2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings – Top Fantasy Baseball Picks 2012
2012 MLB Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings – 2012 MLB Fantasy Baseball Player Projections
Bring this list of 2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings to your draft. It’s always a good idea to prepare for your draft by looking at mock drafts and average draft positions, but don’t get caught flipping through multiple lists and notes when you’re on the clock. Click Here for the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings Printer-Friendly version. Next to each MLB player’s name is their 2012 projections. These rankings are solely based on player value, meaning that perceived draft position does not influence the following MLB Fantasy Baseball Rankings
C – 1B – 2B – SS – 3B – SP – RP – OF – DH
2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings -Top 20 Catchers
You’re worried about wasting a high draft pick on a catcher who’s not going to have much impact on your team, but at the same time, you don’t want to completely waste a draft pick on a catcher who will have zero impact. Draft your catchers based on player value.
1. Brian McCann .264 BA, 23 HR, 81 RBI – For a position that lacks consistency, Brian McCann has consistently been better than any other catcher in the game.
2. Mike Napoli .293 BA, 25 HR, 73 RBI – He set career highs in homers, runs, RBI and batting average despite not being an everyday player last season.
3. Carlos Santana .263 BA, 30 HR, 81 RBI – He had a surprising low BABIP (.263) so he wasn’t the luckiest guy last season. But if his luck is just a fraction better he’s got a chance for a great season in 2012.
4. Matt Wieters .261 BA, 24 HR, 72 RBI – His power introduced itself last season as he made incremental improvements in all major baseball statistics.
5. Buster Posey .295 BA, 20 HR, 65 RBI – His power was a bit down before Scott Cousins ran through him last season. Knee injuries are scary but his youth allowed me to keep him in the top 5.
6. Joe Mauer .282 BA, 18 HR, 72 RBI – Although he may never hit 28 home runs with a .365 batting average again, don’t forget about him. He’s a health risk but what catcher isn’t?
7. Alex Avila .282 BA, 21 HR, 63 – Avila broke out last season, showing power (19 homers), patience (13.2 percent walk rate) and consistency (.295 BA).
8. Jesus Montero .279 BA, 19 HR, 61 RBI – This Montero only played 3 games at catcher in 2011 but if he’s catcher eligible in your league he would make it into the top 10.
9. Russell Martin .243 BA, 20 HR, 65 RBI – You would have found him a little higher if it weren’t for his consistently bad BABIP and his batting average that declined for the fourth straight season.
10. J.P Arencibia .241 BA, 20 HR, 69 RBI – He’s got the power to start for your fantasy team but if he can have a batting average like the first half of 2011 (.255) and not the second half (.215) he could be well worth the late pick.
11. Wilson Ramos .265 BA, 20 HR, 61 RBI – He showed off his power last season but needs to work on his average, especially on the road where he hit .222 in 207 at bats.
12. Yadier Molina .281 BA, 15 HR, 57 RBI – He’ll hit for average and he’s in the midst of a consistent run. His numbers won’t be like last season but he is still solid in all five categories.
13. Geovany Soto .244 BA, 15 HR, 52 RBI – You don’t know which Soto you’ll get but hopefully it’s the one in 2010 that had a refined approach at the plate(.280 BA) and not the one from last year (.228).
14. Jonathan Lucroy .252 BA, 12 HR, 49 RBI – He wore down in the second half of 2011, ending up with numbers that were in line with his minor league statistics.
15. John Buck .243 BA, 15 HR, 50 RBI – Everyone knew his average would drop in Florida but going from .281 to .227 was a bit much. Expect numbers in between those of last year and the season prior.
16. Chris Iannetta .221 BA, 13 HR, 45 RBI – We most likely haven’t seen his best season. This year could be it for the 29-year-old.
17. Kurt Suzuki .254 BA, 15 HR, 52 RBI – Batting average has dropped for a third year in a row and there aren’t many runs to be had in Oakland.
18. Salvador Perez .263 BA, 13 HR, 45 RBI – Expect 10 to 15 home runs, no steals, a good amount of playing time and a solid batting average.
19. Miguel Olivo .251 BA, 16 HR, 46 RBI – Put up mid-tier catcher numbers last season. If you want an insurance policy behind one of those oft-injured guys listed above, Olivo wouldn’t be a bad guy to have.
20. Jarrod Saltalamacchia .225 BA, 12 HR, 51 RBI – “Salty” will be a free agent on seasons end and will have a young prospect riding his heels ‘til then. If he has a breakout year in Boston this may be it.
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings – Top 25 First Basemen
Of course, Albert Pujols has the most value in our 2012 fantasy baseball player rankings but there are some surprises we have four our 1b rankings.
1. Albert Pujols .302 BA, 42 HR, 111 RBI – The best player in baseball had an “off” year last season– .299, 37 home runs, 99 RBIs and 105 runs. We all know he’s past his peak but lucky for his owners King Albert still has plenty left in the tank.
