Team Previews 1 to 30

1. Philadelphia Phillies

Big Leagues-  The World Series favorites in 2010, crashed and burned in the NLCS versus the Giants.  Last year they're so called dominate lineup did not produce, and Roy Halladay couldn't carry the whole team.  They lost Jayson Werth this year, so you must be thinking why they are number 1 on our list.  The answer is simple, Cliff Lee.  Now with Cliff Lee the Phillies have the best playoff rotation we have seen with Halladay, Lee, Oswalt, and Hamels.  Being able to run out Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee in at least 4 games in a 7 game series gives them a clear advantage.  I wouldn't be afraid to draft any four of their top starters to anchor my fantasy team.  Last year Ryan Howard had a down year while he struggled with injuries, but expect a bounce back from his down year.  You may be able to get him at a discount after Pujols and Gonzalez are off the board.  I've pretty much given up hope on the Jimmy Rollins as a top fantasy shortstop.  Look for the Phillies to have a great year and make a push towards the 100 win mark.  If the season started today their lineup would look like this:

Catcher- Carlos Ruiz

1st Base- Ryan Howard

2nd Base- Chase Utley

Shortstop- Jimmy Rollins

3rd Base- Placido Polanco

Left Field- Raul Ibanez

Center Field- Shane Victorino

Right Field- Domonic Brown

Pitching- Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton

Relief- Ryan Madson, Jose Contreas, Brad Lidge

Top 5 Prospects

OF Domonic Brown-  Coming into 2010 the lefty was the 15th ranked prospect by Baseball America, and he had a great season in the minor leagues.  Unfortunately, for Brown and the Phillies he struggled mightily in majors.  In the majors he had 62 at bats with a .210 average and 2 home runs.  That shouldn't stop Brown from getting the first shot at right field with Jayson Werth in Washington.  If the Phillies come out and name Brown their starter he could have a Jason Heyward type impact for the Phils.

1B Jonathan Singleton-  Singleton was the 8th round pick of the Phillies in 2009, and has been a pleasant surprise so far.  Last year as an 18 year old in Single A, he hit .290 with a .393 on base percentage.  He had 14 home runs and 77 rbi's in only 104 games.  He should make the jump to Double A next year and that will be where his first real test will be at.

RHP Brody Colvin-  Colvin was a 7th round pick in the 2009 draft and had a great first full season in Single A as a 19 year old.  He started 27 games and had a 3.39 Era in 138 innings.  Colvin wasn't overpowering, but at this point the Phillies don't have much for top prospects.  He'll start next year at Double A, and projects as a 4th or 5th starter.

RHP Jarred Cosart-  Last year in Single a Cosart compiled a 3.79 Era in 14 starts.  He struck out 77 batters in 71 innings and had a 7 and 3 record.  He has very good control with only 16 walks, and should play well in Double a next year.  

LHP Jesse Biddle-  Biddle was the Phillies first round pick in the 2010 draft, and he signed early enough to start 12 games in Single A.  He was 4 and 1 with a 3.92 Era. He struck out 50 batters in only 43 innings while walking 20.   The Phils should leave him in Single A to start the year with a promotion to Double A with any success.

Payroll and Direction-  After losing Jayson Werth to the Nationals and their 7 year 126 million dollar contract, the Phillies got an absolutely steal when Cliff Lee took a discount and signed a 5 year 120 million dollar contract.  The Yankees were offering upwards to 150 million, but Lee wanted to reunite with Philadelphia and pitch with Roy Halladay.  The Phillies don't have much on the prospect front, but they seem to have enough money to get the pieces they need to compete every year.  We believe the Phillies are the best team in the majors, and Vegas agrees making them the 13 to 4 favorites to win the World Series. 

2.  Boston Red Sox

Big Leagues- The Red Sox went out this year and spent a ton of money on players their fans actually wanted.  The past few offseasons the Red Sox moves were consisting of players such as John Lackey, Marco Scutaro, Mike Cameron, and J.D. Drew, solid players, but no one the fan base could get excited about.  This year they went out and got Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Bobby Jenks.  Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford were the best player's on the market for positional players, and the Red Sox got it done.  For fantasy purposes, Gonzalez and Crawford immediately jump into fringe first round players status by being thrown into a lineup with Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz.  The signings even help the pitching staff, because they will be scoring more runs, and with Bobby Jenks they should be holding more leads.  Jon Lester again highlights the staff and with his high strikeout total, he should be contending for a Cy Young at year's end.  Clay Buchholz is coming off a career year, but don't expect his 2.33 Era to be that low this year.  He could be overvalued in league's but if you can draft him expecting 17 wins and a 3.50 Era you've got enough value.  Being at Fenway Park will also boost their run production like it does every year.  That should make the Red Sox the highest valued team in fantasy baseball.  They will score a ton of runs, and win a ton of games, don't be afraid to draft any of their players in your fantasy drafts.
Catcher- Jarrod Saltalamacchia/ Jason Varitek
1st Base- Adrian Gonzalez

2nd Base- Dustin Pedroia
Shortstop- Marco Scutaro/ Jed Lowrie
3rd Base- Kevin Youkilis
Left Field- Carl Crawford

Center Field- Jacoby Ellsbury
Right Field- J.D. Drew
DH- David Ortiz
Pitching- Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Dice-K
Relief-  Bobby Jenks, Daniel Bard, Jonathan Papelbon

Top 5 Prospects RHP Anthony Ranaudo-  The Red Sox signed the 6'7 right hander out of LSU to a 2.55 million signing bonus and after trading for Adrian Gonzalez he becomes their top prospect.  He was considered by many teams a top 5 prospect in the draft but was taken 39th because of injuries and Scott Boras representing him.  That didn't scare the Red sox off because they knew they had the money to be able to sign the big righty.  If he stays healthy he should zip right through the minors. 

LHP Drake Britton- After missing most of the 2009 season after having Tommy John surgery, Britton came back better than ever in 2010.  In 21 starts for Single A Greenville he had a 2.97 Era and struck out 78 in 75 innings.  Next year, the Red Sox will start Britton in Double A and look to stretch him out.  Look for him to be just as good as pitcher's usually are better their 2nd year off Tommy John surgery.

OF Josh Reddick-  Josh Reddick was regarded as one of the top outfield prospects in the game last year.  He had a very successful season, but it looks like Ryan Kalish has overtaken him as the best outfielder in the Red Sox system, and will get the first look at J.D. Drew's open right field slot in 2012.  Reddick had a very nice year in Triple A though, batting .266 with 18 home runs and 28 doubles.  Reddick's best trait is his defense, he has a good arm, and has the range to play any of the outfield positions.  He will begin another season in Triple A, and will contribute in the big leagues this year.

SS Jose Iglesias-  The 21 year old Cuban has the makings of a gold glove shortstop, but his bat will need to mature before he gets his chance.  Iglesias has quick hands and great range, and can also play 2nd and 3rd base.  He reminds us a little of Elvis Andrus of the Rangers.  Last year Iglesias hit .295 with 12 doubles and 5 triples in 70 games.  He doesn't have much power at this time, but if he stays healthy for a full season it will help.  He will probably start at Double A Portland and hopefully move up to Triple A by the end of the season.

2B Oscar Tejada - The Dominican 21 year old finally had a breakout season in Single A.  He batted .307 with 11 home runs, 5 triples, and 32 doubles.  He also stole 17 bases.  If he can keep up his progressions he could make a really big impact next year at Double A.  He needs to improve his defense, he made 24 errors last year, but he could project as a Brandon Phillips type 2nd basemen.  He'll be quite the double play combination with Iglesias next year at Portland.

Payroll and Direction­- The Red Sox turned into the Yankees this offseason, and went out and spent money, and traded their top prospects to get the players they wanted.  The Sox did trade away most of their best prospects with Raymond Fuentes, Casey Kelly, and Anthony Rizzo moving to the Padres, but it looks like they are now ready to spend money to get back to championship contenders.  Our one concern is that they have not locked up Adrian Gonzalez to a long term contract.  They may be waiting for his shoulder injury to pass inspection during the season, or waiting until next offseason to see the market for other free agents Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.  One way or the other the Red Sox can't let Gonzalez walk after giving up their top prospects.  After 2011 also marks the end of the contract of my least favorite player, J.D. Drew.  It will be the last year of his 5 year 70 million contract, and it looks like Ryan Kalish will get the first crack at the starting gig if the Red Sox don't sign another outfielder.  Either way it looks like the Red Sox are lined up to be the favorite in the AL for the next few years.




3.  New York Yankees

Big Leagues- The Yankees may have had the most disappointing offseason of any team in their eyes.  As a team looking to improve their starting pitching, the Yankees got shut out on Cliff Lee, and missed trading for Zack Greinke.  Now their lineup is looking the same besides the often injured Russell Martin taking over for Jorge Posada.  This Yankees team is still a top team in the major leagues, but they really failed to improve.  They resigned Derek Jeter to a monster contract, and Alex Rodriguez is another year older.  But the lineup is not their problem, it’s the starting rotation.  If the season started today their rotation would have Ian Nova and Sergio Mitre holding up the back of the rotation.  That won't match up with the Phillies or Red Sox.  Another move the Yankees made, that will actually help the team is signing Rafael Soriano as a setup man.  The contract of 3 years 35 million was a little ridiculous, and GM Brian Cashman has already came up and said he didn't participate in negotiations, but if you have the money, you might as well spend it.  This is what their starting lineup would look like today:

Catcher- Russell Martin/ Jorge Posada

1st Base- Mark Teixeria

2nd Base- Robinson Cano

Shortstop- Derek Jeter

3rd Base- Alex Rodriguez

Left Field- Brett Gardner

Center Field- Curtis Granderson

Right Field- Nick Swisher

DH- Jorge Posada

Pitching- C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes, Ian Nova, Sergio Mitre

Relief- Joba Chamberlain, Mariano Rivera, Rafael Soriano

Top 5 Prospects

 C Jesus Montero- We've been hearing about Montero on the prospect front for quite a few years now, with everyone thinking he is the eventually replacement for Jorge Posada.  After the Yankees signing of Russell Martin it looks like he will get 1 more year in the minors.  Coming into 2010 he was Baseball America's 4th ranked prospect, and he could even be higher this year.  Last year in Triple A as a 20 year old, he batted .289 with 21 home runs and 34 doubles while driving in 75 runs.  He should start next year in Triple A, but if Russell Martin struggles the 6'4 catcher will get his call.

RHP Dellin Betances-  The 6'8 righty was a 8th round pick in the 2006 draft, and finally had his breakout season last year in Single and Double A.  The big righty made 17 starts sporting a 2.11 Era while going 8 and 1.  He struck out 108 batters in 85 innings.  He will be 23 starting next season and lacks the youth to be an elite prospect, but the Yankees are hoping he's just a late bloomer.

C Gary Sanchez-  After signing the 17 year old Dominican the Yankees sent him to Single A to start his career off.  He played in 47 games and hit .327 with 8 home runs and 13 doubles.  He is still too young to project, but that is a great start.  We could see him eventually moving from catcher if the Yankees decide to keep him behind Jesus Montero, or being used as a very valuable trade chip.  

LHP Manny Banuelos- The 19 year lefty pitched at 3 levels last year, finally ending his season at Double A.  He did not have a win in 15 starts but had a 2.51 Era in 64 innings.  He struck out 85 batters and the next few years the Yankees will work on stretching him out.  He'll start next year at Double A and should continue to progress.

RHP Ivan Nova- The 23 year old righty was dominant last year in Triple A while splitting time in the majors.  In Triple A last year he had a 12 and 3 record and a 2.86 in 23 starts.  He was a fill in starter and late season reliever for the Yankees also appearing in 10 games.  He held his own with a 4.50 Era.  With the Yankees missing out on Cliff Lee, Nova should be starting next year as the 4th or 5th starter.

Payroll and Direction-  You can't say much about the direction of the New York Yankees.  They have money, they will spend it, and they should be among the league leaders in wins every year.  This year though, the Yankees have the prospects that can give them organizational depth.  They have resisted trading Jesus Montero multiple times, and it's about to pay off in the next couple seasons when he hits the big leagues.  Look for the Yankees to continue to run out the mostly the same players for the next few years, and win 90 to 100 games.

4.  Texas Rangers

Big Leagues- This was my favorite team to watch all of last year and into their playoff run to the World Series.  Unfortunately, they came up a little short.  This year they return most of the same players, minus Vlad Guerrero and Cliff Lee.  I don’t think the lost of Cliff Lee will hurt as much as everyone thinks, because they added even more pop to the lineup.  Adrian Beltre will be taking over the 3rd base job with Michael Young moving over to DH.  Beltre has a history of struggling after signing a big contract, but if he doesn't struggle, hitting in Texas will help his numbers.  Gone are the days for the Rangers that Taylor Teagarden, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Chris Davis were the future of the club.  Catcher and 1st base are now manned by Yorvitt Torrealba, and Mitch Moreland.  Both could be late round sleepers with the lineup that is around them.  Ian Kinsler, Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton, and Nelson Cruz should continue to be drafted among the top ten at their positions.  Nelson Cruz struggled to stay healthy last year, but when he did he produced.  Don’t be surprised for him to hit over 30 home runs and 100 rbi's in this new lineup.  The pitching staff really does lack the number 1 guy this year, but C.J. Wilson emerged last year as a viable number 2 behind Cliff Lee, coming up big in the playoffs.  The rest of the rotation is filled with solid starters and former top prospect Derek Holland.  If one of them emerges they will be fine,  if one of them struggles I wouldn't be surprised to see Neftali Feliz or Alexi Ogando stretched out into the rotation.  Their lineup would be like this is the season started today:

Catcher-Yovitt Torrealba

1st Base- Mitch Moreland/ Chris Davis

2nd Base- Ian Kinsler

Shortstop- Elvis Andrus

3rd Base- Adrian Beltre

Left Field- Josh Hamilton/David Murphy

Center Field- Julio Bourbon/David Murphy

Right Field- Nelson Cruz

DH- Michael Young

Pitching- C.J. Wilson, Tommy Hunter, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Scott Feldman

Relief- Neftali Feliz, Alexi Ogando, Darren Oliver

Top 5 Prospects

SS Jurickson Profar- Last year the Rangers signed the young righty to a 1.55 million dollar signing bonus.  Many scouts for other teams could not decide whether Profar was a shortstop or a pitcher.  The Rangers got him and through the 17 year old into class A for 63 games last year.  He batted .250 with 4 home runs and 19 doubles.  He also stole 8 bases.  That isn't amazing production but for a 17 year old it's impressive.  His first full year next year will show a lot to what is future could hold.  

