8. Pablo Sandoval, SF
9. Aramis Ramirez, CHC
10. Casey McGehee, MIL
11. Michael Young, TEX
12. Pedro Alvarez, PIT
13. Michael Cuddyer, MIN
14. Mark Reynolds, AZ
15. Scott Rolen, CIN
16. Chone Figgins, SEA (will not be eligible at beginning of season)
17. Chipper Jones, ATL
18. Ian Stewart, COL
19. Placido Polanco, PHI
20. Chase Headley, SD
21. Chris Johnson, HOU

All 2011 Fantasy Articles | 2011 Position Rankings

Abandon hope, all ye who enter here. Shortstop is the new second base, a fantasy wasteland where only six (!) players are projected to be drafted in the first ten rounds. Six, out of a hundred. That's bad.

"Hello. I'm Derek Jeter, and you're not."

Worse, only five of those players are proven fantasy performers year after year, and even that is stretching the truth until it nearly breaks. Truth be told, there is one guy in this group (Hanley Ramirez) that has held up as a reliable fantasy stud. The rest are streaky, as in 'Will Ferrell in "Old School"' streaky. (Tulo, we're looking at you.) What is a fantasy manager to do once Hanley and Troy Tulowitzki are off the board? For starters, don't panic, and for God's sake don't reach. Continue to take the best guy on the board, and see if one of these guys lands in your lap.

Jose Reyes, Mets
The late, great Sparky Anderson once said, "Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I'll win a pennant every year." You think he wouldn't love to have Reyes this year, since he's essentially auditioning for all of Major League Baseball? The Mets are so bogged down with money issues that there has even been speculation that they will have a hard time paying their players, which makes the likelihood of a contract extension to Reyes unlikely. Meanwhile, the shortstop of the Red Sox, Marco Scutaro, has a player option on his contract for next year, which the club could buy out for $1.5 million. Don't think for a minute that Reyes doesn't know this, and will bust his ass to get him some Carl Crawford money. Having said that, don't bid the moon and the stars to get him. If he comes to you, great. If not, then take a look at...

Marco Scutaro, Red Sox
Reyes' 2010 stat line was .282-83-11-54-30. Scutaro's line was .275-92-11-56-5. Nearly identical in every category except steals, and he can be had 11 rounds after Reyes is off the board. If you play in a points league and Reyes is gone, take a deep breath, and remember that the next best thing is a mere 110 picks away. Scutaro is the textbook definition of a value pick, even if he spends the entire year in the 9-hole.

Derek Jeter, Yankees
Thanks to his worst year offensively since his rookie season, plus the embarrassing public back-and-forth with the Yankees for a new contract extension, Derek Jeter's stock has never been lower, and he knows it. Jeter has spent spring training doing extra sessions with Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long to work on shortening his swing, so look for him to play with an anvil-sized chip on his shoulder.

Rafael Furcal, Dodgers
Furcal's 2010 stat line was .300-66-8-43-22...in 97 games played. Over a full season, that projects to .300-110-13-71-36. Not bad, and it can be all yours for the low, low price of a 16th round pick.

Starlin Castro, Cubs
He could probably use another year of seasoning, but Castro has the skills to be a Jose Reyes-caliber player. He batted .300 his rookie season (and remember, was only 20 years old) and showed occasional pop. If there is one thing he needs to work on - besides his defense - it's his base stealing. He stole 10 bases, but was caught a whopping eight times. He certainly has the wheels to steal close to 30 bases if the Cubs gave him the green light, but he clearly needs to work on his timing and anticipating the off-speed pitch. (Ask Aubrey Huff about that last one; he stole seven bases last year, and wasn't caught once.) He'll make for a nice backup this year, but look for him to take a big jump in 2012.

Don't believe the hype

Elvis Andrus, Rangers
Fantasy geeks love this guy, but the truth of the matter is that he's the Juan Pierre of shortstops, only not as productive. He hit six homers in his rookie campaign but didn't hit a single home run last year, and his caught stealing ratio (32 steals in 47 attempts, 68% success rate) is atrocious. Pierre, by comparison, was caught 18 times, but stole 36 more bases than Adrus did (79% success rate). Here's perhaps the most damning stat of all: in our points league, Andrus was outscored last year by Jeff Keppinger, Juan Uribe and Yuniesky Betancort. Ow. If he cuts those caught stealings in half, he'll be a useful shortstop for 5x5 leagues, but last we checked, speed only affects one of those five stats, while power affects the other four. Just sayin'.

Use him while you can

Juan Uribe, Dodgers
He's playing second base this year. D'oh.

Below is our official ranking of shortstops.