2. Miguel Cabrera .321 BA, 33 HR, 102 RBI – When you have 30 home runs and you were lacking in that area you know you’re doing something right. Cabrera will hit well above .300 get you 30-plus homers and more than 100 RBIs once again.
3. Adrian Gonzalez .313 BA, 29 HR, 108 RBI – He took advantage of the stacked lineup in Boston, peppering the Monster with doubles (45), hit a great average (.338) and put up gaudy run and RBI totals.
4. Joey Votto .311 BA, 28 HR, 102 RBI – He’s the last first baseman that will get you a great average while raking in the doubles, home runs, RBIs and runs. Expect MVP-like numbers from the 2010 National League MVP.
5. Prince Fielder .282 BA, 33 HR, 100 RBI – Fielder will bat alongside one of the greatest bats in the game. Stepping away from Miller Park may hurt him a little but he’s still going to bring the power to a very offensive lineup.
6. Mark Teixeira .255 BA, 36 HR, 105 RBI – He would be higher up on the list if it weren’t for his average. Expect great power numbers for this first baseman surrounded by talent.
7. Lance Berkman .284 BA, 27 HR, 91 RBI – With Albert gone Berkman will trade in his outfielders’ glove for a first baseman’s mitt. Expectations of him will be high but his numbers will definitely be worthy of a top 10 first baseman.
8. Freddie Freeman .284 BA, 25 HR, 82 RBI – The Braves’ top prospect will help you in every category except steals. With another year under his belt he should be well worth a mid-round pick.
9. Paul Konerko .292 BA, 25 HR, 85 RBI – He surprised a lot of people in 2010 and then surprised those same people again in 2011. He’ll be 36 in March but don’t expect that team keep his power numbers down.
10. Ryan Howard .240 BA, 32 HR, 84 RBI – After such a long rehab it’s hard to project a strong season in 2012 but it’s hard to forget about the Howard of just a few years ago. He’ll get you home runs and RBIs but don’t expect a lot of anything else.
11. Eric Hosmer .283 BA, 24 HR, 84 RBI – He’ll fill the stat sheet for you and he’s got a very good chance of finding himself into the top 10 a month or two into the season.
12. Kendrys Morales .280 BA, 22 HR, 80 RBI – He was the Angels’ best hitter in 2008 and in the beginning of 2009 but after missing last season it’s hard to predict the kind of season he’ll have. Keep an eye on him in the spring and go from there.
13. Gaby Sanchez .263 BA, 21 HR, 82 RBI – He was dynamite in the first half of 2011 but a rough backend put his numbers finished off almost identical to the previous season. Playing within a much improved lineup can only help him.
14. Ike Davis .277 BA, 20 HR, 73 RBI – Before an ankle injury took him out of the lineup, Davis was showing signs of improvement over his rookie season.
15. Brandon Belt .261 BA, 22 HR, 73 RBI – He was in and out of the lineup last season but this Giraffe should be good to go once he starts games consistently.
16. Carlos Pena .244 BA, 27 HR, 75 RBI – Pena will flirt with 30+ homers and threaten 80+ RBI while he is drain to your batting average.
17. Mark Trumbo .255 BA, 25 HR, 71 RBI – He may not get a full serving of bats but he has the potential to make an impact on a team that just brought him up.
18. Brandon Allen .244 BA, 24 HR, 62 RBI – He struggled last year in his first season in Oakland but if he can reduce his strikeout totals, his plus-power and patience could help him help you.
19. Adam Lind .254 BA, 26 HR, 59 RBI – He’s a useful third-tier first baseman that offers you some power but not much of anything else.
20. Mitch Moreland .250 BA, 20 HR, 53 RBI – First base is the one spot in Texas that is weak and Moreland may be out of the picture if he doesn’t show them what he hasn’t showed them.
Honorable Mentions for 1B – Justin Morneau, Derrek Lee, Justin Smoak, Todd Helton, Aubrey Huff, Anthony Rizzo
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings – Top 25 Second Basemen
A few years back, Chase Utley would have been an early-round draft pick, but nowadays there are new names emerging as the top 2b fantasy baseball players
1. Robinson Cano .310 BA, 29 HR, 107 RBI – He has become the most consistent producer in one of the best offenses in the game. He doesn’t steal many bases but his power numbers make him the obvious no. 1 second baseman in the league.
2. Dustin Pedroia .304 BA, 20 HR, 90 RBI – Pedroia racked up the runs, stole a career-high 26 bags and ranked second at the position in OPS (.861). While he has the stolen bases that Cano doesn’t, his power is not that of Cano, keeping him a step behind Cano in the rankings.
3. Ian Kinsler .270 BA, 25 HR, 86 RBI – Ian Kinsler hit the 30-30 plateau for the second time in his career in 2011. He’s got the power not many second baseman have but his low average last season (.255) keeps him at no. 3.
4. Chase Utley .265 BA, 15 HR, 80 RBI – After four great seasons (2005-2009) injuries in the last two seasons hurt his value. If he can stay healthy he’s good for 90 runs, 20 homers, 90 RBI and 20 stolen bases.