LHP Robbie Erlin- Erlin was a 3rd round pick in 2009 and has exceeded expectations.  Last year in Single A as a 19 year old, the 5'11 lefty dominated.  He had a 2.12 Era in 28 appearances including 17 starts.  He threw 114 innings and struck out 125 while only walking 17.  He was a step above everyone else last year and will look to increase his workload at Double A next season.  He should continue his success with his ability to control all of his pitches.  

LHP Martin Perez- Heading into 2010 Baseball America had Perez as the 17th ranked prospect in baseball, and he slightly disappointed playing above his head as a 19 year old in Double A.  He had a 5 and 8 record with a 5.96 ERA in 99 innings.  Perez struck out 101 batters, but struggled with his control walking 50 batters.  This was an expected lump for the youngster though, because you rarely see 19 year olds in Double A.  He should stick with the same level next year and expect a big jump in his numbers.

3B Mike Olt-  Olt was the 49th overall pick in the 2010 draft out of the University of Connecticut.  He comes to the Rangers with a polished bat and an excellent approach at the plate.  His last year at Uconn he hit a record 21 home runs while batting .313 leading the Huskies to a top 25 ranking.  He has the maturity and bat to cruise through the minors which makes him number 4 on our list.

OF Engel Beltre- You could know his name because he caused a bench clearing brawl after hitting a walk off home run this year in the minors, but that shouldn't take away from his talent.  In 115 games last year between Single A and Double A Beltre hit .300 with 6 home runs, 8 triples, and 15 doubles.  He also had 18 stolen bases.  He's a very solid player who likes to put the ball in play in use his speed, he only struck out 58 times last year.  Look for him to start next year in Double A.

Payroll and Direction- Last year the Rangers only paid out 68 million dollars to their players, that's not because they were really cheap, they just had so many young players they were paying under a million dollars because they have not signed their first real contract.  They did save money by Cliff Lee jetting to Philly, but they did get their second option of Adrian Beltre.  Having that extra money will go a long way when all of their young players need a new contract they should be able to retain them.  They should still be the favorites in the AL West with or without Cliff Lee. 



5.  St. Louis Cardinals

Big Leagues- This is our preview of the Albert Cardinals…  Alright not quite, especially with the contract talks supposedly "not that far along" coming from Cardinals officials.  The more concerning thing for Cardinal fans is apparently how far apart the two sides are with their numbers.  Pujols is looking for and deserves a contract somewhere close to Alex Rodriguez's 10 year 275 million dollar deal.  The Cardinals reportedly want to keep the deal under 8 years and under 200 million.  I personally think Pujols won't leave the Cardinals, whether they strike a deal before spring training or have to wait until 2012, but the Cardinals will most likely need to change their position on their fewer than 200 million stance.  As for the rest of the team, they are weak in the infield and surprisingly strong in the outfield.  The combination of Schumaker, Theriot, and Freese won't wow anyone but they have a strong enough middle of the order and pitching staff to still be a good team.  Lance Berkman has taken his offseason training very seriously, and wants to make a run deep into the playoffs before his career is over.  If Colby Rasmus continues to develop they could be quite the team next year.  Their pitching staff is headlined with one of the top 1-2 combos in the game.  Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter are routinely in the conversation for Cy Young, and the rest of their rotation is finally starting to sure up.  Jake Westbrook and Kyle Lohse showed last year that they had some gas left in the tank, and Jaime Garcia came out of nowhere to go 13 and 8 with a 2.70 Era.  Look out for the Cardinals in the NL Central with this lineup:

Catcher- Yadier Molina

1st Base- Albert Pujols

2nd Base- Skip Schumaker

Shortstop- Ryan Theriot

3rd Base- David Freese

Left Field- Matt Holliday

Center Field- Colby Rasmus

Right Field- Lance Berkman

Pitching- Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Jake Westbrook, Jaime Garcia, Kyle Lohse

Relief- Jason Motte, Ryan Franklin

Top 5 Prospects

RHP Shelby Miller- Cardinals top prospect just completed his first full season in Single A and did not disappoint.  The 19th overall pick in the 2009 draft pick made 24 starts and had 140 strikeouts in 104 innings.  He had a 3.62 ERA.  He's a power arm and he should start next year in Double A as a 20 year old.  He is still only 2 years out of high school and it could take him a couple more years to make it to the big leagues.  

3B Zack Cox-  Cox fell to the Cardinals at 25th in the 2010 draft, when most scouts had him as a top ten prospect out of the University of Arkansas.  Cox is a complete mystery when you look at his pro projections.  He has changed his swing multiple times in college, but that doesn't seem to be the concern, it's his defense.  He may have dropped in the draft because teams aren't sure if his defense at third base is good enough for the pros.  Either way his bat should be good enough to get him to the majors at some position.

RHP Tyrell Jenkins- The Cardinals took the 3 sport star from Henderson, Texas with the 50th overall pick in the 2010 draft.  He is a great athlete who was committed to go play football for Baylor before he signed with the Cardinals.  He is much better than the 50th best talent from last year, and most likely dropped due to sign ability issues.  His fastball touches 95 and he actually has a great changeup for a high school pitcher.  We think the Cards got two steals in last year's draft and we expect Jenkins to have a huge year.  He could be looked at as the same level as Shelby Miller by the end of next year.

3B Matt Carpenter-  The former TCU Horn Frog had a great season last year and won Cardinals minor league positional player of the year.  He hit .309 with 13 home runs and 31 doubles in 133 games.  He is now 25 years old and lacks the youth or potential to be looked at as a top prospect, which keeps Zach Cox still ahead in our rankings.

RHP Seth Blair- Blair is another 2010 draft pick, this pick being the 46th overall.  The 21 year old right hander from Arizona State just doesn't have as polished as Jenkins and Miller.  He can touch 97 or 98 mph but usually sits between 91 and 94.  He has average breaking stuff but struggles a lot with his command.  He will quickly realize in the pros if you don't have command, you won't have much success.  If he harnesses it, he could be a middle of the rotation starter.

Payroll and Direction- The Cardinals paid out 93 million dollars last year, but their direction could go either way.  With the impending free agencies of Albert Pujols and Chris Carpenter the Cardinals might need to spend some more money if they want to retain both of them.  Matt Holliday already makes 17 million dollars, and Pujols and Carpenter should command over 40 million a year combined.  It will be very tough for a team to spend 60 million on 3 players and have a 93 million dollar payroll, and still be a very good team.  In the next 12 to 18 months the Cardinals direction will be much clearer.

6.  Minnesota Twins
Big Leagues- The Twins quietly had a very successful offseason.  They only added one major new player with Tsuyoshi Nishikoa coming over from Japan.  He's a slick fielding infielder who should hit close to .300 for the Twins.  Last year he lead Japan's top league with a .346 average.  But, the moves they made that should help them greatly, is retaining Jim Thome and Carl Pavano. (Pavano's deal with the Twins is imminent as I'm writing this).  The truth with this team is they are never very exciting, and you never talk about them preseason, but they'll always end up in the playoffs.  If Justin Morneau can shake his post concussion symptoms and stay healthy over the whole year they could make some noise in the playoffs.  Delmon Young really grew up last year, and the Twins look at him and Michael Cuddyer as their right handed power.  Francisco Liriano looked spectacular at times last year, and it looks as if he has finally overcome his Tommy John surgery.  Scott Baker and Carl Pavano provide a formidable middle of the rotation.  The wild card for the Twins is Joe Nathan coming back from missing the entire 2010 season.  They have a backup plan in Matt Capps, but if Nathan and Morneau can stay healthy they might finally be able to get past the first round of the playoffs.  There lineup would look like this if today was opening day:

Catcher- Joe Mauer

1st Base- Justin Morneau
2nd Base- Alexi Castilla
Shortstop- Tsuyoshi Nishioka
3rd Base- Danny Valencia
Left Field- Delmon Young
Center Field- Denard Span
Right Field- Michael Cuddyer
DH- Jim Thome/Jason Kubel
Pitching- Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Brian Duensing, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn, (Carl Pavano)Relief- Matt Capps, Joe Nathan

Top 5 Prospects-RHP Kyle Gibson- The 22nd pick in the 2009 draft had a great first full season in the minor leagues, and already got a non-roster invite to spring training for the Twins in 2011.  Last year he started 26 games with a 2.96 Era and an 11 and 6 record. He came out of the University of Missouri and has a very polished game for such a young player.  He most likely will start next year in Triple A with the logjam in Minnesota with their starters, but he most likely will get the first call if someone gets injured.

RHP Alex Wimmers- The Twins 21st overall pick in the 2010 draft from The Ohio State University had a breakout last two seasons at Ohio State.  He showed a great mixture of a 90 to 93 mph fastball and a solid curve and changeup to compile an 18 and 2 record in 2009 and 2010.  Wimmers does not have amazing stuff, but he's another polished college arm who should fly through the system.  Look for him to take a similar path as Gibson last year and get to the majors sometime in 2012 if everything goes well.

SS-3B Miguel Sano- Last year the Twins threw 3.15 million dollars at the young teenager and scooped him up from other teams.  As a 17 year old last year he split time between shortstop and third base and batted .307 in 61 games.  He struck out nearly once a game but showed decent power with 7 home runs and 16 doubles.  Sano is still too young to project, but he could turn into a bust or a superstar.  That risk is just too high for him to be ranked ahead of Gibson and Wimmers.

RHP Liam Hendriks- The 21 year old Australia had a great season in Single A last year.  He was simply older, and better than all of his competition.  He pitched in 19 games and had a 1.74 Era in 108 innings. He struck out 105 batters and only walked an amazing 12 batters.  12 walks in 108 innings is almost unheard of, in any level.  It doesn't look like the Twins will rush him like they did with Gibson, and a good 2011 season in Double and Triple A could catapult him to top prospect status.

OF Aaron Hicks- Hicks was the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft and for a long time projected as a star outfielder.  In our eyes though, Hicks only projects as an average outfielder in the future.  He is still young and a lot of things can change, but there is no one thing he does exceptional well to think he has star potential.  Last year, his second in Single A, he only hit .279 with 8 home runs and 27 doubles.  He should play in Double A next year as a 21 year old, and that will be a major season in figuring his long term potential.

Payroll and Direction- The Twins have been a team the past few years who has been stuck in the 1st round of the playoffs.  This could be the year they could get over the hump if they stay healthy.  They are no longer a small market team, spending 100 million dollars last year on salary.  They locked up Joe Mauer for a very long time, and have solid young arms coming up behind Francisco Liriano.  They are the favorite to win the AL Central, and if things fall into place they could make a run deeper into the playoffs.



7.  Atlanta Braves

Big Leagues- The Braves have seemed like they have underachieved for years.  Chipper Jones desperately wants a championship and his time is running out, which was apparent when he went down with a knee injury last season.  But this year they may have the young pieces to challenge in the National League.  Brian McCann is still a stud, but top prospect Freddie Freeman looks like he has a shot to win the first base job in Spring Training.  Along with Jason Heyward they could emerge into the one of the best young mashers in the MLB.  With the addition of Dan Uggla the Braves have finally found stable second basemen, and they locked him up to a new contract.  If their pitching staff can stay solid and healthy they could have potential and are they favorites for the wild card behind the Phillies.
Catcher- Brian Mccann
1st Base- Freddie Freeman/ Martin Prado

2nd Base- Dan Uggla/ Martin Prado
Shortstop- Alex Gonzalez
3rd Base- Chipper Jones/ Martin Prado
Left Field- Martin Prado
Center Field- Nate McLouth
Right Field- Jason Heyward
Pitching- Derek Lowe, Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, Mike Minor
Relief- Pete Moylan, Craig Kimbrel

Top 5 Prospects- RHP Julio Teheran- The braves have a gem with this 19 year old righty.  Last year he played at 3 levels, finally ending up at Double A for the last seven games.  In seven starts in Double A he had a 3.38 ERA in 40 innings with 38 strikeouts.  Those are amazing stats, but they are for a 19 year old in Double A playing against players much his elder.  The righty still has plenty of room to grow as he's listed at 6'2 and only 150 pounds.  He should start next season in Double A and should continue to improve.

1B Freddie Freeman- The big first basemen has the first shot at being the Braves starting first basemen in 2011.  Most teams would be worried about starting rookies, but this rookie is special.  Freeman last year as a 20 year raked in Triple A.  Freeman batted .319 with 18 home runs and 35 doubles in only 124 games.  He didn't hit a huge amount of home runs, but as he gets older he should turn those doubles into home runs.  Look for Freeman and Heyward to anchor the Braves for years to come.

LHP Mike Minor- Minor appeared in 9 games last season for the Braves but still qualifies for our prospects list.  He was the 7th overall pick in the 2009 draft and burned through the minor leagues quickly.  The lefty had mixed results in the big leagues with a 5.98 ERA while going 3 and 2.  What he did show was great control and strikeout ability.  He had 43 strikeouts in 40 innings while only walking 11 batters.  He should start 2011 as the number 5 starter and could be a late round sleeper in fantasy leagues.

RHP Craig Kimbrel- Kimbrel is another one of Atlanta's prospects that saw quite a bit of time in the Majors last year.  He appeared in 21 games for the Braves out of the bullpen and had an amazing .44 ERA.  What is even more amazing is that he had 40 strikeouts in only 20 innings.  Kimbrel has the powerful faster, hard slider you want to see from your closer, and with Billy Wagner now he will get the first shot in 2011.  If he succeeds he'll be closing games for a long time, draft him if he wins the job.

RHP Randall Delgado- Delgado is another young powerful arm in the Braves farm system.  Last year Delgado started 28 games in Single and Double A and had a 3.30 Era in 161 innings.  He had 162 strikeouts compared to only 52 walks.  He'll be 21 starting the 2011 season and should start in Double A with Teheran.