1. Hanley Ramirez, FLA
2. Troy Tulowitzki, COL
3. Jose Reyes, NYM
4. Derek Jeter, NYY
5. Jimmy Rollins, PHI
6. Alexei Ramirez, CHW
7. Rafael Furcal, LAD
8. Marco Scutaro, BOS
9. Elvis Andrus, TEX
10. Stephen Drew, ARI
11. Miguel Tejada, SF
12. Yunel Esobar, TOR
13. Starlin Castro, CHC
14. Ian Desmond, WAS
15. Cliff Pennington, OAK
16. Juan Uribe, LAD
17. Yuniesky Betancourt, MIL
18. Alcides Escobar, KC
19. Jhonny Peralta, DET
20. Alex Gonzalez, ATL

All 2011 Fantasy Articles | 2011 Position Rankings

We try to give our readers a basic strategy when it comes to our rankings and our strategy for second base is rather simple: Nab one of the top seven guys in the first 1-5 rounds or good luck sifting through the garbage later.

Can you acquire value in guys like Ben Zobrist, Aaron Hill, Brian Roberts and Gordan Beckham later in your draft? Of course, but why not invest one of your first five picks in a top-7 player and not worry about trying to address a thin position later?

If it’s your strategy to fill your 2B spot in Rounds 11-12, then great: We don’t begrudge anyone else’s strategy. But we prefer to nab one of the top 7 players in the early rounds and call it a day. Below are the top 7 in 2011.

Robinson Cano, Yankees
Cano was one of fantasy baseball’s most reliable offensive players in 2010 and it appears as though his down year in ’08 is in the rearview mirror. He finished among the top 3 at his position in batting average, home runs, RBIs and runs scored and is easily the No. 1 fantasy second baseman heading into 2011. Expect numbers similar to last season: .319 BA/103 R/29 HR/109 RBI/3 SB.

Chase Utley, Phillies
Considering he’s already banged up, Utley may scare some owners away on draft day. But he’ll still go in the second round so if you want him, don’t wait. Utley’s best days are probably behind him but he’s still a top-five option at a thin position, so don’t talk yourself out of taking him just because he’s been banged up this spring. (He did rebound nicely after coming back last year, so you don’t want to be the fool that passed on him because of his present injuries only to watch him mash later.)

Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
Pedroia is now completely healthy after having foot surgery last season and while he might not steal a ton of bases early in the year as he gets back into game shape, he should finish with double-digit swipes when it’s all said and done. You can probably expect 100-plus runs, 15-18 dingers and a .300 average out of the BoSox second baseman in 2011.

Dan Uggla, Braves
There’s a lot to love about Uggla’s new digs this season. As a Marlin, he hit .354 in 45 games over his career at Turner Field and while that’s a small sample size, it’s hard not to get excited about his fantasy value this season. His average may drop considerably, but he’s still a consistent source of power and he should drive in 100-plus runs for his new team. Expect him to go in the fourth round of a 12-team league.

Ian Kinsler, Rangers
Ankle and groin problems limited Kinsler to 400 at bats last season but he’s still a top-5 player at his position. He’ll hit around .285 again this season but if he stays healthy, you can expect an increase in his home run, run, RBI and stolen base production. When he plays, he’s a 20/20 threat every year and considering most owners only base their projections off of previous year’s stats, Kinsler may slip into the fifth round and would be a steal at that point (relatively speaking).

Brandon Phillips, Reds
Phillips is the only second baseman to have racked up double-digit home runs and steals in each of the past five seasons, averaging 21 dingers and 24 swipes per year during that span. He’s as consistent as they come and when you draft him, you know exactly what you’re getting. Expect numbers comparable to 2010: .275 BA/100 R/ 18 HR/59 RBI/ 16 SB.

Rickie Weeks, Brewers
Whether his 2010 season was all about luck or a product of staying healthy (uh, or both), there’s no doubt Weeks is a pretty good 2B option when he plays. You can probably expect a drop in production this year but he’ll still hit 25-plus home runs, cross the plate 100-plus times and give you double-digit steals. Not bad for a player at a thin position who you can pick up in the fourth or fifth.

He’s the rest of our second basemen rankings:

1. Robinson Cano, Yankees
2. Chase Utley, Phillies
3. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
4. Dan Uggla, Braves
5. Ian Kinsler, Rangers
6. Brandon Phillips, Reds
7. Rickie Weeks, Brewers
8. Ben Zobrist, Rays
9. Brian Roberts, Orioles
10. Aaron Hill, Blue Jays
11. Martin Prado, Braves
12. Howie Kendrick, Angels
13. Kelly Johnson, Diamondbacks
14. Gordon Beckham, White Sox
15. Neil Walker, Pirates
16. Chone Figgins, Mariners
17. Danny Espinosa, Nationals
18. Mike Aviles, Royals
19. Juan Uribe, Dodgers
20. Omar Infante, Marlins