5. Dan Uggla .243 BA, 31 HR, 82 RBI – A rough stretch last season hurt his totals but the fact of the matter is Uggla will still deliver runs, home runs and RBIs.
6. Brandon Phillips .281 BA, 18 HR, 77 RBI – Phillips has been a solid fantasy performer since joining the Reds in 2006. Expect much of the same from one of the most durable players at the position.
7. Rickie Weeks .276 BA, 22 HR, 75 RBI – When healthy he produces with the best of them but he has missed considerable time in four of the past five seasons. He’s one of the better options but you’ll want a backup plan.
8. Ben Zobrist .266 BA, 18 HR, 82 RBI – He’s a double-digit homer and a steal guy who is solid in all other categories.
9. Neil Walker .278 BA, 14 HR, 72 RBI – He’s entering his prime in an improving lineup. He won’t be a major run producer, but he’s definitely worth a starter position.
10. Howard Kendrick .277 BA, 16 HR, 69 RBI – See Albert Pujols…You can’t go wrong with Kendrick when you need your second baseman later in the draft.
11. Jemile Weeks .293 BA, 5 HR, 56 RBI – Weeks is the catalyst for the Oakland A’s offense. He lacks power but takes care of everything else you would need from your second baseman.
12. Dustin Ackley .278 BA, 15 HR, 61 RBI – Bank on a solid growth year on the Mariners’ top prospect. He’s got all the tools to find himself in the top 10 by the end of the year, the only problem is the Mariners don’t offer him much.
13. Danny Espinosa .243 BA, 18 HR, 63 RBI – Espinosa showed flashes of being a star in 2011. He’s not far from becoming a 25-25 guy.
14. Aaron Hill .252 BA, 14 HR, 61 RBI – He turned it on after being traded to Arizona late in the season. His 21 stolen bases were nearly half of his career totals after playing seven seasons.
15. Jason Kipnis BA, .272 BA, 14 HR, 58 RBI – Good upside here for a young middle infielder in a young developing lineup.
16. Daniel Murphy .290 BA, 8 HR, 53 RBI – His additional eligibility gives you something to work with down the road as injuries to your starters occur.
17. Kelly Johnson .235 BA, 19 HR, 62 RBI – He’s one of the streakier batters at the positions but his bat is stronger than most second baseman. He is definitely worth the late selection.
18. Brian Roberts .240 BA, 6 HR, 47 RBI – He’s a late-round pick with upside.
19. Gordon Beckham .245 BA, 12 HR, 48 RBI – He’s capable of decent numbers across the board but hasn’t been able to prove that so far in his career.
20. Johnny Giavotella .252 BA, 7 HR, 46 RBI – The 24-year-old will have every chance to succeed in Kansas City. Keep an eye on him.
Honorable Mentions for 2B – Alexi Casilla, Jose Altuve, Mark Ellis, Freddy Sanchez, Darwin Barney, Orlando Hudson
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings – Top 25 Shortstops
Many people have asked us when is the best time to draft Derek Jeter – read our top 25 shortstops and find out
1. Troy Tulowitzki .306 BA, 28 HR, 102 RBI – He led the position in RBIs and tied for the lead in homers despite missing games because of a hip injury. Expect even better numbers this season.
2. Hanley Ramirez .288 BA, 24 HR, 91 RBI – He had an off year last season after going number one in most drafts. Expect 2010-like numbers and don’t hesitate on taking him late in the first or early in the second.
3. Starlin Castro .311 BA, 12 HR, 74 RBI – Chicago has something special in Castro. He lacks power but does everything else very well. Expect “Star”lin to be just that.
4. Asdrubal Cabrera .274 BA, 23 HR, 82 RBI – I wouldn’t expect another 25 jacks from him this season but the numbers will still be worthy of a top 5 ranking. He’s a second-tier shortstop that you should grab if available in the fifth round.
5. Jose Reyes .322 BA, 9 HR, 66 RBI – If healthy Reyes could easily hit over .300, hit 15+ homers, drive in 70 and get you 35-40 steals in his new threads. Playing beside HanRam won’t hurt either.
6. Elvis Andrus .275 BA, 4 HR, 65 RBI – He’s a two-category beast with areas to improve on. He’s young, but definitely worth the pick with his steal (37 in 2011) and runs (96 in 2011) output.
7. Jimmy Rollins .264 BA, 15 HR, 64 RBI – This former National League MVP is beginning to see a drop off in his overall output but he’s still going to produce for you. He’s fading but he’s still worth the top 10 ranking.
8. Alexei Ramirez .277 BA, 14 HR, 71 RBI – He’s a serviceable shortstop that is good for 15+ home runs, 80+ runs, 70+ RBI and a handful of steals.
9. Jhonny Peralta .294 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI – He’s a viable option once the top tier is gone. You can expect his usual power along with the strong RBI output (86 in 2011 and 81 in 2010).