Payroll and Direction-The Braves paid their players about 85 million dollars last year, and it will probably increase the next few years, especially with Dan Uggla's new 5 year 62 million dollar deal.  The Braves have three top prospects in Freddie Freeman, Mike Minor, and Julio Teheran.  Freeman, Kimbrel and Minor should be able to make major impacts for the Braves this year.  With the veteran presence of Chipper Jones, Derek Lowe, and Tim Hudson, the Braves young players should be able to grow into great players.


8.  San Francisco Giants

Big Leagues- A lot of Giants fans could be upset with us having the World Series champions as the number 8 team on our list.  But, after a lot of debate we had to slot them in at number 8, because last year they were arguable the worst team in the playoffs.  If it wasn't for the Padres collapse we wouldn't even be talking about the Giants as the World Series champions.  That is not a bash on this year's Giants team, as they have one of the best young catchers in the game, and a rotation who can match up with anyone.  Buster Posey is an absolute stud, and hopefully you drafted him late last year in a keeper league, but besides him, the lineup lacks pop.  Aubrey Huff had a great last season, but he is still Aubrey Huff, and new addition Miguel Tejada is past his prime.  Pablo Sandovol struggled last year, but has lost 20 pounds this offseason and you can look for him to have a bounce back season.  If the season started today their starting lineup would look something like this:

Catcher- Buster Posey

1st Base- Aubrey Huff
2nd Base- Freddy Sanchez
Shortstop- Miguel Tejada
3rd Base- Pablo Sandovol
Left Field- Mark Derosa
Center Field- Andres Torres/Aaron Roward
Right Field- Cody Ross
Pitching- Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Johnathan Sanchez, Madison Bumgarner, Barry Zito
Relief- Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affeldt, Sergio Romo

Top 5 Prospects
1B Brandon Belt- The 6'5 1st basemen went from outside the Giants top ten prospects to the clear number 1 in the organization in only one year.  After being a 5th round pick out of Texas in 2009, Belt exploded in Single, Double, and Triple A last season.  Combine in 136 games Belt hit .352 with 43 doubles, 10 triples, and 23 home runs.  He had a .455 on base percentage and 112 rbi's.  He even threw in 22 steals in 30 attempts.  Belt emerged as a top prospect and the first basemen of the future for the Giants.

OF Gary Brown- Brown was the Giants first round pick out of Cal State Fullerton in 2010.  He was signed to a 1.45 million dollar signing bonus.  He is far from a sure thing, and lacks a powerful bat, but his speed and defensive ability in center field made it tough for the Giants to turn down.  He'll start next season in Single A and could progress through the minors quickly. 

RHP Zach Wheeler- Wheeler was the 6th overall pick in the 2009 draft, and had a so-so first year with the Giants.  Being a high school arm, the Giants limited Wheeler's innings in the first season, and he had a 3.99 Era over 58 innings.  He had very overwhelming stuff striking out 70 but also walked 38 batters.  The Giants should look to stretch him out this season and they hope he can develop anywhere close to Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Madison Bumgarner did in previous years.

OF Francisco Peguero- He was rather old as a 22 year old prospect in Single A last year, but he put up the numbers to warrant being on this list.  In 122 games Peguero hit .329 with 10 home runs, 16 triples, 19 doubles, all while stealing 40 bases.  He has always been a consistent .300 hitter and if he continue to display power could move through Double A and Triple A quickly. 

OF Thomas Neal- The third Giants outfielder of this list, could round out there future outfield.  Neal  has put together back to back 40 double seasons and had a .291 batting average last year in Double A.  He should start next year in Triple A.

Payroll and Direction-The Giants have no problem spending money with a payroll last year of 98 million dollars.  They have a great top prospect with Brandon Belt, the best young catcher in the game, and young power arms everywhere.  It is impossible not to like the direction this team is going.  They still are under the awful contract of Barry Zito, but that will be off the books soon and his 18 million a year can used elsewhere.  If Belt continues to develop and they can sign one big bat in free agency next year, the Giants will be very dominate for years to come. 



9.  Cincinnati Reds

Big Leagues- The Reds came on strong last year and made their way into the playoffs.  But, their youth and inexperience showed when they ran into Roy Halladay and the Phillies.  This year all their top players are a year only and Aroldis Chapman will be in the big leagues all year.  Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, and Brandon Phillips are a potent middle of the order, especially when Phillips is in one of his hot streaks.  The Reds resigned Bronson Arroyo for their staff and they are hoping Edinson Volquez can stay healthy.  Their rotation is full of young arms and if some of them progress they could be very dangerous.  Aroldis Chapman does not have a define role, but he will dominate where ever he is.  Look for this team to make the playoffs again on the back of NL MVP Joey Votto.  If their season started today their opening day lineup would look like this.

Catcher- Ramon Hernardez

1st Base- Joey Votto

2nd Base- Brandon Phillips

Shortstop- Paul Janish/Edgar Renteria

3rd Base- Scott Rolen

Left Field- Johnny Gomes

Center Field- Drew Stubbs

Right Field- Jay Bruce

Pitching- Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey, Travis Wood, Mike Leake, Aroldis Chapman

Relief-  Aroldis Chapman, Francisco Cordero, Nick Masset

Top 5 Prospects

1B Yonder Alonso- The Cuban was the 7th overall draft pick in the 2008 draft, and has already burned through the Reds minor league system.  Alonso does not do anything exceptionally well, but he has no weak links in his game.  Last season he batted .290 with 15 home runs and 36 doubles in 132 games.  He has decent plate discipline with 56 walks and only 92 strikeouts.  The only problem with Alonso is he is a natural first basemen, and Joey Votto is blocking him.  Look for the Reds to start him in Triple A and get him some experience in the outfield and call on his bat later in the year.

C Devin Mesoraco- The Reds 1st round pick in 2007 really emerged last year going through 3 minor league levels.  In 113 games Mesoraco batted .302 with 26 home runs and 25 doubles.  He only struck out 80 times, so he is not a major swing and miss worry.  Mesoraco is looked at as the Reds catcher of the future, and it's only a matter of time before Ramon Hernandez gives way. 

2B-SS Billy Hamilton-After being  a high schooler drafted in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft, Hamilton finally came into his own in 69 games in 2010.  Hamilton batted .318 with 13 doubles, 10 triples, and 48 stolen bases in Rookie Ball.  Hamilton showed that he has a future as a speed demon middle infielder.  He's still young to fully project, and it'll take a few years before we see his name in the Majors.

C- Yasmani Grandal- The Reds drafted Grandal with the 12th overall pick in the 2010 draft out of the University of Miami.  With the emergence of Mesoraco, this gives the Reds two top catching prospects for years to come.   He was originally drafted by the Red Sox out of high school, but opted for his scholarship at Miami.  He made a good decision getting a $2.99 million dollar signing bonus with the Reds

3B- Juan Francisco-Francisco showed a very solid year in Triple A in the first 77 games batting .286 with 18 home runs and 26 doubles before getting called up to be a bench player for the Reds.  There he batted .273 in 59 plate appearances.  Scott Rolen will be with the Reds for another year and it looks like Francisco will begin the season in Triple A for more seasoning.  

Payroll and Direction

The Reds are a mid market team with a 75 million dollar payroll last year.  They have a great mix of stars, role players, prospects and young pitchers. Unfortunately, for the ownership they will need to spend some money very soon. They resigned Jay Bruce already in the offseason but if Joey Votto has another season like his MVP 2010 season, he is going to want big money.  With young prospects like Yonder Alonso, Devin Mesoraco, and Billy Hamilton they have replacements for aging players like Ramon Hernandez.  The Reds have a bright future and last year's playoff run was them finally turning the corner.

10.  Chicago White Sox

Big Leagues- This is a White Sox team with a lot of potential.  Previous years it had seemed like the White Sox were running out the same players every year, and that’s kind of true this year but with one big exception, Adam Dunn.  Dunn has 40 home run power and if he can adjust to the American League he will easily eclipse that.  If the young infield of Beckham, Ramirez, and Morel come together they could be in for a good year.  If they don’t it could be another 85 win season for the White Sox.  Their pitching staff with last year’s addition Edwin Jackson looks better, especially if Jake Peavy can finally stay healthy in Chicago.  Gavin Floyd and John Danks will continue to develop and Mark Buerhle is as solid as ever.  This year youngster Chris Sale will be taking over for Bobby Jenks in the closer role.

Catcher- A.J. Pierzynski

1st Base- Paul Konerko

2nd Base- Gordon Beckham

Shortstop- Alexei Ramirez

3rd Base- Brent Morel

Left Field- Juan Pierre

Center Field- Alex Rios

Right Field- Carlos Guillen

DH- Adam Dunn

Pitching- Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Jake Peavy, Edwin Jackson

Relief- Matt Thornton, Jesse Crain, Tony Pena, Chris Sale

Top 5 Prospects

11. Chicago White Sox

LHP Chris Sale- The 13th overall pick in the 2010 draft was sent to the majors late last year and took the White Sox bullpen by the horns.  With Bobby Jenks struggling he came in and saved 4 games for Ozzie Guillen's squad.  He threw 23 innings for the White Sox and struck out 32 batters.  After Jenks signed with the Red Sox it looks like Sale is going to get the first look at the White Sox closer and should be looked after closely in fantasy leagues.

3B Brent Morel- Morel had a very solid year at Double and Triple A last year for the White Sox farm system.  The righty batted .322 and had 37 doubles and 10 home runs.  He may not have top power potential but it looks like he could develop into a 20 home run threat.  He could get the look at third base to start the season with a solid spring training.  He could take his rookie lumps but has the talent to become a long time big leaguer.

1B Dayan Viciedo- The first basemen who has the body like Pablo Sandoval at 5'11 240 pounds had a great year in 86 games for Triple A last season.   Viciedo hit .274 with 20 home runs and 15 doubles, but struggles with his plate discipline.  He struck out 78 times compared to only 11 walks last season.  Hopefully next season he'll look more like the Pablo Sandoval of 2009 and not the Sandoval of 2010.

RHP Addison Reed-  While attending  San Diego State and leading the nation in saves as a sophomore, the Aztecs  converted Reed to a starter as a junior.  He was the ace of the staff and compiled an 8-2 record with 90 strikeouts to 16 walks in 79 innings.  He was the White Sox 95th overall pick and projects as a solid 3 or 4 starter.

RHP Jacob Pericka- Pericka was the 63rd overall pick in the 2010 draft and signed early enough to get in some games last season.  He threw 44 innings and had a 3.05 ERA with 48 strikeouts.  His long term role is undefined with the White Sox, but it will be a while before we see his name. 

Payroll and Direction-  The White Sox are not afraid to spend money, as shown by their 2010 payroll of  102 million dollars.  This year’s White Sox could have a little more flash and potential if their young players make the turn for the better and their pitchers stay healthy.  Resigning Paul Konerko and signing Adam Dunn gives them a mighty righty lefty middle of the order.  Look for them to score a lot of runs and don’t be afraid to draft the White Sox players early in your draft.

11.  Milwaukee Brewers

Big Leagues- The Milwaukee Brewers have come a long way in the last few years and they are one of the more exciting teams to watch in the National League. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun have led the emergence of this club and the combination of these two big names and their role players have built a team that is to be reckoned with in a vastly improved NL Central. They recently traded their former top prospect, Alcides Escobar, to the Royals, but what they got in return is going to invaluable to their team in 2011. Zack Greinke has taken over as the Brewers ace and helped them to climb past the mediocre teams in our preseason rankings. Right now they are the 6th ranked team for us in the National League and that puts them in the thick of the playoff hunt. Braun and Fielder are both top level fantasy picks and Braun is worth taking in the top 5 of any draft. Greinke, Gallardo, and Marcum are all awesome pitchers to have on a fantasy staff and other considerations include Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart. If your league is deep and you need late round picks Yunisky Betancourt plays a solid role and Carlos Gomez will put up average numbers for the Brewers and your fantasy club.

Here is their lineup for opening day 2011:

Catcher- Jonathan Lucroy

1st Base- Prince Fielder

2nd Base- Rickie Weeks

Shortstop- Yunisky Betancourt

3rd Base- Casey McGahee

Left Field- Ryan Braun

Center Field- Carlos Gomez

Right Field- Corey Hart

Pitching- Zack Greinke, Yovani Gallardo, Shawn Marcum, Randy Wolf, Chris Narveson

Relief- Latroy Hawkins, Jon Axford

Top 5 Prospects

RHP Mark Rogers- The Brewers never had a good farm system, and it didn't get any better after trading some of their top prospects to the Royals for Zack Greinke.  That brings us back to the Brewers number 5 overall pick in the 2004 draft, Mark Rogers.  After being drafted out of Mt. Ararat High School in Maine, Rogers battled struggled with arm problems for 3 or 4 years.  Even after injuries Rogers still sports a 93-96 mph fastball and a hard breaking ball.  After staying healthy the past two seasons, the Brewers are giving him a chance to compete for the 5th starter job in spring training, and the righty could be a nice pickup if he secures it.

RHP Cody Scarpetta-  Scarpetta is a very solid prospect who projects as a solid third starter.  Last year in Single A he had a 3.87 ERA in 27 games.  He has an average fastball and changeup but one of the best curveball's in the Brewers minor league system.   Last year he had 142 strikeouts in 128 innings last year and will look to move up to Double A and produce next year

RHP Kyle Heckathorn- The Brewers 1st round pick in 2009 spent his entire 22 year old season in Single A last year and had success in 124 innings.  He compiled a 10 and 6 record with a 2.98 ERA.  Heckathorn is not overpowering but a smart pitcher who does not put extra men on base.  The jump to Double A should be an interesting one for him, and you'll be able to tell a lot more about his career after this season.

RHP Wily Peralta- The Domican right hander struggled with his command last year in Single and Double A, and he will need to harness his command before he can make a push to the top level prospect.  With a 3.79 Era last year we can see Peralta sticking in Double A next year for some seasoning.

RHP Amaury Rivas-  As a 24 year old in Double A last year Rivas lacks top prospect potential, but could be looked at as a long reliever or fill in spot starter for the Brewers in the future.  Last year he had a 3.37 ERA in Double A and he should make the move to Triple A and increase his workload for the 2011 season. 

