Baseball - Position Rankings

Outfield Projections For 2010

Outfield is always one of deepest, and most important, positions in fantasy baseball.  It is vital to have a couple of high-end producers and also mix in some high-upside guys that provide a good return on your draft day investment.  You have a lot of young guys near the top of the board now, risk/reward guys will clutter the position.  Be advised, it's okay to take a few high upside guys, but make sure you don't pass up solid performers.

Tier 1

Ryan Braun-26

Braun has now hit 30 or more home runs in three straight seasons, and is a five-category fantasy contributor.  He is a high first round pick, no doubt about it.

Matt Kemp-26

Kemp continues to improve, and 2010 could see him reach the 30-30 plateau.  He should be the second outfielder off draft boards in most leagues and the talent around him in the Dodgers’ lineup gives him nice upside.

Matt Holliday-30

Holliday enjoyed his return to the National League upon being traded at mid-season to St. Louis from Oakland, hitting .353 with 13 HR and 53 RBI in 63 games with the Cardinals.     He is a five-category player who should contribute a solid stolen base total to go along with his other stellar numbers.

Justin Upton-23  (Huge Upside)

Upton struck out a lot in 2009 (137 times in 526 at-bats), but otherwise had a nice season.  He has huge upside given his youth, with a 30-30 season a possibility if he can get on base a little more often.

Tier 2

Jacoby Ellsbury-27

Ellsbury offers nice production in three categories (SB, AVG., Runs), and his HR and RBI production are adequate when grouped with his other production.  All in all, he’s a top-5 fantasy outfielder who should just be reaching his prime.

Carl Crawford-29

Crawford returned to form in 2009, as he enjoyed better health.  He offers elite base stealing with solid power along with a nice batting average.

Ichiro Suzuki-36

Suzuki topped 200 hits and 25 stolen bases for the ninth straight season in 2009.  Given his age his steal totals should continue to slowly erode, but he still offers a nice batting average.  There is some risk, but Ichiro still belongs in the top tier of fantasy outfielders.

Jason Bay-32

Bay’s move to the Big Apple hurts his fantasy value, but he stills has solid fantasy value.  He does not offer a high batting average, but his power numbers compensate for that.

Grady Sizemore-28

Let’s try to forget 2009 ever happened when taking a look at Sizemore.  Ok, Sizemore had an injury-riddled campaign last season, which brought down his overall numbers.  The talent around him is not great, but bet on a rebound somewhere between last year and his 30-30 campaign in 2008.

Jayson Werth-31

Werth proved that 2008 was not a fluke by setting career highs in home runs and RBI.  He also offers nice speed potential and a hitter-friendly home park bodes well for a repeat of last season.

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Tier 3

Bobby Abreu-36

Abreu is no longer a threat for 25-30 home runs, but he otherwise offers nice across the board production.  Given his age, he may start to decline but barring a significant injury he shouldn’t take a major step back this season.

Carlos Lee-34

Lee has been as consistent as they come, hitting at least 24 home runs in 10 straight seasons and reaching 100 RBI in six out of the last seven seasons.  Age is bringing a slow decline in peripheral skills, but if you can find steals elsewhere Lee should be a nice addition to your fantasy team.

Andre Ethier-28  (Upside)

Ethier had a breakout 2009, despite struggling against left-handed pitching (.194 AVG).  If he can improve against southpaws this season, there is some upside in this projection.

Alex Rios-29  (Upside)

Rios had a down year in 2009, especially after being traded to the White Sox.  In 41 games with Chicago, he hit just .199 with three home runs and nine RBI.  A full year at hitter-friendly US Cellular Field should help him rebound this season, with a 20-20 season a solid possibility.

Shin-Soo Choo-28

Choo had what could be classified as a career year in 2009, despite striking out 151 times.  Another 20-20 campaign could be on the horizon for 2010, which is attractive to fantasy owners.

Adam Lind-27  (Upside)

Lind had a breakout season in 2009, and should continue to provide fantasy owners with good power numbers along with a nice batting average for many years to come.  Don’t look for any stolen bases though.

Curtis Granderson-29

Granderson was traded to the New York Yankees during the offseason, which is good news for his all-around numbers.  The combination of power and speed he displays is definitely an asset to fantasy owners.

Nick Markakis-26

Markakis is a solid four-category producer and at his age he should be entering his prime.

Tier 4

B.J. Upton-26

Upton has seen declines in batting average and OBP over the past two seasons, but his stolen base totals remain near elite level.   How much power he can display is still a mystery, but at his age Upton does still have some upside potential.

Raul Ibanez-38

Ibanez had 22 home runs before the All-Star break last season, and then a groin injury helped his second half drop-off.   The injury and his age could drop his value significantly on draft day, but an excellent lineup around him and a hitter-friendly home park helps his situation.

Shane Victorino-29

Victorino battled leg injuries last season, which led to a drop in stolen bases.  He should be able to return to the 30 steal plateau this season, and reach double digits in home runs.  All-in-all, “The Flying Hawaiian” is a solid fantasy option.

Manny Ramirez-38

Ramirez was suspended for 50 games last season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, and was quite on the same level after his return.  Given his age, he may start to decline sometime soon.

Jay Bruce-23  (Huge Upside)

Bruce was limited to just 101 games last season due to a wrist injury.   He is still very young and has a high ceiling as long as he can remain healthy and improve against left-handers (.210 last season).

Nelson Cruz-30 (Upside)

Cruz had a nice first full major league season, as he proved to be a late bloomer.  He did fade some in the second half of the season as he battled some nagging injuries.  He should at least repeat, if not exceed, his 2009 numbers this season.