10. J.J Hardy .273 BA, 23 HR, 74 RBI – The new Oriole flourished at Camden Yards hitting 30 home runs a season after finishing with just six.
11. Derek Jeter .290 BA, 11 HR, 63 RBI – He’s getting up there in age (38) but hitting second in one of the leagues strongest lineups will help his numbers.
12. Yunel Escobar .291 BA, 12 HR, 60 RBI – He hits for average and will hit about a dozen homers for you but he hasn’t been the player many people had expected.
13. Erick Aybar .263 BA, 10 HR, 63 RBI – He’s a good guy to have once the top 10 guys are off the board. He had career highs in home runs (10), doubles (33), stolen bases (30) and runs scored (71).
14. Dee Gordon .296 BA, 4 HR, 52 RBI – He spent the first half of the season in the minors but found his way to the show by season’s end. In just 224 at-bats he hit .304, had 34 runs and stole 24 bases.
15. Stephen Drew .262 BA, 14 HR, 61 RBI – Even before the broken ankle his numbers were on the decline. He’s playing for a contract this year so you may see a jump in his numbers.
16. Ian Desmond .267 BA, 9 HR, 57 RBI – He took a step back in 2011 but I expect numbers closer to those of 2010.
17. Emelio Bonifacio .283 BA, 8 HR, 53 RBI – He’s quick and he can get on base. Bonifacio is worth the late-round pick if you’re looking for a backup at this position.
18. Jed Lowrie .249 BA, 7 HR, 49 RBI – He’s a good utility guy worthy of your selection late in the draft.
19. Rafael Furcal .270 BA, 9 HR, 45 RBI – He’s a lock to get hurt this year but when he plays he won’t hurt you.
20. Jason Bartlett .262 BA, 8 HR, 43 RBI – He should have no problem hitting .260 and stealing around 20 bases.
Honorable Mentions for SS – Clint Barmes, Alex Gonzalez, Alcides Escobar, Zack Cozart, Cliff Pennington, Trevor Plouffe
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings – Top 25 Third Basemen
Evan Longoria is the best third basemen for 2012, find out what value we place on the rest of the 3b players
1.Evan Longoria .269 BA, 35 HR, 108 RBI – He’ll put up an excellent five-tool fantasy season worthy of a first round pick.
2. Adrian Beltre .291 BA, 29 HR, 98 RBI – He missed a month last season and still put up gaudy numbers worthy of an early second round selection (.296/32/105). Expect much of the same from Beltre this season.
3. David Wright .272 BA, 27 HR, 94 RBI – Wright was out two months last season and was unable to produce like he had in the years prior but now he’s good to go. Citi Field is bringing in the fences so his power numbers should see a rise.
4. Brett Lawrie .283 BA, 25 HR, 89 RBI – It’s hard to put much stock into a 22-year-old playing in Toronto but if he plays anything like he did last season he’ll be well worth the top five ranking.
5. Ryan Zimmerman .297 BA, 27 HR, 84 RBI – Zimmerman is fantasy gold. If you need a third baseman when the top four are gone, take him.
6. Jose Bautista .270 BA, 24 HR, 84 RBI – I don’t expect another 2011 season from Bautista but he’ll still get you solid power numbers.
7. Alex Rodriguez .264 BA, 25 HR, 80 RBI – He’s not the same A-Rod that signed the 10-year, $275 million dollar deal just a few seasons ago but he will still put up great numbers.
8. Pablo Sandoval .301 BA, 22 HR, 74 RBI – Kung Fu Panda slimmed up a bit in 2011 and it gave his numbers a boost. If he’s in the same shape as he was last season expect much of the same this season.
9. Aramis Ramirez .287 BA, 24 HR, 85 RBI – His numbers should see a jump in his new hitter-friendly environment.
10. Kevin Youkilis .265 BA, 22 HR, 76 RBI – He’s not flashy but he gets the job done. Just ask anyone that owned him last season.
11. Michael Young .298 BA, 20 HR, 70 RBI – He’s Mr. Consistent at this position. He’s a career .300 hitter who will give you 20+ homers and 70+ RBI.
12. Mark Reynolds .224 BA, 35 HR, 84 RBI – If you want home runs he’s your guy. You just have to look past the areas in which he lacks.
13. Mike Moustakas .279 BA, HR BA, 73 RBI – Moustakas has potential for days. Unfornately potential gets you nothing in just about every league. He’s worth the chance when the top 10 are off the board.
14. David Freese .292 BA, 17 HR, 64 RBI – If he can continue what he had going in last season’s NLCS he’s definitely worth the late-round pick.
15. Chase Headley .285 BA, 14 HR, 58 RBI – His power saw a drop off for the fourth consecutive season but his average allows him to be a top 15 ranking.
16. Pedro Alvarez .252 BA, 21 HR, 65 RBI – If you’re looking for power late in the draft and you need a third baseman, Alvarez is your guy.