Payroll and Direction- The Brew Crew is no longer the laugher they once were in the National League. This team has come a long way their success is imminent in their future. They are pushing to become a "right now" kind of team by acquiring Greinke, but I think a World Series run is still a few years off. Their payroll is perfect at right around 90 million dollars and obviously they have the management to acquire the players that they need to win. Their prospects are all middle of the road arms, but I'm not too worried about the direction of the Brewers. Plus they have an awesome vintage logo, which is always a plus for a major league team.




12.  Los Angeles Angels

Big Leagues- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are, perhaps, one of the most disappointing teams in baseball in recent years. The Angels are always a highly touted team coming into the season and they almost always make the playoffs, either as the AL West champions or the AL Wildcard team. Unfortunately for their fans, the Angels are always lacking the fire power it takes to win in the postseason. They generally lose in the first round and it always feels like they are one player away from the ultimate success and it's not for lack of effort. The Angels can never seem to land the free agent necessary to take them the distance. This off season the Angels missed out Carl Crawford to Boston and lost Adrian Beltre to a division rival in the Texas Rangers. The Angels have a solid lineup and will most likely make their usual push to the playoffs, but I don't see anymore success for them than they have had in recent seasons. As for fantasy, the Angels have some players that you will want to add to your fantasy roster on draft day. Kendry Morales is emerging as solid power hitting first baseman and Bobby Abreu could put up numbers again this year. The Angels real value lies in their pitching staff. Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana, Joel Pineiro and Fernando Rodney are all fantasy considerations. Grab these guys when you can, but don't overpay for them.

Here is their lineup for opening day 2011:

Catcher- Jeff Mathis/ Mike Napoli

1st Base- Kendry Morales

2nd Base- Howie Kendrick

Shortstop- Erick Aybar

3rd Base- Maicer Izturis/ Alberta Callaspo

Left Field- Bobby Abreu

Center Field- Peter Bourjos

Right Field- Torii Hunter

Pitching- Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana, Joel Pineiro, Scott Kazmir

Relief- Scott Downs,  Hisanori Takahashi, Fernando Rodney

Top 5 Prospects

OF Mike Trout- The 25th overall pick in the 2009 draft showed that he was the real deal and a future stud in the 2010 season.  While playing in Single A as an 18 year old Trout batted .341 and had 28 doubles, 9 triples, and 10 home runs in 131 games.  He also played great defense and stole 56 bases.  If Trout's power develops he could be a legitimate five tool stud.  He should start next year in Double A and we wouldn't be surprised if the Angels tried to rush the youngster through the minors. 

2B Jean Segura- Segura was another Angels prospect who lit up Single A last year.  Segura batted .313 last year with 24 doubles, 12 triples, and 10 home runs in 130 games.  He stole 50 bases and only got caught 10 times.  Along with Mike Trout he should start next season in Double A and will make those games very fun to watch, especially from a base stealing outlook. 

RHP Tyler Chatwood- Last year Chatwood went through Single A, Double A, and Triple A as a 20 year old and really impressed the Angels.  He had a combined record 13 and 9 with a 2.84 ERA.  Next year the Angels will start Chatwood in Triple A for seasoning and he could get the call up if one of their starters get injured.

RHP Jordan Walden-The 6'5 240 pound Walden is a major power arm out of the Angels minor league bullpens.  The righty consistently hits 98 mph and should start the season in Triple A or in the Angels bullpen.  Where ever he starts the manager will love running out the big righty in the middle or late innings. 

RHP Garrett Richards- Richards was the 42nd overall pick in the 2009 draft and he had a very good year in Single A going 13 and 5 in 26 starts.  He is pretty old for an elite prospect but still projects as a back end of the rotation starter with very solid stuff.  He has no problem striking batters out as seen with his 149 strikeouts in 143 innings last year. 

Payroll and Direction- The Angels are comparable to the Tigers in that they are not really going anywhere. They are consistently average and with the growth of the Texas Rangers it is becoming less likely that they will be able to win the AL West. Their payroll is pretty high at 117 million dollars, but it is justified. Their players are not necessarily great, but they have good management and they have had success as a unit. The Angels are just a few major signings away from the team they had when the won the World Series almost 10 years ago. They need to start competing with the Rangers in the off season if they want to have success within their division.



13.  Los Angeles Dodgers
Big Leagues- The Los Angeles Dodgers have all the tools needed to be successful in the Major Leagues, but for one reason or another they can't seem to put it all together. Maybe it's the Hollywood distractions that Larry Bowa suggested were hindering Matt Kemp's abilities or maybe it's something else, but for some reason this team just can't live up to it's potential. Between Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, James Loney and Andre Ethier, the Dodgers should be a perennial threat to win a World Series. Joe Torre wasn't quite the answer and I'm still not convinced the team is heading down the right road. The Dodgers have top of the line management and their player development skills combined with their ability to bring in names like Rafael Furcal has opened the door for them to become a dynasty type team. They need to get it together as a club and start working towards a common goal and then they will find success. Kemp, Loney, Kershaw, and Ethier are all early round picks for fantasy leagues in 2011 and a resurgent Juan Uribe is a solid consideration for 2nd base. Jonathan Broxton is a former top of the line closer, but he had a bad year last year too and if he finds his way back to his old ways he will be a steal in the late rounds. 

Here is their lineup for opening day 2011:

Catcher- Rod Barajas

1st Base- James Loney

2nd Base- Juan Uribe

Shortstop- Rafael Furcal

3rd Base- Casey Blake

Left Field- Jay Gibbons/ Tony Gwynn Jr. 

Center Field- Matt Kemp

Right Field- Andre Ethier

Pitching-  Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly, Hiroki Kuroda, John Garland

Relief- Hong-Chih Kuo, Matt Guerrier, Johnathan Broxton

Top Prospects

RHP Zach Lee-  Zach Lee was one of the top quarterback recruits in the nation last year, and had already committed to Les Miles and the LSU Tigers, but then the Dodgers came in and swept in with a $5.25 million dollar signing bonus and took the Tigers recruit.  He's a power arm and a competitive pitcher and we'll see  how he progresses the next few seasons.  

RHP Kenley Jansen- The huge 6'6 right hander mowed through Double A last year as a 22 year old.  He pitched in 33 games and had a 1.60 ERA in 45 innings.  He projects as nothing but a power arm in the bullpen for the Dodgers, but he will be more important to the actual team than a fantasy team.  He will either start next year in Triple A or the majors with a chance to contribute.

1B Jerry Sands- Sands came out of nowhere after being drafted in the 25th round of the 2008 draft.  Last year in 2 levels the first basemen hit .301 with 35 home runs and 85 rbis.  Not only that he had 18 stolen bases while only being caught twice.  He was a little old at 22, but those numbers are impressive.  The Dodgers should start him in Triple A and see if his numbers continue when the competition increases.

SS Dee Gordon-  The Dodgers took the speedster in the 4th round of the 2008 draft, and he hasn't stopped running since.  In the past two years Gordon has stolen 73 and 53 bases respectively.  He will never hit double digit home runs in a season, and he isn't the best defender but he isn't the worst option the Dodgers could have for a replacement for Rafael Furcal in the next couple years.

OF Trayvon Robinson-  The Dodgers took Robinson in the 10th round of the 2005 draft as a high schooler, and he hasn't left the minors since.  He lacks the youth to be considered a top prospect, but he has really come into his own the past year in the minors.  Last year in Double A he hit .300 with 17 home runs and 29 doubles in 136 games.  He may not project to a starting outfielder but should be a contributor in the big leagues someday.

Payroll and Direction- The Dodgers are definitely not heading n the direction that any team wants to go. Just a few years ago they were expected to be a top 5 team. They made the mistake of adding Manny Ramirez and their success has since plummeted. They pay out just over 102 million dollars with their highest salary going to Hiroki Kuroda. Kershaw is still young and in his pre- arbitration years and makes just 440,000 dollars a year. This team is full of youth and talent, but if the players are not willing to focus on baseball, they will continue to fail. Don Mattingly will continue to bring the old school work ethic that Joe Torre and Larry Bowa were trying to instill in the club and hopefully he will make a more successful impact on the players. If they are not will to change their ways they will soon fall from a potential top finish in a weak NL West to the very bottom of it.

14.  Tampa Bay Rays
Big League-No team was hurt worse by free agency this offseason than the Tampa Bay Rays.  It was tough to rank them this low, but after making their final move of getting rid of Matt Garza it was inevitable.  The Rays had been a fixture at the top of the AL East with the Yankees and Red Sox the past few seasons, but we don't see how that's possible anymore.  In just one offseason the Rays have lost Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Matt Garza, Rafael Soriano, Dan Wheeler, and Jason Bartlett. Looking at the Rays big league squad they could be a lot worse than 14 on our list, but their overall organization depth could save them in years to come.  If the season started today their lineup would look like this:
Catcher- John Jaso
1st Base- Dan Johnson
2nd Base- Sean Rodriguez
Shortstop- Reid Brignac
3rd Base- Evan Longoria

Left Field- Desmond Jennings
Center Field- B.J. Upton
Right Field- Ben Zobrist
DH- Matt Joyce
Pitching- David Price, James Shields, Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis, Jeremy Hellickson
Relief- J.P. Howell, Andy Sonnanstine

Top Prospects
RHP Jeremy Hellickson- Going into the 2010 season Baseball America had Hellickson rated as their 18th best prospect and baseball, and after a spectacular season he has only gone higher on our list.  Hellickson had a great season in Triple A with a 12 and 3 record, a 2.45 ERA in 21 starts before getting called up for the Rays.  He finished strong there with a 4 and 0 record and a 3.47 Era in 36 innings.  Hellickson development can be seen as a main reason the Rays felt comfortable trading away Garza, and he could be considered one of the best young arms in baseball.

LHP Matt Moore- Although his 6 and 11 record in high Single A last year doesn’t look impressive, the lefty was absolutely dominant for the Rays farm system last season.  Moore struggled with his control at times last season, but struck out a remarkable 208 batters in only 144 innings.  He features a 92-94 mph fastball with a tight curve and a changeup that should develop with time.  Look for him to pitch in Double and Triple A next season and watch the strikeout's continue to pile up.  Moore is one of the top left handed pitchers in the minors.

OF Desmond Jennings- Although he came into last season as Baseball America's number 6 prospect, he is still ranked below Hellickson, and Moore for us this year.  Jennings statistics dropped across the board in his 2nd year in Triple A, but that could be because he was expecting to see more time in the big leagues last season.  This season he should slot into Carl Crawford's left field spot, and although he won't put up the power numbers Crawford displayed he'll bring speed and defense to the outfield.  If he starts out hot in Spring Training and wins the job, he could be in the consideration for Rookie of the Year.

LHP Jake McGee- The Rays look at McGee as a power arm without a defined role.  Last season he split time between starting and the bullpen, and really excelled in the bullpen for Triple A Durham.  In 17 innings he only allowed 9 hits 3 walks while striking out 27.  Those numbers lead us to believe the Rays may be looking at McGee as the closer of the future.  They may start him in Triple A next season or in the bullpen for the Rays, either way if he wins the closer role have him on your fantasy radar.

OF Josh Sale- Sale was the 17th overall pick in the 2010 draft, and the Rays and many other teams regarded him as the best high school hitter in the draft.  As a senior outfielder at Bishop Blanchet he batted .520 with 5 home runs.  He will begin next season in Single A and his progress will be closely monitored.

Payroll and Direction-After years of contending in the toughest division in baseball, the Rays had a fire sale this offseason.  Even though the Rays have lost a lot, there will be plenty of young talent pushing through their system the next few years to help them contend again.  Names like Desmond Jennings, Jeremy Hellickson, and Matt Moore should become household names and on everyone's fantasy radar.  Beware of Evan Longoria's numbers dipping in 2011 with losing the protection of Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford, but he'll still be a stud for years to come.  If the Rays find money to actually sign their young players this time when they develop their top farm system, they will be able to contend again with the Yankees and Red Sox.



15.  Detroit Tigers
Big Leagues- The Detroit Tigers will remain one of the most average teams in the league for the 2011 season. They have not had great success recently and, depending on who you ask, they have not had great failure either. Their roster is full of mid level fantasy players and they are not getting much better or much worse. They were able to sign Victor Martinez in the off season, which will add potency to their lineup, depending on his success. In recent years, the Tigers have signed many former All Stars and they have lacked success in Detroit. Johnny Damon and Dontrelle Willis are perfect examples of once great players going to Detroit to die. On the other hand, Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez have found success in Detroit after playing for other clubs. We expect the Tigers to have another average season and probably finish third in the AL Central and maybe make a run at the wild card. As far as fantasy considerations are concerned I am personally high on Austin Jackson, but first round high yet. Magglio and Miguel will bring the power numbers that have always brough and Victor Martinez is middle to early pick at catcher. Their top 3 starts will make fantasy noise this season and Jose Valverde is always a solid closer to add to any lineup.


Here is their opening day lineup for 2011:


Catcher- Victor Martinez/ Alex Avila

1st Base- Miguel Cabrera

2nd Base- Scott Sizemore/ Will Rhymes

Shortstop- Jhonny Peralta

3rd Base- Brandon Inge

Left Field- Brennan Boesch/ Ryan Raburn

Center Field- Austin Jackson

Right Field- Magglio Ordonoz/ Brennan Boesch

DH- Victor Martinez/ Carlos Guillen

Pitching- Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Phil Coke, Armando Galarraga

Relief- Joel Zumaya, Ryan Perry, Joaquin Benoit, Jose Valverde



Top 5 Prospects
RHP Jacob Turner- The Tigers selected Turner as the 9th overall pick in 2009 and he spent his first minor league season in Single A. In 23 starts Turner compiled a 6 and 5 record with a 3.28 ERA as a 19 year old. The 6'5 righty showed great control only walking 23 batters in 115 innings. The Tigers need to be encouraged by their former 1st round pick and will hope he continues his success in Double A next season.

3B Nick Castellanos- The Tigers took Castellanos with the 44th overall pick in the 2010 draft and got him signed early enough to send him to the rookie league for 7 games last year. He hit .333 with only 5 strikeouts in those 7 games. He has a long ways to go, especially in filling out his body. He came in out of high school at 6'4 and 195 pounds and will be hitting the weight room hard the next few years for the Tigers.