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Tier 5

Hunter Pence-27

Pence has hit 25 home runs and reached double digits steals in each of the last two seasons, and should be able to hit those benchmarks again in 2010.  He is at an age where he should be entering his prime, so there is some upside potential as well.

Carlos Beltran-33 (Proceed With Caution)

Beltran will miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery on his troublesome right knee earlier in January.  Reports have suggested he will be out 8-12 weeks, which means he could miss the first month of the season and perhaps longer.  But if he can return to health, there is a chance he could exceed these projections.

Denard Span-26

Span had a nice first full season in the majors, and he has secured a full-time spot in the Twins’ outfield now.  Don’t look for big home run totals, but he does provide a nice steal total and a good batting average.

Adam Dunn-30

Dunn’s streak of 40-homer seasons came to an end last season, but he still a very good power hitting option for fantasy owners.  Don’t expect help in batting average or steals though.

Carlos Quentin-28

Foot issues and wrist issues limited Quentin to just 99 games last season and prevented him from repeating his 2008 success.  A return to health should signal a rebound, and he may come cheaply relative to his production on draft day.

Andrew McCutchen-23  (Upside)

McCutchen had a nice major league debut last season, and possesses elite level speed.  He also has nice power potential from the top of the Pirate’s batting order.  He is a name to keep an eye on in keeper leagues, and seems destined to win a stolen base crown some day.

Chris Coghlan-25

Coghlan won the NL Rookie of the Year last season, based at least partially on his stellar second half  (.372, 7 HR, 32 RBI).  He is not an elite power hitter, but a nice batting average and the potential for an upswing in steals makes him an adequate fantasy option.

Nate McLouth-28

McLouth has been a solid source of power and speed for his fantasy owners the last two seasons.  His batting average leaves something to be desired, but a 20-20 season is not out of the question.

Josh Hamilton-29

2009 was a lost season for Hamilton, as he was limited to just 89 games due to various injuries.  With better health should bring a rebound, given the talent around him in the Rangers’ lineup and a hitter-friendly home field.

Torii Hunter-35

Hunter had 17 home runs and hit .305 during the first half of 2009 before a groin injury derailed him.   He is a solid across the board producer, but as he ages the risk of missed time due to injury grows.

Nolan Reimold-26

Reimold underwent surgery to repair a frayed Achilles tendon in September, and there is some concern he may not be 100% when Spring Training starts.  If he is ready to go by Opening Day, he is a rising star and could be a solid fantasy option.

Tier 6

Johnny Damon-36

Damon, who is not yet signed for 2010, hit 17 of his 24 home runs last season at home at the new Yankee Stadium.  He is unlikely to return to the Yankees, so a move to another team would be negative for his power numbers.  Keep an eye on where he lands before considering drafting him.

Adam Jones-25 (Upside)

Jones battled an ankle issue which caused him to miss the last six weeks of last season and he also missed time with a back injury after crashing into an outfield wall.  If he can stay healthy this season, he should continue his rise to stardom.

Brad Hawpe-31

Hawpe has topped 20 home runs and 80 RBI for four straight seasons, but his struggles against left-handers (.243 last season) may lead to a reduction in playing time this season.  Otherwise, expect similar numbers to his recent history.

Ryan Ludwick-32

Ludwick followed up a career year in 2008 with a lackluster follow-up, at least by comparison.  But his HR and RBI production was decent, and he should be able to repeat similar production this season.

Alfonso Soriano-34

Soriano battled injuries again in 2009, and his age brings some risk of injury again in 2010.  The Cubs have hired hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, who worked with Soriano in Texas, so that could help him be able to rebound.

Michael Bourn-27

It’s all about one category with Bourn: stolen bases.  His batting average last season was driven by a .367 BABIP, so that is unlikely to be repeated.   He is not a difference maker in HR or RBI.

J.D. Drew-34

Drew is always an injury risk, so that brings down his fantasy value.  That said, he is part of a solid Boston offense and should continue to be fairly productive as long as he is healthy enough to reap the benefits.

Tier 7

Vernon Wells-31

Wells set a career high in stolen bases last season, but otherwise declined across the board.  His upside is not what it once was.

Corey Hart-28

Hart missed time last season with a bruised foot and also had an emergency appendectomy in August.  He still strikes out far too much (92 times last season), and if his stolen base total remains down he’s just your average outfielder.  That said, if he can stay healthy a 20-20 season is a possibility.

Michael Cuddyer-31

Cuddyer played 34 games at 1B last season, so he is also eligible there in virtually all fantasy leagues.  He has yet to string together back-to-back strong power seasons, so don’t expect 30 home runs in 2010.

Mike Cameron-37

Cameron signed with the Red Sox during the offseason, and looks likely to step into an open spot in LF, which was vacated when Jason Bay left via free agency.  He offers 20 home run  potential and not much else, but a move to hitter-friendly Fenway Park is a definite positive.

Rajai Davis-29

Davis will help fantasy owner in one category, which is stolen bases.  Don’t bet on a repeat of his .305 average from last season, as the .365 BABIP he maintained reeks of luck that will not be repeated.   He is a good late-round draft pick and little else.

Magglio Ordonez-36

Ordonez’s days as a power hitter seem to be over.  He offers a very good batting average and little else at this point.

Tier 8

Dexter Fowler-24
Cody Ross-29
Kyle Blanks-24
Jason Kubel-28
Colby Rasmus-24
Carlos Gonzalez-24