17. Danny Valencia .262 BA, 16 HR, 64 RBI – He doesn’t do anything great but gets the job done. Valencia is worth the backup spot on your team.
18. Casey McGehee .248 BA, 20 HR, 70 RBI – Like Alvarez, McGehee will get you power if that’s what you’re looking for late in the draft.
19. Lonnie Chisenhall .260 BA, 17 HR, 67 RBI – The second year third baseman has areas he needs to improve on but with his youth he could easily make his way up these rankings as the season goes on.
20. Jimmy Paredes .279 BA, 10 HR, 62 RBI – If you’re looking for a decent average and some steals late Paredes could be your guy. He’s got youth on his side as well.
Honorable Mentions for 3B – Ian Stewart, Brent Morel, Scott Sizemore, Scott Rolen, Chipper Jones, Chone Figgins
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings – Top 50 Starting Pitchers
Although Sabathia and Lincecum are favorites hear at Fantasy Couch, we had to rank four starting pitchers ahead of these names
1. Clayton Kershaw, LAD 22-5 2.44 ERA 234 Strikeouts – The reigning National League Cy Young winner added a nasty slider to his arsenal and ended up with 21 wins and a 2.28 earned run average last season. It’s hard to believe he could be better this season, but at age 24, feel lucky to draft him and don’t look back.
2. Justin Verlander, DET 20-6 2.56 ERA 245 Strikeouts – Last year’s American League Cy Young winner was unhittable at times with a fastball that hit triple digits on the radar gun and wicked off-speed pitches. It’s hard to put him below Kershaw after 24 wins and a 2.40 ERA last season, but playing in the AL is the difference.
3. Roy Halladay, PHI 19-8 2.53 ERA 218 Strikeouts – Hallady continues to be an elite and extremely reliable pitcher year-in, year-out with seven consecutive seasons of 16 wins or more and at least 220 innings pitched. His earned run average the past two seasons has been under 2.50 in the hitter-friendly Citizen’s Bank Park, which.
4. Cliff Lee, PHI 17-8 2.78 ERA 220 Strikeouts – Like his teammate Halladay, Lee’s ERA was ridiculously low considering his home park, at 2.41 last year. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the duo win 20 games apiece in 12’.
5. Jared Weaver, ANA 16-9 2.95 ERA 217 Strikeouts – Rounding out the top 5 is Weaver who is coming off a career year after signing a long-term extension with the Angels. He’s a happy camper playing for a team that could go very good for a long time. Expect big things.
6. C.C. Sabathia, NYY 17-8 3.12 ERA 207 Strikeouts – The southpaw has pitched very well in pinstripes and should continue to be amongst the game’s best. Sabathia has lowered his ERA in each of the last three seasons since signing with the Yankees, while also winning at least 19 games with at least 230 innings pitched.
7. Tim LIncecum, SF 16-7 2.98 ERA 227 Strikeouts – Timmy’s 13-14 record in 2011 was mostly a result from of poor run support from the offense when he took the hill. Lincecum will give the Giants a chance to win almost every time out because hitters seemingly stay off-balanced. Fantasy owners are also going to get excellent stats in every other category as well.
8. Zack Greinke, MIL 17-6 3.29 ERA 202 Strikeouts – Greinke has superior stuff and finished strong down the stretch with a 9-3 record in second half of last season. He will be more familiar and more effective against NL hitters this season, which will be his second as a Brewer.
9. Felix Hernandez, SEA 16-7 3.25 ERA 226 Strikeouts – ‘King Felix’ is one of the game’s best pitchers in real life, but that can change in fantasy baseball because of the team he plays for. Hernandez did give up more runs than usual in 2011
10. Cole Hamels, PHI 16-9 3.22 ERA 188 Strikeouts – The third head of the ‘three-headed monster’ that resides atop the Phillies’ rotation is Hamels. He is coming off his best season in the Big Leagues and at age 28, should only get better with Halladay and Lee to learn from.
11. Dan Haren, ANA 16-9 3.49 ERA 198 Strikeouts – The addition of Albert Pujols will surely give the Angels and Haren the chance to win a lot of ballgames in the coming years. Haren has been very successful over the years and should continue to be very valuable fantasy player.
12. David Price, TB 15-8 3.38 ERA 205 Strikeouts – The hard-throwing southpaw has dynamite stuff and could very well pitch himself inside the top 10 before the season’s over. Price’s owners want to see the 2010 version when he went 19-6 with a sub-3 ERA, and we like the chances.
13. Matt Cain, SF 16-7 2.99 ERA 172 Strikeouts – Like Lincecum, Cain is really going to need more run support on average to get the wins he deserves. He just knows how to pitch on the Major League level and could win a Cy Young before he retires.
14. Steven Strasburg, WAS 14-4 3.01 ERA 190 Strikeouts – Injury is the concern is not moving Strasburg up this list because he has arguably the best stuff of any pitcher in the world. The Nationals will likely take extreme precaution in conditioning his arm to pitch every fifth day. Here is a guy that could pay the most dividends out of anyone else in your fantasy draft.