LHP Andy Oliver- Last year Oliver started 5 games for the Tigers and went 0 for 4, but that does not take away from what he has did in the minors last year. In Double and Triple A last year Oliver had a 9 and 8 record with a 3.45 ERA. Oliver does not project as a top of a line starter, but could develop into a back of a rotation stable. The Tigers will start him in Triple A and he'll probably be one of the first called on if an injury takes place.

RHP Chance Ruffin- The Tigers drafted the Texas University closer with the 48th overall pick in the 2010 draft. He's a very polished right hander and the Tigers won't need to send the youngster for much minor league time, and he could be called up in the next year or two. He won't be the Tigers closer right away but he could be in their plans long term.

LHP Daniel Schlereth-The son of former NFL linemen Mark Schlereth can seem to keep his spot in the majors the past two seasons. He is a former 1st round draft pick, and is a power lefty coming out of the pen for Detroit but he hasn't been consistent enough to keep a job. His major league time borderlines him as a prospect for us but we believe he'll be in the Majors next year and be a major contributor for the Tigers versus lefties.


Payroll and Direction- The Tigers are going no where fast, and that's not necessarily a bad thing for this club. It will take them awhile to build a franchise that will reign supreme in the Midwest, but they are on their way. As for now the Tigers should be content with 75- 80 wins, and hopefully they can keep developing towards becoming a major threat to the perennial front runners of the American League. Their payroll is a little high for what they bring to the table at 123 million dollars, but that will go down in coming years when their vets reach retirement age. The Tigers should keep working on building prospects and they are clearly not hurting for cash. In a few years they will be able to revamp their roster with some bigger, younger names and they will have a shot to become the favorite in AL Central.


16.  Colorado Rockies
Big Leagues- The Colorado Rockies have come a long way in the past decade. They earned a trip to the World Series in 2007 and their home grown prospects are finally coming of age. Carlos Gonzalez and Ubaldo Jimenez have both found their way onto a roster in every fantasy league in the world, and more importantly for the Rockies, they have earned big league success.The Rockies have a solid combination of youth and experience on their roster and it has led them to success in the NL West in last couple of seasons. Eric Young and Dexter Fowler bring a lot youth and excitement to the club and Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki remain solid players for a club that deserves a lot of respect for their development of players. As far as fantasy is concerned, almost their entire lineup will find their way onto rosters in the 2011 season. Chris Ianetta is an above average catcher and the aforementioned players will all bring something different to a fantasy lineup. Gonzalez and Jimenez are both first round considerations and the rest of the lineup will fit into holes later in the draft. We recommend drafting nearly all 8 of their fielders, with Ryan Spilborghs being left out depending on how deep your league is. These players have done great things for the Rockies, and their development will help your fantasy team the same way it has helped this franchise.


Here is their starting lineup for opening day 2011:

Catcher- Chris Ianetta

1st Base- Todd Helton

2nd Base- Eric Young/ Jose Lopez

Shortstop- Troy Tulowitzki

3rd Base- Ian Stewart/ Jose Lopez

Left Field- Carlos Gonzalez

Center Field- Dexter Fowler

Right Field- Ryan Spilborghs

Pitching- Ubaldo Jimenez, Jorge De La Rosa, Jason Hammel, Aaron Cook, Esmil Rogers

Relief- Huston Street, Rafael Betancourt, Matt Lindstrom

Top 5 Prospects
3B Nolan Arenado- The Rockies took Arenado in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft and the young right hander impressed last year in Single A. Arenado hit .308 in 92 games and had 12 home runs and 41 doubles. As Arenado's body matures so will his power and we expect those double's to turn into home runs. Look for Arenado to be a middle of the order third basemen with 25 to 30 home run power in the next 3 years.

LHP Tyler Matzek- Matzek is another top arm in the Rockies system. The former 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft spent his 19 year old season in Single A for the Rockies. He made 18 starts and had 2.92 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 89 innings. He should began next season at Double A like Bettis, and looks to increase his innings and move through the system.
OF Kyle Parker- Now this is a unique story. Some may recognize the name Kyle Parker, and think of Clemson's starting quarterback, well this is the same Kyle Parker. He is a two sport athlete and the Rockies took him in the first round last year as an outfielder. They signed him to a contract with the stipulation that he could play quarterback his senior year, one of which he just completed. The fact that the Rockies used the number 1 pick on a dual sport athlete is enough for us to have him number 3 on our list. We'll follow him closely once he gets into the minors.

RHP Chad Bettis- Bettis was the Rockies 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft and signed early enough to put up some great numbers in the late part of the season. He pitched in 13 games in Single A having a spectacular 1.07 ERA in 67 innings. He had a 4.31 K/BB ratio and should start his second year at Double A. If he succeeds there the Rockies could push the right hander right through their system quickly.


C Willin Rosario- Although Rosario tore his ACL in late July, his numbers warrant him still being in the Rockies top five prospects. Last year in Double A he hit .285 with 19 home runs and 52 rbi's in only 73 games before his injury. The Rockies have Rosario in their long term plans at catcher, and the injury is just a speed bump.


Payroll and Direction- I love the direction of the Colorado Rockies. They have burst onto the scene as a true contender in a fairly weak National League and they will continue to move up in preseason rankings in the coming seasons. The Rockies fall into the middle of leagues payroll graph, paying out just over 83 million dollars. Their top paid player is still Todd Helton at 16.6 million dollars a year, but they are getting a value on Ubaldo at 1.25 million a year and Carlos Gonzalez just signed a new deal. The Rockies have several strong prospects in the minors and they will likely become the team to beat in the NL West by 2014.



17. Florida Marlins
Big Leagues- Going into 2011 the Marlins are looking for a gap year, not only for their young players, but 2011 also marks the last season in their old ballpark that they share with the Miami Dolphins. The Marlins are hoping that a new stadium will allow them to keep their top young players and not have to trade them away, like they have always done. This year's team though, will be very similar to every other year. They went out and signed free agents John Buck and Javier Vazquez but they should not make the huge impact that they need to get into the playoffs. From the fantasy perspective, outside of Hanley Ramirez and Michael Stanton, they pitching staff is what you want to draft. Josh Johnson showed last year that he is a stud, and should be drafted in the top 3 rounds of every draft. Even coming off injury Ricky Nolasco should be a solid starter, and Javier Vazquez could be a good sleeper finally coming back to the National League.

Catcher- John Buck
1st Base- Gaby Sanchez
2nd Base- Omar Infante
Shortstop- Hanley Ramirez

3rd Base- Wes Helms/ Chris Coghlan
Left Field- Logan Morrison
Center Field- Chris Coghlan
Right Field- Michael Stanton

Pitching- Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Javier Vazquez, Anibal Sanchez, Chris Volstad
Relief- Leo Nunez, Randy Choate

Top 5 Prospects
3B Matt Dominguez- Dominguez was the Marlins first round pick in the 2007 draft, and look to be the Marlins third basemen of the future. Last year he struggled with his batting average as a 20 year old in Double A, but he showed great defense and a solid power bat. The Marlins say he could win the 3rd base job out of spring training, but look for this youngster to start in Triple A.

OF Christian Yelich- Yelich was the 23rd overall pick in the 2010 draft, and he signed early enough to play in 12 games for the Marlins minor league clubs. Yelich impressed there with a .362 average in 50 plate appearances. The high school draftee is still very raw and it should be at least 3 years before we see him in the Majors.

LHP Chad James- The Marlins 1st round pick in 2009 struggled mightily in his first full year in Single A going 5 and 10 with a 5.12 ERA. James struggled with his control while walking 65 batters in only 114 innings. He's not an overpowering pitcher, so when he walks batters, it really takes a toll on his ERA. James is still way too young and raw to give up on him as a prospect and the Marlins hope he can put together a better year in 2011.

SS Osvaldo Martinez- The shortstop had a very solid year in Double A last year as a 22 year old. He batted .302 with 28 doubles. He lacks power, and is blocked by Hanley Ramirez in the Marlins lineup, which limits his potential. Look for him to virtually end up as a utility infielder whether it's with the Marlins or another team.

OF Marcell Ozuna- The Marlins signed the Dominican and as a 19 year old he showed great power in Single A. In only 74 games he batted .258 with 22 home runs and 11 doubles. Ozuna will need to work on his plate discipline to succeed at higher levels. He struck out 104 times compared to only 19 walks. He has a long way to go, but we'll keep an eye out.

Payroll and Direction-The Marlins payroll last year of 52 million ranked them towards the bottom of the league, but this team is moving in the right direction, mostly because of their pitching staff and the fact they are getting a new stadium in 2012. With Hanley Ramirez locked into a long contract and Michael Stanton emerging last year, the Marlins have the young talent to be able to surround them with free agents to help them contend. Give the Marlins a couple years, and if their payroll increases with the new stadium they could be a team to reckon with in the NL East.



18.  Washington Nationals
Big Leagues- The Nationals have put together quite the young roster, and added two great free agents in this off season in Adam Laroche and Jayson Werth. Even after losing Adam Dunn they replenished the lineup with a power righty and lefty. Ryan Zimmerman continues to improve and their middle infield of Danny Espinosa and Ian Desmond continue to improve. There pitching staff needs work with Livan Hernandez leading the group and the injury to Stephen Strasburg sets the Nationals back a few years but they weren't looking to contend next year anyways. When Strasburg and Bryce Harper get to the Majors the Nationals will be ready to roll in the NL East.

Catcher- Pudge Rodriguez, Wilson Ramos
1st Base- Adam Laroche/ Mike Morse
2nd Base- Danny Espinosa
Shortstop- Ian Desmond
3rd Base- Ryan Zimmerman
Left Field- Roger Bernadina/ Rick Ankiel
Center Field- Nyjer Morgan
Right Field- Jayson Werth

Pitching- Livan Hernandez, Jason Marquis, Jordan Zimmerman, John Lannan, Yunesky Maya, Stephen Strasburg
Relief- Drew Stroren, Sean Burnett, Tyler Clippard

Top 5 Prospects
OF Bryce Harper- What could I possibly stay about Bryce Harper that you haven't already heard? The 1st overall pick in the 2010 draft was the most hyped draft pick in history. He left high school early and went to Junior College just so he could be drafted in the 2010 draft when he was just 17. Harper has gigantic power and a cannon of an arm that he will show off in the outfield for the Nationals. The Nationals will try to push Harper through the minor leagues and have him in the big leagues by 2013. He'll debut at Single A and I'm sure every sports television station will let you know what happens.

C Wilson Ramos- Ramos was acquired by the Nationals from Minnesota in the Matt Capps deal, and the Nationals may have snagged their catcher of the future. He spent the last year between AAA and the big leagues. He will never develop into a 20 home run kind of catcher, but he will play solid defense and could develop into a consistent .300 hitter. Ramos should have one more year backing up and learning from Pudge Rodriguez and it will definitely help him in the long run.

2B Danny Espinosa-The Nationals 2nd basemen of future got his first glimpse of the big leagues last year. He struggled with his average but had a very solid 6 home runs in 28 games. He's an excellent defender and did not make 1 error at 2nd base in 23 starts. He should be the Nationals opening day 2nd basemen.

RHP A.J. Cole- The Nationals 4th round pick in 2010 was suppose to go in the first round, but dropped because of signability. When the Nationals drafted the high school righty, they planned on giving him a nice bonus, and getting him into their minor league system, and that is what they did. The righty passed up his scholarship to the University of Miami, and took the 2 million dollar signing bonus. He should take a while to develop, but he could potentially be a steal.

C Derek Norris- Norris is a powerful young catcher, who struggled with his batting average as a 21 year old. He had 12 home runs and 19 doubles in 94 games. The highlight of his year was his plate discipline. Even though he struck out 94 times, he had 89 walks. He's a long term project and other prospects Wilson Ramos should contribute before he does.

Payroll and Direction- The Nationals are headed in the right direction, especially with Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper in their near future. They don't have the top prospects besides Bryce Harper, but they are finally throwing some money around signing Adam Laroche and Jayson Werth. They only had a payroll of 67 million last year, but it will be considerably higher now that Jayson Werth is making 18 million a year. Give the Nationals 2 or 3 years and they'll be fighting for the NL East pennant.


19.  New York Mets
Big Leagues- The New York Mets share some startling comparisons with the Chicago Cubs. Both teams play in big markets in the National League, both teams have the means to be successful and yet, some how, neither team can even make a stand in their division as of late. As far as fantasy is concerned, the Mets have some players that will make noise in any style of league. Jose Reyes is a former top 3 pick, but he has fallen to a mid to late first round shortstop and a five tool player that will give numbers in most categories. David Wright is also a first round pick in most fantasy leagues and will positively contribute to your teams power numbers. Jason Bay is another player who used to be high end draft pick, but his first year in Citi Bank Park brought his power numbers to a screeching halt. Beltran is also a once great outfielder who went to die in New York, but he could produce average numbers this year and is a consideration in the middle rounds of your draft. Johan Santana is a former Cy Young winner and was being discussed as one of the greats before his transfer to New York where he also seemed to have lost his talent. The Mets organization has been a black hole for once great players.

Here is the Mets opening day lineup for 2011:

Catcher- Josh Thole/ Ronny Paulino

1st Base- Ike Davis

2nd Base- Luis Castillo

Shortstop- Jose Reyes

3rd Base- David Wright

Left Field- Jason Bay

Center Field- Carlos Beltran

Right Field- Angel Pagan

Pitching- Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, Johnathan Niese, R.A. Dickey, Jenrry Mejia

Relief- Francisco Rodriguez, Manny Acosta



Top 5 Prospects

RHP Jenrry Mejia- One of the top pitching prospects in the majors is one thing the Mets have to look forward too. Mejia dominated the minor leagues going 2 and 0 in 9 starts with a 1.28 ERA over 42 innings. Mejia flew through 4 minor league levels before getting the call up. He did struggle a bit with a 4.62 ERA, but that is expected from a 20 year old in the big leagues.. The Mets could start him in Triple A for more seasoning, or in the bullpen or starting rotation for the Mets. The Mets have them a pitcher who projects very similar to Neftali Feliz of the Rangers.

RHP Matt Harvey- Harvey was the Mets first round pick in 2010, but it was definitely reach pick. He has a power arm and a nice sinker, but he struggled mightily before his Junior year at North Carolina. He is definitely a hit or miss 1st rounder, but without developing his offspeed pitches he could never develop.