15. Ian Kennedy, ARI 15-8 3.08 ERA 183 Strikeouts – Last season we saw Kennedy had the breakout season that few saw coming, with a 21-4 record, 2.88 ERA and 198 punch-outs. He’s a very capable pitcher but don’t expect the same dominance that was displayed last season.
16. Yvonni Gallardo, MIL 14-8 3.50 ERA 212 Strikeouts – The 25-year-old Mexican hurler got off to a slow start in 2011 but ultimately finished strong with a 17-win season and third straight with at least 200 strikeouts. Look for him to continue to grow and his upside is something owners would love to have on their roster.
17. Josh Johnson, FLA 13-3 2.90 ERA 187 Strikeouts – The 28-year-old will easily crack the top 20 if he starts 30 or more games which he’s done only twice in six seasons. That is the big ‘if’ owners should be worried about because he only made nine starts last year with shoulder inflammation.
18. C.J. Wilson, ANA 14-8 3.10 ERA 183 Strikeouts – The Angels signed a solid pitcher in Wilson, who decided to stay in the AL West moving from Texas to Southern California. He is now the third head of their Weaver-Haren-Wilson monster, which actually has a nice ring to it. Wilson is poised have another great campaign after going 31-15 with over 200 innings tossed in the past two seasons.
19. Matt Moore, TB 15-5 3.44 ERA 214 Strikeouts – Moore is a highly touted, left-handed pitching prospect that burst onto the scene last postseason much like Price did in 2008. At age 22, Moore will strikeout a lot of hitters on his way to a very successful first, full season in the Rays rotation.
20. Tommy Hanson, ATL 14-8 3.32 ERA 191 Strikeouts – The big right-hander is reportedly going to be ready for Spring Training after shoulder issues that cut short his 2011 season by two months. Hanson has focused on strengthening his shoulder this offseason and that could a huge boost to his success and fantasy value going forward.
21. Jon Lester, BOS 15-9 3.51 ERA 194 Strikeouts – The strikeouts and innings pitched were a bit down last season in comparison to 2008-10, but owners can expect another solid year from Lester in 2012. He’s got an array of pitches he can throw for strikes, which usually leads to good things.
22. Adam Wainwright, STL 14-5 3.13 ERA 186 Strikeouts – There have been no setbacks so far in Wainwright’s recovery from Tommy John surgery that caused him miss all of 2011. Expect him to pitch well this season in limited innings because the Cardinals won’t want to overwork him.
23. Mat Latos, CIN 15-9 3.45 ERA 188 Strikeouts – Coming over to Cincinnati in the offseason should be a nice change of scenery for Latos who has lots of upside. He throws hard and has a lot of movement on his pitches, which is a recipe for success at the top level.
24. Tommy Hanson, ATL 14-8 3.32 ERA 191 Strikeouts – The big right-hander is reportedly going to be ready for Spring Training after shoulder issues that cut short his 2011 season by two months. Hanson has focused on strengthening his shoulder this offseason and that could a huge boost to his success and fantasy value going forward.
25. Yu Darvish, TEX 14-8 3.37 ERA 179 Strikeouts – The Japanese export will draw a lot of attention in the media and possibly your fantasy draft and rightfully so because he is very good. Darvish is highly athletic and has very intimidating stuff that should translate well in any language.
26. James Shields, TB 13-10 3.23 ERA 196 Strikeouts – After posting a 16-12 record and 2.82 ERA in 2011, Shields should continue to be a ‘workhorse that produces strikeouts at a high rate. He’s in line to post his six consecutive season with 200+ innings pitched.
27. Chris Carpenter, STL 14-7 3.48 ERA 185 Strikeouts – Carpenter is past his prime, but still has plenty of tread still on the tires. He makes for a very serviceable No. 2/3 starter on your fantasy squad because he’s a proven winner.
28. Madison Bumgarner, SF 15-10 3.11 ERA 189 Strikeouts – Bumgarner is only 22-year-old and has a very high ceiling in terms of potential. He is still figuring out how to be consistently effective at the Major League level and could be close to breaking out.
29. Brandon Beachy, ATL 14-8 3.45 ERA 216 Strikeouts – The 25-year-old is heading into his second season in the big leagues and has a lot of promise posting high strikeout totals. Fantasy owners will hope to get more innings then the 142 he threw last season, which should happen barring injury.
30. Josh Beckett, BOS 14-6 3.19 ERA 180 Strikeouts – Owners can expect quality starts by Beckett, even though he may miss a start here and there with injury. There is plenty of upside if he stays healthy.
31. Michael Pineda, NYY 14-9 3.70 ERA 206 Strikeouts – The young and talented Pineda will be wearing pinstripes next season thanks to an offseason trade. He showed flashes of brilliance last year and he will need to be more consistent to make a big impact in pinstripes.
32. Matt Garza, CHC 13-11 3.67 ERA 186 Strikeouts – Garza has lost double-digit games the past three seasons and didn’t pitch all that well last season, his first in Chicago after coming up in the Tampa Bay organization. Don’t expect him to be above average.
33. Ricky Romero 15-10 3.20 ERA 180 Strikeouts – Last year, the Blue Jays’ ace set career highs in wins (15), innings pitched (225), shutouts (2), K’s (178) and ERA (2.92). Owners should assume similar stats in 2012.
34. Tim Hudson, ATL 14-10 3.40 ERA 151 Strikeouts – The veteran is 33-19 in his past two seasons, both in which he’s made 33 or more starts and pitched at least 215 innings. Expect Hudson to be fantasy relevant for at least a couple more seasons.
35. Daniel Hudson, ARI 13-9 3.66 ERA 160 Strikeouts – The 24-year-old Hudson started out rough last April, and then proceeded to go 8-1 in May and June. He can go stretches pitching ‘lights-out’ and owner will hope to see that more often this year.
36. Shaun Marcum, MIL 12-7 3.64 ERA 159 Strikeouts – Marcum has won 13 games in back to back seasons and should be right around there in 2012. Don’t expect many K’s, but he will give himself and the Brewers a chance to win more often than not.
37. Gio Gonzalez, WSH 13-9 3.36 ERA 185 Strikeouts – The left-handed Gonzalez has pitched well the past two seasons with Oakland and should continue now playing for the Nationals. It may take some time for him to adjust to his new league and team, but the change should pay long-term dividends.
38. Jeremy Hellickson, TB 13-8 3.29 ERA 139 Strikeouts – The Rays have one of the best rotations in baseball and Hellickson looked good in his rookie season last year with a sub-3 ERA. He did have some control issues and walked more than should have, but didn’t allow many hit either.
39. Johnny Cueto, CIN 13-8 3.55 ERA 135 Strikeouts – Cueto went 9-5 with a 2.31 ERA in 24 starts after missing the first month of the season last year. He will give up more runs this year while still be effective.
40. Anibal Sanchez, FLA 14-11 3.77 ERA 205 Strikeouts – The Venezuelan hurler topped the 200-strikeout mark for the first time in his career in 11’ and should continue the trend. You should be able to draft him later than his actual value.
41. Jamie Garcia, STL 13-10 3.59 ERA 145 Strikeouts – Garcia is entering his third season in the Cardinals’ rotation after winning 13 contests in each of the past two. He is a serviceable fantasy option.
42. Shaun Marcum, MIL 12-7 3.64 ERA 159 Strikeouts – Marcum has won 13 games in back to back seasons and should be right around there in 2012. Don’t expect many K’s, but he will give himself and the Brewers a chance to win more often than not.
43. Derek Holland, TEX 13-6 3.91 ERA 161 Strikeouts – Holland recorded four shutouts in 32 starts last season, ending with a 16-5 record. He’s highly talented and pitches for a team that scores a lot of runs, which is a recipe for wins.
44. Jordan Zimmerman, WSH 12-9 3.78 ERA 158 Strikeouts – Zimmerman is going to have to last longer in games to move up the fantasy ranks because most everything else is there. He’ll make baby steps this year towards a bright future.
45. Ubaldo Jimenez, CLE 13-9 3.64 ERA 190 Strikeouts – Jimenez had a down year in 2011 between Colorado and Cleveland, but 2012 should be much better. At 28, he’s still in his prime and the change of scenery could be what is needed to bounce back.
46. Clay Bucholtz, BOS 12-6 3.59 ERA 142 Strikeouts – The Red Sox really need Bucholtz to stay healthy and be the third pitcher in the rotation. He can be very productive if he stay off the disabled list.
47. Bandon Morrow, TOR 13-10 4.24 ERA 210 Strikeouts – The 27-year-old Morrow can be nasty at times with high strikeout totals being the result. He can be a “boom or bust” type player and that’s far from ideal but still valuable.
48. Max Scherzer, DET 12-9 4.34 180 Strikeouts – Scherzer is a hard-throwing righty who has a high ceiling in terms of talent, but has to be more dependable from start-to-start. He can be unhittable in some games while blowing up completely in others.
49. Neftali Feliz, TEX 12-7 3.50 ERA 167 Strikeouts – As a closer the past two seasons, Felix tallied 72 saves with a sub-3 ERA. Now as a starter, owners should expect some growing pains as he adjusts to high pitch counts going deep into ballgames.
50. Ervin Santana, ANA 13-11 3.44 ERA 173 Strikeouts – Santana pitched better than his 11-12 record indicated with a career-high in innings pitched (228) and a personal best ERA (3.38). The Angels are luck to have him as the No. 4 starter.
51. Hiroki Kuroda, NYY 12-10 3.85 ERA 156 Strikeouts – Kuroda isn’t flashy and get a lot of ground ball outs that bodes well playing in the hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. He should have a decent year with his best days being behind him.