SS Wilmer Flores- The young shortstop had a very solid year in two lower levels. He batted .289 with 11 home runs and 36 doubles. But he shows little speed for a shortstop and made 26 errors last year in 132 games. He's not an elite level prospect but could develop into a solid starter.

OF Cesar Puello- Puello had a great year in Single A last year batting .292 with 45 stolen bases as a 19 year old. He is a true base stealer only getting caught 10, but his potential is limited because he shows little to no power. He could turn into a solid starter or a 4th outfielder and pinch runner off the bench.

OF Fernando Martinez- Martinez use to be the Mets top prospect before being given plenty of opportunities to win a starting job, and failing every time. He is still too young for us to give up on him like other people. He only hit .254 with 12 home runs, but we'll see what how this season treats him.

Payroll and Direction- The Mets payroll is close to 127 million dollars, and their team has missed the playoffs several times in the last few years. They have dug themselves a hole by spending money on players that simply have nothing left in the tank and their new park is too big for producers to produce. The Mets are in a sour situation and it's going to be tough for them to get out of this rut before 2015.



20.  Toronto Blue Jays

Big Leagues- After trading away their franchise player in Roy Halladay, the Blue Jays have finally started to put something back together. We think it is directly related to J.P. Ricciardi no longer making their personnel decisions. The Jays have a solid base starting in the infield. Lind, Hill, Escobar, and Bautista form a very formidable infield and the outfield of Rajai Davis, Vernon Wells, and Travis Snyder is very underrated, especially Davis. Davis brings the speed to this lineup that I think they have lacked in the past years, especially playing against the Yankees and Red Sox 19 times a year, who always have problems throwing out runners. Their pitching staff has a lot of star potential with former top prospect Brandon Morrow and lefty Ricky Romero holding down the front end of the rotation. Kyle Drabek, who came over for Roy Halladay, should emerge as a full time starter at the beginning of the year and he should have a great season for a rookie. Like the Orioles, if the Blue Jays could get away from the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays they have a lot better results.

Here is their opening day lineup for 2011:

Catcher- Jose Molina/ J.P. Arencibia
1st Base- Adam Lind

2nd Base- Aaron Hill
Shortstop- Yunel Escobar
3rd Base- Jose Bautista
Left Field- Rajai Davis
Center Field- Vernon Wells
Right Field- Travis Snyder
Pitching- Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow, Brett Cecil, Kyle Drabek, Jesse Litsch
Relief- Jason Fraser, Casey Janssen



Top 5 Prospects

RHP Kyle Drabek- The Blue Jays left Drabek in Double A all of last season and he looked every bit the top prospect he is. He went 14 and 9 with a 2.94 ERA in 162 innings. Drabek still struggled with his command with a 1.94 K/BB ratio. The prize get in the Roy Halladay trade should get a chance to earn a rotation spot in the spring and could be looking at a chance at rookie of the year honors if he gets a full season of work.

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RHP Deck McGuire- The Blue Jays drafted the 6'6 right hander with the 11th pick of the 2010 draft. McGuire was a stud at Georgia Tech winning ACC pitcher of the year in 2009 with an 11-2 record and 3.50 ERA as a weekend starter. Mcguire has 4 solid pitches but we wouldn't be surprised to see Toronto not rush him like Drabek.

RHP Asher Wojciechowski- The right hander was another 1st round pick in the 2010 draft by the Blue Jays. He was drafted out of the Citadel and signed quick enough to throw a couple games in Single A. In 12 innings he only allowed 1 earned run and struck out 11. He's a little less polished than McGuire and Drabek, but he has the potential to be a solid starter.

RHP Zach Stewart- The Blue Jays continue to stock pile young right handers for the future, and Stewart is another. He had slightly a down year in 2010 with a 3.63 ERA at Double A as a 23 year old. Stewart could be converted into a reliever, especially with the power arms in the rotation ahead of him, and the Blue Jays weak bullpen. You could see Stewart in the next few years, probably in the bullpen.

OF-Anthony Gose- The 2nd round pick in 2008 had a very solid year as a 19 year old in Single A. In 130 games Gose hit .262 with 20 doubles, 13 triples and 7 home runs. He does not project as a power outfielder, but he stole 45 bases. He did get 32 times though, and needs to develop more of a technique. He could develop into more but it looks like he'll be a average starter to 4th outfielder.

Payroll and Direction

With a payroll around 80 million dollars and talented pitchers in the big leagues and farm systems, the Blue Jays are headed in the right direction. They have a very solid, young base, and if the young pitchers continue to develop they could make noise in the AL East in a few years. Unfortunately, the Yankees and Red Sox will always be able to outspend the lower market teams, and it will be tough for them to win in the toughest division in baseball.

21.  San Diego Padres
Big Leagues- This Padres team is one of the interesting teams I have come across in my baseball research. They aren't going to contend for a World Series right now, but I really like how this team is put together, even without Adrian Gonzalez. The team has a lot of solid mid level free agents, who are better for a real team than they are for fantasy. Brad Hawpe, Orlando Hudson, Jason Bartlett, and Ryan Ludwick won't be first on your draft boards, but they are going to win games for the Padres. Throw in former, and still young, top prospect Cameron Maybin and the power hitting Kyle Blanks, who is coming off injury, and this team has a lot of potential. Matt Latos established himself as a top of the line ace last year, and we expect another year can only help. The addition of Aaron Harang rounds out the rotation, and the always consistent Heath Bell will again close games.

Here is their lineup for opening day 2011:

Catcher- Nick Hundley
1st Base- Kyle Blanks/Brad Hawpe
2nd Base- Orlando Hudson
Shortstop- Jason Bartlett
3rd Base- Chase Headley
Left Field- Ryan Ludwick
Center Field- Cameron Maybin
Right Field- Will Veneable
Pitching- Matt Latos, Clayton Richard, Tim Stauffer, Cory Luebke, Aaron Harang

Relief- Heath Bell

Top 5 Prospects

RHP Casey Kelly- You'd expect the Padres to have good prospects after trading away Adrian Gonzalez, and they do not disappoint. Kelly use to split time between shortstop and pitching his first two seasons, but the Red Sox finally got him to focus on pitching and he struggled in Double A. He had a 5.31 ERA in 21 starts, but he still has top of the rotation stuff and is only 21 years old. The potential and youth is what keeps him as the number 1 prospect in the Padres system.

RHP Simon Castro- The 6'5 right hander really impressed last year in Double and Triple A. The 22 year old throws his fastball 97-98 and a hard slider from 91-94. After watching him pitch in the Futures game last year he reminded me of a right handed Aroldis Chapman, minus a few miles an hour on the fastball. For a youngster he doesn't walk many batters, but sometimes has control problems because of the action on his fastball and slider. The Padres should start him in Triple A next year but don't be surprised if he gets the call up if a starter gets injured.

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OF Jaff Decker- The former 1st round pick could not stay healthy over the full season last year, and it was reflected in his stats. His batting average struggled and so did his plate discipline. He batted .262 and struck out 80 times in only 79 games, but showed great power slugging 17 home runs. If Decker can stay healthy and even out his swings he could be in ready for a breakout.

1B Anthony Rizzo- After beating cancer the 2007 sixth round pick became a slugging first basemen for the Red Sox minor league teams. Last year as a 20 year old he batted .260 with 25 home runs, 42 doubles, and 100 rbis. He was the main prize along with Casey Kelly in the trade for Adrian Gonzalez and he projects to be Gonzalez's long term replacement. He should start next year in Triple A and we could see him in September.

OF Donavan Tate- The 3rd overall pick in the 2009 could not stay away from the injury bug last year and only appeared in 25 games. The games itself weren't enough to get a fair look at Tate, but his predraft hype and draft position keeps him on our list of top prospects.


Payroll and Direction- The Padres have the young talent and pitching, they have top prospects, now if they can ever get the money to pay top free agents they can be a team to contend with for a very long time. Last year they only had a payroll of 37 million dollars, and that just won't cut it when you want to win a World Series. The Padres got their new stadium and now it's time to start spending some money. They will have a lot of young guys under contract for cheap, but if they won't be able to keep young players like Matt Latos, then they future will be a lot like their past.



22.  Oakland Athletics

Big Leagues- The Oakland Athletics may rival the Houston Astros with the most boring lineup in the league.  With names like Daric Barton, Mark Ellis, Cliff Pennington and Kevin Kouzmanoff, the Athletics are not really fantasy relevant. The only people in their lineup worth going out of your way to grab would be Kurt Suzuki or newly acquired right fielder Josh Willingham.  The A’s would be a lot lower on our list if it wasn’t for their young and fast improving pitching staff.  With Dallas Braden, Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill the A’s have three young starters that could rival the Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder days.  They are making a run at Adrian Beltre and if they somehow sign him they should be moved up on the list. They play in division where no team really dominates, and that could allow them to make a push at the playoffs.

Here is their starting lineup for 2011:

Catcher- Kurt Suzuki

1st Base- Daric Barton

2nd Base- Mark Ellis

Shortstop- Cliff Pennington

3rd Base- Kevin Kouzmanoff

Left Field- David Dejesus/Conor Jackson

Center Field- Coco Crisp

Right Field- Josh Willingham

Pitching- Dallas Braden, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, Brandon McCarthy, Rich Harden

Relief-  Michael Wuertz, Brad Ziegler, Andrew Bailey

Top 5 Prospects

SS Grant Green-  The Athletics selected the USC shortstop 13^th overall in the 2009 draft, and he did not disappoint in his first full season in the minor leagues.  Green hit .318 with 20 bombs and 39 doubles last year in high class A.  He has shown great power throughout his collegiate and minor league career, and should continue to develop.  He will start the year in Double A and is the A’s shortstop of the future.

1B Chris Carter-The big first basemen with elite power had a down year for the A’s last year when they wanted to employ him as their everyday first basemen.  He only hit .186 with 3 home runs in 24 games.  More concerning was he had 21 strikeouts compared to only 7 walks.  He has an outside chance to start the season with a job, but it will take a big preseason.

OF Michael Choice- The 10^th pick in the 2010 draft played in 30 games after signing.  He showed impressive power hitting 7 home runs and 10 doubles in only 109 plate appearances. He did have a tendency to strikeout with striking out 45 times. He’ll start the year in Single A for more seasoning.

OF Michael Taylor-  The former Phillies prospect failed to impress last season and found himself stuck in Triple A as a 24 year old last season.  Disappearing was the power he showed in previous years as he only hit 6 home runs.  Taylor is still a good prospect, but now lacks the youth to be considered a top prospect.

RHP Tyson Ross- Even with missing time with injuries the 23 year old impressed when he pitched in Triple A last year.  He had a 3.55 Era while striking out 30 in 25 innings.  He should begin next year with Triple A trying to stay injury free.

Payroll and Direction

The Athletics never spend a lot of money and never make a big splash for free agents, so that’s why last year they only spent 56 million on their big league payroll.  But with Billy Beane in charge of the farm system the Athletics will keep producing young pitchers.  If they ever get the money to sign their young pitchers to post- arbitration contracts while picking up a couple free agents, instead of trading them away, the A’s could become a contender for years to come.

23.  Chicago Cubs

Big Leagues- Where to even begin with Chicago Cubs? This team has all the necessary resources to win a World Series, and yet they haven't done so in over a century. The Cubs are historically one of the most disappointing teams in the league, and this year won't be an exception. The Cubs pay out a ton of money to their players and they have great fan support. Their stadium is legendary and they have gone through some of the greatest managers that baseball has to offer in the last few years, but for some reason they just can't seem to put it all together. Their problem doesn't reside in competition like the Orioles, but rather self destruction from the inside. I don't expect the Chicago Cubs to do anything too exciting for at least another 100 years or so.

Here is their opening day roster for 2011:

Catcher- Geovany Soto

1st Base- Carlos Pena

2nd Base- Blake Dewitt

Shortstop- Starlin Castro

3rd Base- Aramis Ramirez

Left Field- Alfonso Soriano

Center Field- Marlon Byrd

Right Field-  Kosuke Fukudome

Pitching- Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Matt Garza Randy Wells, Tom Gorzelanny, Carlos Silva

Relief- Carlos Marmol, Kerry Wood, Sean Marshall

This roster has very few fantasy prospects worth looking at. Alfonso Soriano was once a 30/30 man, but his numbers have progressively dropped in the last few years. Kosuke Fukudome will remain an average outfielder and Carlos Pena may find success in the National League. Starlin Castro is a young shortstop that could develop, but as long as he's in Chicago it'll be tough to develop enough to win them games. The best fantasy prospect on this roster is Matt Garza. His ERA is normally below 4 in the AL East and he is famous for saying that he only needs one run to win a ball game. Garza could stay in All- Star form this year and could make a big impact on fantasy rosters as a middle round selection.

Top 5 Prospects

OF Brett Jackson-  Jackson was the 31st pick in the 2009 draft reached Double A in his first season.  He does not have the all start/MVP potential that you'd like from a top prospect, but he does project into a 20/20 outfielder.  When we look at Jackson would see a lot of current Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd.  He could be a constant in any lineup but always under appreciated.  Jackson will spend next year in Double A and Triple A and we'll see how his game progresses.

3B Josh Vitters- Vitters is the Cubs former top prospect, who has yet to develop.  He was the 3rd overall pick in the 2007 draft, and the Cubs probably wished he would have made it to the majors by now.  But the 20 year old struggled mightily last year only hitting .247 in Single A and Double A.  He also only hit 10 home runs and 20 doubles, which is not impressive for a slugging third basemen.  Vitters finally lost his top prospects label to Brett Jackson and maybe he'll loosen up a little bit and produce.  

RHP Trey McNutt- McNutt came out of nowhere last year to amass a 10 and 1 record over three levels and emerge as the Cubs top pitching prospect.  The 20 year old was a 32nd round pick in 2009 and the Cubs looked at him more as organizational depth.  But his 2.48 ERA over 25 starts last year and his 3.57 K/BB ratio has really impressed the Cubs.  Look for him to start the year in Double or Triple A and continue to progress.  

RHP Chris Archer-  Traded to Tampa Bay in Matt Garza trade.  Archer is a lot like McNutt and the 5th round pick of 2006 came on strong with a 15 and 3 record over 2 levels.  He had a 2.34 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 142 innings.  His control does become an issue at times, but it is not an uncommon problem for young starters.  Look for him in the next few years to fill in the Cubs always revolving rotation.

RHP Chris Carpenter-  The Cubs wish they had the Cardinals Chris Carpenter, but this one will have to do.  He is a little older for most prospects, at 25, but he had a very solid at Double A.  He is not overpowering and does not have great control, but he knows how to pitch.  He had a 1.96 k/BB ratio but could constantly work out of jams sporting a 3.41 ERA.  He will be nothing better than a low quality starter and shouldn't be on any fantasy radars.

Payroll and Direction

The Chicago Cubs have the third highest payroll in the Majors at just over 142 million dollars. The only two teams with higher pay rolls are the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, who have won a combined 3 World Series since 2004. The Cubs highest paid player is Soriano at 19 million dollars a year. They have dumped far too much money into failing players and it's going to take years for the club to rebound. They are not a playoff team for the 2011 season and they will continue to disappoint some of the best fans in professional sports. The Cubs need to get a lot younger, and quite frankly, a lot better before they make any noise in NL Central division that is gaining more and more respect by the day.


 24.  Baltimore Orioles
Big Leagues- The Baltimore Orioles are one of the most unlucky teams in Major League Baseball. They have a nice youthful exuberance protruding from their roster, but there is just no way that this team can win games when they have to play the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays 19 times each over the course of a season. The team has the monetary support necessary to compete in every other division in the MLB, but the AL East is always going to be a toss up between the three giants that reside there. The Orioles have definitely improved over the last several seasons and they will win some games this year, but I don't see them moving any higher than fourth place in the toughest division in sports. Here is their opening day roster for 2011:

Catcher-Matt Wieters

1st Base-Luke Scott
2nd Base- Brian Roberts
Shortstop- J.J. Hardy
3rd Base- Mark Reynolds
Left Field- Felix Pie
Center Field- Adam Jones
Right Field- Nick Markakis
DH-  Luke Scott/ Jake Fox

Pitching- Jeremy Guthrie, Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Brian Bergeron, Chris Tillman

As far as fantasy baseball goes, there are some guys on this roster that could really help your team. Matt Wieters is on his way to becoming an elite catcher in the majors and could be the first catcher taken in a year or two. Catcher is always a valuable position to a fantasy team, because catchers with above average offensive production are normally hard to come by. Wieters could turn into a keeper player in keeper leagues and his game will steadily improve for the foreseeable future. Other considerations on this team include Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Brian Roberts and possibly J.J. Hardy. Their pitching staff is really where the team starts to fade, but look for Brian Matusz to start making some noise as big league pitcher and potentially putting up big numbers. Again it's hard for a pitcher to be successful when at least 7 of their starts come against the Yanks, Sox and Rays.Top 5 Prospects

SS Manny Machado- The number three overall in the 2010 draft would have been the top positional player taken, if it wasn't "The Bryce Harper Draft".  The Floridan shortstop has drawn comparisons to former Alex Rodriguez, but we think that is pushing it.  Machado certainly is a five tool prospect, but we don't think he'll ever be a 40 home run a year kind of guy.   That era of shortstop's hitting 40 plus home runs is over but Machado is a straight stud.

LHP Zach Britton- After pushing through most of their pitching prospects, the Orioles farm system is lacking in that department compared to other years.  The 23 year old Britton had a good season at Triple A, but he lacks the stuff to be a top notch prospect.  Britton is not overpowering, he only struck out 124 batters in 153 innings.  The Orioles rotation looks to be full to start the season, but Britton will get the call with the first injury. 

RHP Dan Klein- The Orioles got a steal with the 85th pick in last year's draft.  Klein is a solid right hander that had a 2.13 era in his last season as a reliever at UCLA.  He was a redshirt sophomore last year, after missing his 2009 season with an injury.  He was looked at as a fringe 1st round pick last draft but teams did not know if they were able to sign the right hander.  Klein could be fast tracked to the majors in a relief role if his shoulder health holds up.

2B L.J. Hoes- Hoes is the Orioles long term replacement for Brian Roberts at 2nd base.  He was planning on going to UNC but instead signed with the Orioles after getting drafted in the 3rd round of 2008.  Last year the 20 year old played for 3 different teams and hit .290 but only hit 24 doubles and 4 homers.  The lack of Hoes production, and his high ranking shows how bad their farm system falls off after Machado and Britton. 

OF Xavier Avery-  The speedy outfielder was a 2nd round pick in 2008.  He ended last year at Double A and hit .271 and had 38 stolen bases in 136 games.  Avery is nothing but a mid level prospect with fringe starter or 4th outfielder potential.  We probably won't hear much from him the next couple years.

Payroll and DirectionLast season the Orioles paid out just over 91 million dollars. Their highest paid player remains Brian Roberts, making 10 million a year, but they're getting a great value on Wieters at 400,000 dollars a year in his pre-arbitration years. The Orioles could potentially make a run to become a top team in the AL East in the future. Remember the way the Rays went from cellar dweller to powerhouse in a short time span. It will take good prospect development and maybe a major free agent signing, but look for the Orioles to eventually build a program that can compete with monsters they are forced to contend with.




25.  Kansas City Royals

Big Leagues- To be honest, there is not much to say about this big league squad.  Former top prospect Alex Gordon is still not producing, and Yankee castoff Melky Cabrera is now a Royal.  Billy Butler and Alcides Escobar could be the only bright spots in this lineup but they don't produce much game changing abilities right now.  The Royals had hope that Billy Butler would turn into a 30 home run guy, but that is becoming more of a fantasy.  I'm hoping 3rd base prospect Mike Moustakas makes the big league team, and gives me a reason to be excited to watch the Royals.  

Catcher- Jason Kendall

1st Base- Kila Ka'aihue

2nd Base- Chris Getz

Shortstop- Alcides Escobar

3rd Base- Mike Aviles

Left Field- Alex Gordon

Center Field- Melky Cabrera/ Lorenzo Cain

Right Field- Jeff Francoeur.

DH- Billy Butler

Pitching- Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies, Vin Mazzaro, Sean O'Sullivan

Relief- Joakim Soria, Dusty Hughes

Top 5 Prospects

3B Mike Moustakas- The reason the Royals are not last on our list, is because of their farm system highlighted by Moustakas. After missing the first 2 weeks of last season, the 2nd overall pick in 2007 exploded the rest of the season.  He batted a combined .322 with 36 home runs between Double A and Triple A last season and only struck out 67 times.  Moustakas is a top 5 prospect in all of baseball and he could win the 3rd base job in Kansas City.  If he does he should be on everyone's radar to begin the season.

LHP  John Lamb- Lamb was a 5th round pick in the 2008 draft and wasn't on too many Royals top prospects list before his breakout season in 2010.  Lamb made 28 starts through 3 levels last year and had a 2.38 ERA.   He struck out 159 batters in 147 innings and got all the scouts watching him as a 19 year old.  He may still be too young to reach the big leagues next year,  but look for another monster performance out of the young lefty in 2011.  

 1B Eric Hosmer- Hosmer was the 3rd overall pick in the 2008 draft and another great prospect in the Royals system.  In high Class A and Double A last season the 20 year old hit .338 with 20 home runs and 14 stolen bases.  Hosmer smashed 43 doubles and as he gets older those doubles could turn into home runs.  Hosmer projects as a 30 to 35 home run first basemen, and Royals fans should be excited.  

 C Wil Myers- Here's another young position player who had a monster season as a 19 year old in the Royals farm system.  Last season in Single A Myers hit .315 with a .429 on base percentage.  Myers had 37 doubles to go along with 14 home runs and showed some pop for a young catcher.  He also threw out 33 out 71 base runners trying to steal.  The sky's the limit for this young catcher.  

LHP  Mike Montgomery- The former first round pick in 2008 had a great season in 2010.  The 6'5 lefty posted a 2.61 ERA over 20 starts in 3 different levels.  The lefty has good control and works the fastball changeup combination better than most 20 year old pitchers.  Once he refines his curveball, he will be a dominate force for the Royals.   

Payroll and Direction

The Royals had quite the payroll of 74 million for a team that didn't produce.  They still have the bad contract of Gil Meche on the books, but they aren't going to be contenders until the prospects come up anyways.  The Greinke trade gave the Royals some time to wait for their prospects.  Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain are position players and combine them with Moustakas, Hosmer, and Myers they Royals could become contenders.  The big league team is nothing to get excited about, but with the best farm system scouts can put together look for them in the future.

26.  Cleveland Indians

Big Leagues-  Cleveland Indians fans have a lot to look forward to if the organization can start to put the pieces together.  They have super catcher Carlos Santana and former top prospect Matt Laporta holding down the infield.  Asdrubal Cabrera is as solid as they come and Jason Donald was the main piece in the Cliff Lee trade a couple years ago.  If Grady Sizemore can stay healthy, and Shin-Soo Choo stays hot, this team could be a contender in a few years.  They have nice young pitchers in Carlos Carrasco and Jeanmar Gomez holding down the end of the rotation, and a solid end of the bullpen with Chris Perez and Tony Sipp.  If their top prospects come through they could fill the "weak" links at 2nd and 3rd base.

Catcher-Carlos Santana

1st Base- Matt Laporta

2nd Base- Jason Donald

Shortstop- Asdrubal Cabrera

3rd Base- Jayson Nix/Luis Valbuena

Left Field- Michael Brantley

Center Field- Grady Sizemore

Right Field- Shin-Soo Choo

Dh- Travis Hafner/ Austin Kearns

Pitching- Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson, Carlos Carrasco, Mitch Talbot, Jeanmar Gomez

Relief- Chris Perez, Rafael Perez, Tony Sipp

Top 5 Prospects

2B Jason Kipnis- The Indians have always been known for their deep talented farm system and this year is not an exception.  Kipnis, their 2nd round 2009 pick leads the way after a monster 2010 season.  He was drafted out of Arizona State and as a 23 year old last year hit a combined .307 in Single A and Double A.  Kipnis had some pop for a 2nd baseman also, with 16 home runs and 32 doubles.  He doesn't struggle in any aspect of the game, and he compares well to another former Sun Devil, Dustin Pedroia. 

3B Lonnie Chisenhall- As a 21 year old in Double A last year Chisenhall hit .278 with 17 home runs in only 117 games.  It was kind of a marginal year for the Indians future 3rd basemen.  A positive from last season was Chisenhall's plate discipline.  He only had 77 strikeouts last season, which is impressive for a 21 year old playing in a minor league level which usually runs out top prospects or 25 and 26 year old players.  Like Kipnis he is a big part of the Indians future in the infield.  

LHP Drew Pomeranz- The big lefty was the 5th overall pick in the 2010 draft out Ole Miss.  He is not just a pitcher, but an athlete, also playing football and basketball in high school and comes in at 6'5 230 pounds.  Pomeranz has a solid fastball and above average off speed pitches.  Pomeranz should be rushed through the minors after succeeding in college.  We could be hearing his name within the next couple years.  

RHP  Alex White-  White is another 1st round pitcher drafted by the Indians 15th overall in the 2009 draft out of North Carolina.  White had a great first full season in the minor leagues combining for a 2.45 ERA in 25 starts in Single A and Double A.  White is not overpowering only striking out 117 batters in 150 innings.  Instead he works his locations well and keeps batters off balance. Look for this former Tarheel to be pushed right through the Indians system.

 OF LeVon Washington- Washington was the Indians 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft pick out of Chipola Junior College.  Washington is a high risk high reward prospect, as he did not sign a contract the year before when he was drafted in the first round.  Another problem was when he committed to University of Florida, he could not get in academically.  This does not speak about his raw tools, which justifies the 2nd round pick.  If he stays straightened out in the Indians farm system he could become the best prospect in this list.

Payroll and Direction- The Indians have a great direction with their young talent, but the financial support always seems to lack in Cleveland.  Last year they paid out 60 million to their roster. Since the Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle, and Jim Thome days they seem to produce great players, and have to trade them away when they go looking for monster money.  They tried to lock up a great player in Travis Hafner, but since he signed a big contract, he's been injured every year.  If the Indians can find the money and go out and sign some free agents to go with the young talent, they could be contenders within the next couple years.

27.  Arizona Diamondbacks

Big League-  The Diamondbacks have a abundance of young talent but they still have not been able to put together wins.  With Montero, Drew, Young and Upton they have a very solid core, but their youth is also their problem because their consistency lacks.  This offseason they also traded away Mark Reynolds to the Orioles, a player who added 40 home run power to the middle of the lineup.  They replaced him with Melvin Mora but that is quite the drop off.  The Diamondbacks have the beginnings of a team who can turn it around but it has yet to be seen.

Catcher-Miguel Montero

1st Base- Juan Miranda/ Brandon Allen

2nd Base- Kelly Johnson

Shortstop- Stephen Drew

3rd Base- Melvin Mora

Left Field- Xavier Nady/ Gerardo Parra

Center Field- Chris Young

Right Field- Justin Upton

Pitchers- Joe Saunders, Daniel Hudson, Ian Kennedy, Barry Enright, Zach Duke

Relief- J.J. Putz

Brandon Webb's injury last year really hurt this ball club, and now he is onto the Rangers.  This pitching staff is loaded with potential though, with Daniel Hudson and Ian Kennedy anchoring the middle of the rotation.  Hudson came over from the White Sox in the Edwin Jackson trade, and Kennedy is the Yankees former top prospect.  At times last year both looked dominate and other times they struggled.  Zach Duke could be the real sleeper in the rotation finally getting out of Pittsburgh.  Also look at the addition of J.J. Putz to strengthen their bullpen greatly. 

Top 5 Prospects

RHP Jarrod Parker-  The Diamondbacks top prospect was looking to reach the big leagues last year, before injuring an elbow and spending the entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery.   He has a popping fastball, hard slider, and an above average changeup.  He has regained his velocity after surgery, but the off speed pitches will need time.  The Diamondbacks will most likely start Parker in Double A or Triple A and he could be a late season call up.  

 LHP Tyler Skaggs- Skaggs was the 40th overall pick by the Angels in the 2009 draft and he had a very successful year as a 18 year old in Single A last year.  He was a major piece in the Dan Haren trade, and he didn't disappoint the Diamondbacks last season.  After the Haren trade, he started 4 games for the Diamondbacks farm system and had a 1.69 ERA and a 5 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio.  The lefty will begin next year at Double A with hopefully a Triple A promotion midway through.

SS Chris Owings-  Owings was the 41th overall pick in the 2009 draft, one pick after the Angels took Skaggs.  The young shortstop showed a slick glove at Single A last year with a fielding percentage of .962%.  He batted .298 but had limited pop and only drew 9 walks compared to 50 strikeouts.  The former South Carolina commit will have at least a couple years in the minors before we hear his name in the big leagues.  

 3B Bobby Borchering-  Borchering is another high draft pick in the 2009 draft.  This time the Diamondbacks chose the third basemen 16th overall.  Borchering already has a major league ready frame coming in at 6'3 and 200 pounds.  He hit 15 home runs and had 31 doubles in 135 games last year as a 19 year old in Single A.  He is another prospect that we won't see for a few years, but the 3rd base path is clear with the Diamondbacks trading away Mark Reynolds this offseason.

 OF Marc Krauss-  The Diamondbacks selected the Ohio University Bobcat in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft, and he showed his power in the 2010 season.  In high A ball last year the outfielder hit .302 with 25 home runs and 87 RBI's.  He is more mature than most of the Diamondbacks other prospects and if he keeps up his hitting he could be fast tracked to the majors, but we still don't see his ETA to be before 2012.  

Payroll and Direction

The Diamondbacks have a solid direction ahead of them, but with only an average farm system, they are going to need to succeed with their young big league talent and free agents.  It was surprising to see them shopping Justin Upton at the winter meetings because he is the cornerstone of this team.  Last year the Diamondbacks paid players almost 80 million dollars, and didn’t have much to show for it.  They were still stuck into paying Eric Byrnes the 11 million in his contract after his career fizzled.  Look for this Dback team to have potential, but not be consistent enough to make a playoff push.

28.  Seattle Mariners

Big League Team- The Seattle Mariners play in the AFC West of Major League Baseball. The American League West is my least favorite division in baseball, and the Mariners are at the bottom of it. Any of the four teams in the division could win in any given year, but the Mariners don't look poised to do it any time soon. Their two bright spots remained Felix Hernandez and Ichiro Suzuki last season, but Ichiro is aging and we expect him to steadily decline over the next couple years. Ichiro again had 200 hits last year and Hernandez won the Cy Young, and if that isn't enough to propel a team out of the last spot in a division with Oakland and the Angels then I don't know what is. They just let Ryan Rowland- Smith slip away and Chone Figgins might have a better year this season, but don't expect this team to be too far from where they finished last year. Sorry Mariners fans.

Here is their 2011 opening day lineup:

Catcher- Adam Moore

First Base- Justin Smoak

Second Base- Chone Figgins

Third Base- Josh Wilson

Shortstop- Jack Wilson/Brendan Ryan

Left Field- Michael Saunders

Center Field- Franklin Gutierrez

Right Field- Ichiro Suzuki

Designated Hitter- Jack Cust/Milton Bradley

Pitching Staff-

Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas, Doug Fister, Erik Bedard, and Michael Pineda.

The relevant fantasy players in this lineup are clear. Ichiro will provide hits and average and maybe the occasional stolen base, but don't count on too much from the aging outfielder. Jack Cust might not be a bad bench player to sub in on days when other teams are not playing. He will provide an occasional power surge and hopefully you hit him on the right day. Felix Hernandez is always good for a fantasy lineup, but don't overpay for him, the Mariners don't. Chone Figgins has speed and will steal some bases, but he was also in the top 5 in the league in the caught stealing category last year. There isn't much to be said about the rest of their lineup, particularly the pitching staff. We say stay away from their other pitchers because even if they put up mediocre numbers in ERA or Strikeouts, none of them will win more than 10 games. In my opinion, there is not a first round pick on this team. Don't overpay for mediocrity.

Top 5 Prospects:

RHP Michael Pineda-  The 21 year old from the Dominican had a great season in the minor leagues even after missing most of the 2009 season with arm problems.  He has top of the line stuff if he can develop an adequate change up as he tore up Double A with a 2.22 ERA without one.  The Mariners will give him every chance to win a spot in the rotation to begin 2011, but they may send him back to the minors for more seasoning.

2B Dustin Ackley-  The Mariners thought they had the next Chase Utley when they signed the former North Carolina Tarheel to a $6 million dollar signing bonus in 2009.  But, the young 2^nd baseball failed to overly impress by only hitting 7 home runs and having a .267 batting average in his first full season in the minor leagues.  The Mariners now hope he can shake off the first season jitters and succeed in Triple A in 2011.

2B/SS Nick Franklin- The 27th overall pick in the 2009 draft had a great first season in single A and double A.  The 19 year old batted .283 with 23 home runs and 25 stolen bases.  Franklin split time between shortstop and 2nd base, but projects long term as a shortstop because of Dustin Ackley at second base.  Franklin should start the year in Double A with a projected ETA in the big leagues of 2013. 

OF Guillermo Pimente- The Mariners signed the 17 year old Dominican outfielder to a 2 million dollar signing bonus and shipped him to rookie ball immediately.  There he showed his youth and and potential in 51 games.  The youngster only hit .250 but had 7 doubles 6 triples and 6 homeruns showing his long term power potential.  Pimente will need to show more plate discipline as he only drew 5 walks and struck out 58 times.  He'll begin next season in Single A.

LHP Mauricio Robles- The Mariners acquired Robles from the Tigers in a mid season deal for Jarrod Washburn and he now has become one of their top prospects.  The left hander spent his 2010 season between AA and AAA and impressed having  a combined ERA of 3.99 over 27 starts.  Robles has dynamic stuff striking out 154 batters over 142 innings, but he needs to cut down on the walks before he becomes a reliable major leaguer.  Robles walked 1 batter every two innings in his 142 innings last year.  The 22 year old should begin the season at Triple A but we wouldn't be surprised to see him be called up this year. 

Payroll and Direction- Last season the Mariners paid out close 93 million dollars. Their highest paid player was Ichiro Suzuki at 18 million dollars. Their best value player was pitcher Felix Hernandez who made just 7.2 million dollars last year. That may not sound like a value, but in today's market Felix is  underpaid. The Seattle Mariners are heading down the wrong road and it will take a lot of time to rebuild this program. Their talent is steadily aging and their prospects are quickly becoming big leaguers. It's all happening very fast and it could be detrimental to the talent they do have in their minor league system. We don't expect them to climb out the cellar for at least the next two years and maybe more depending on how they handle the imminent adversity.

29.  Pittsburgh Pirates
Big League Team- Every baseball season fans from every team have the hopes of the new season, for the Pirates the hopes get dashed a little quicker than most teams.  This is a team who never goes out on the free agent market to make the big splash.  They have started to push their top prospects to the majors with Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, and Jose Tabata, but we still have the Pirates as one of the worst team in baseball.  The projected lineup for the Pirates looks like this:

Catcher- Chris Snyder/Ryan Doumit
1st Base- Lyle Overbay
2nd Base- Neil Walker
Shortstop-  Ronny Cedeno
3rd Base- Pedro Alvarez
Left Field- Jose Tabata
Center Field- Andrew McCutchen

Right Field- Garrett Jones

The Pirates have a very solid lineup, and a very fantasy relevant outfield.  With Tabata, McCutchen, Jones, and Alvarez the Pirates have a nice core, but with the lack of money in free agency they should continue to be found at the bottom of the league. 

The pitching staff is where the Pirates get worse.  Right now the projected pitching staff looks like this:
Paul Maholm, Ross Ohlendorf,  James McDonald, Kevin Correia, Charlie Morton.
None of the Pirates five starters would be any better than a fifth starter on any of the top 10 teams in the league.  The rotation isn't the only problem as the Pirates will have Evan Meek and Joel Hanrahan closing out games for the foreseeable future.

Top 5 prospects-
RHP James Taillon-  With Pedro Alvarez entrenched as the Pirates third basemen, the title of Pirates top prospect goes to their number one in the 2010 draft. The Pirates took high school pitcher James Taillon with the second overall pick and signed him to a Pirates record $6.5 million dollar signing bonus.  He has two plus pitches in his fastball that sits from 95 to 97 mph and his hard breaking curve ball.  Like most high school pitchers the 6'7 flame thrower will need to develop a change up before we see him in the big leagues around 2013.

RHP Stetson Allie- Allie is another Pirates draft pick in 2010.  The second round pick has an even higher ceiling than the 2nd overall pick in Taillon due to his velocity that routinely hits 100 mph.  If Allie can ever figure out his location problems, he could be fast tracked to the majors in a relief role.

C Tony Sanchez-  Sanchez is a former number 1 pick out of Boston College, and is as solid as they come behind the plate.  He his limited power potential, but that isn’t uncommon with catchers.  Sanchez is one of the top defensive catchers in the minors and at 22 years of age could see the majors soon.  Unfortunately for 2011, two of the three top paid players for the Pirates in 2011 will be catchers, Chris Snyder and Ryan Doumit.

RHP Luis Heredia-  Heredia was another piece of the Pirates plan to stockpile young pitchers this year.  Heredia was seen as the top international pitcher, and the Pirates signed the 6 foot 6, 16 year old righter to a $2.6 million dollar deal.  At 16 his velocity is already in the 93 mph range and should increase as his body fills out.  But, his youth also makes his hard to project and he could be a stud or a waste of $2.6 million dollars.

LHP Rudy Owens- The 23 year old lefty had a great year in double A, and won the ERA title for the Eastern League.  The lefty has great control and had a 5 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio.  His upside is limited but should be a mainstay at the bottom of the Pirates rotation or in long relief possibly starting this year if he can put together a great spring training.

Payroll and Direction- The early part of free agency was very Pirate like.  Their big free agent signings have been, Kevin Correia and Lyle Overbay.  Granted they will help the team, but it's far from the splash they needed to make to drag themselves out of the cellar.  In 2010, their payroll was around 37 million dollars and it will probably increase to around 40 million this year with the top three paid players making 5.1 to 5.8 million dollars, in Chris Snyder, Paul Maholm, and Ryan Doumit.  Although, we like the direction the Pirates are moving with signing three powerful young arms, they are far from major league ready, and ownership will need to spend some money surround them with solid free agents. It will probably be years until the Pirates put everything together and become a contender, but keep your eye out for them.

30.  Houston Astros

Big League Team-

A combination of awful contracts, strange draft picks, and average young talent lands the Houston Astros in the worst position in baseball. In 2010, the Astros had a payroll of 94 million dollars and were one of the worst, and least exciting teams in the major leagues. The Astros are probably not the worst team in the majors right now, but after a close examination of their team direction, the future looks pretty grim in Houston. If the season started today their position players would look like this:

Catcher- Jason Castro

1st Base- Brett Wallace

2nd Base- Bill Hall/ Jeff Keppinger

Shortstop- Clint Barmes

3rd Base- Chris Johnson

Left Field- Carlos Lee

Center Field- Michael Bourn

Right Field- Hunter Pence

That lineup is the reason the Astros may be the least exciting team in baseball. Their entire infield is compiled of mid level prospects and Major League's baseball's most boring journeymen. For fantasy purposes the outfield is the only thing to look at. Hunter Pence is an average outfielder, and Carlos Lee is not the same player he was when he was a top fantasy outfielder. We'd say Michael Bourn is the most exciting player on the team strictly for his base stealing ability and outstanding plays in center field.

The Astros pitching staff does have some promise, even without Roy Oswalt. With a rotation of: Wandy Rodriguez, Brett Myers, J.A. Happ, Bud Norris and Ryan Rowland-Smith the Astros have 5 solid starters. But with Wandy Rodriguez struggling to improve and J.A. Happ not having number one pitcher stuff, it will be impossible to replace the starts given a team by a real ace pitcher.

Top 5 Prospects

RHP Jordan Lyles- Another reason why the Astros are last on our list is because their top prospect projects as a number three starter at best, and that is Jordan Lyles. The 19 year old pitcher had success in Double A last year sporting a 3.12 ERA in 21 games before moving to Triple A to end the year. He sits around 90 MPH though, and really does not have top of the line stuff or control. At 20 years old next year he will begin his year in Triple A and could be looking at a September call up.

2B/OF Delino Deshields Jr.- Son of former big leaguer Delino Deshields, he is a very good prospects, but one of the biggest surprises of the 2010 draft. He was looked at as a mid to late first round draft pick before the Astros swooped him up with the eighth overall pick. You do not see many 5'9 190 pound players being taken top ten in the draft, but the Astros decided he was worth the risk. He is a natural outfielder but the Astros will move him to 2nd base to try and develop him. That will stunt Deshields growth at first and we won't see him until at least 2014.

RHP Mike Foltynewicz- He was the 19th overall pick in the 2010 entry draft after the Astros took Deshields. He has great stuff with an A+ fastball and curveball, but his consistency kept him from being a top ten pick. His velocity would vary from start to start from 90 to 97 and it could not be explained. He was solid at rookie ball with a 4 ERA through 12 games last season but we won't see him for a few years.

OF Ariel Ovando- The Astros paid their biggest signing bonus in history of 2.6 million dollars to the Dominican outfielder this summer. He is only 17 years old and it is almost impossible to project international players who have never played in the United States. He could be a five tool stud, or a complete dud.

2B Jimmy Paredes- The Astros picked up Paredes when they traded Lance Berkman and he had a nice breakout season for a mid level prospect. He has always had a nice glove, but he finally started hitting this year and his getting on base more led to 50 stolen bases in 133 games. With the Astros saying they want to move Deshields to 2nd base it has yet to be seen the plans they have for Paredes.

The Astro's prospects are very underwhelming.  Especially for a team who just traded their ace pitcher midway through last season.  It will be quite a while before we see any of their prospects making a big splash in the big leagues.

Direction and Payroll

For a team with a 94 million dollar payroll last year, they should not bring this much disappointment to their fans. They got locked into a long contract with Carlos Lee, and now a slightly above average outfielder is making 19 million dollars a year for them. They don't have any stud prospects coming up throughout the rank so they are going to need to look for bargain deals like Ryan Rowland-Smith to buy them time to get out of
the bad contracts they have stuck themselves with.