52. Daniel Bard, BOS 11-6 3.66 ERA 175 Strikeouts – Like Feliz, Bard will try to convert from bullpen guy to starter this year. Bard certainly has the stuff to be a very good starter, just don’t expect him to do so right out of the chute.
53. Edwin Jackson, WSH 12-9 3.74 ERA 162 Strikeouts – Now with his sixth team in his professional eight seasons, Jackson was once a highly-touted prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now he’s a middle-of-the-road starter that has the occasional great game.
54. Cory Luebke, SD, 11-8 3.65 ERA 167 Strikeouts – The former Ohio State Buckeye is moving up many fantasy draft boards because of his 9.92 strikeout per inning ratio in 17 starts last season. Don’t read too much into the hype, Luebke should have a decent season but not spectacular.
55. Ted Lilly, LAD 12-8 3.65 157 Strikeouts – The Dodgers need someone to step up and pitch effectively behind Kershaw, and the likely candidate is the soft-tossing southpaw. He should have relatively decent year in Los Angeles.
56. Ryan Dempster 13-11 4.18 ERA 194 Strikeouts – The seasoned right-hander will try for his fifth consecutive season with at least 200 innings pitched in 12’ and should put up almost as many strikeouts. Don’t expect a great winning percentage though.
57. Wandy Rodriguez, HOU 12-10 3.53 ERA 169 Strikeouts – Rodriguez’s career record is 73-75 with his best season coming in 2009 when he went 14-12 in 33 starts. Don’t expect him to be too much better this season.
58. Chad Billingsley, LAD 13-10 4.15 ERA 162 Strikeouts – The former first-round pick of the Dodgers in 2003 has never lived up to his potential. This year will likely be more of the same, inconsistent Billingsley we’ve grown accustomed too.
59. Justin Masterson, CLE 11-9 3.52 ERA 150 Strikeouts – After starting off a perfect 5-0 in April last season, the former second-round draft pick in 2006 went a disappointing 7-10. Masterson has to be more consistent to gain fantasy relevance rely heavily on his sinkerball.
60. Johan Santana, NYM 10-7 3.65 ERA 145 Strikeouts – Santana is a late-round, flier pick at this point and that’s being very optimistic. He missed all of last season with a torn capsule in his shoulder and it’s a very tricky injury for a pitcher to recover from. Stay tuned to his Spring Training starts.
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings – Top 25 Relief Pitchers
Drafting some great relief pitchers in the late rounds is very likely, but this year, if you want to draft Craig Kimbrel be prepared to use one of your early-round picks for this stud RP
1. Craig Kimbrel, ATL 48 Saves, 1.92 ERA, 94 K’s – Kimbrel exploded on the scene last year for the Braves with electric stuff as evidenced by his ridiculous strikeout total (100). The sky is the limit for this guy in terms of fantasy production.
2. Jonathan Papelbon, PHI 45 Saves, 2.51 ERA, 84 K’s – The Phillies got one of the best closers in the game when they signed Papelbon this offseason. He should plenty of chances to close games for Philly’s high-powered rotation.
3. John Axford, MIL 43 Saves, 2.34 ERA, 77 K’s – Axford was extremely effective last year and got better as the season grew old. He should continue to get better with more game experience having to close out tough games.
4. Mariano Rivera, NYY 42 Saves, 1.97 ERA, 59 K’s – The Yankee great continues to produce at a high level at age 42, working on his fifth consecutive season with sub-2 ERA. His fantasy valued is slightly hindered because he won’t pitch as many innings in comparison to others.
5. Drew Storen, WSH 40 Saves, 2.50 ERA, 75 K’s – Look out for the Nationals this year with the young talent they possess. Storen will relied heavily upon to nail down the late innings which he proved to be very good at last season, his rookie year.
6. Heath Bell, FLA 41 Saves, 2.69 ERA, 70 K’s – Bell is taking his talents to South Beach and should be able to record his fourth consecutive season with at least 40 saves. Expect him to fit right in with Ozzie Guillen’s ball club.
7. Brian Wilson, SF 40 Saves, 2.87 ERA, 78 K’s – Wilson only pitched in 55 games last season because of injury problems with his elbow and still recorded 36 saves. Wilson is an elite closer when at his best, but that is cause for concern for fantasy owners. Stay tuned.
8. Joel Hanrahan, PIT 40 Saves, 2.76 ERA, 78 K’s – In his first season as the closer, Hanrahan was very sharp with 40 saves out of 44 chances to go along with a 1.83 ERA. The 30-year-old will likely to run with his opportunity to finish games for the Bucs.
9. Ryan Madson, CIN 39 Saves, 2.51 ERA, 65 K’s – The Reds will get a great pitcher in Madson, who will undoubtedly get the ball in the ninth inning. The 31-year-old is primed to have a big season for his new team.
10. Jose Valverde, DET 38 Saves, 2.76 ERA, 66 K’s – The hard-throwing righty had a huge season last year converting on all 49 save opportunities with a 2.24 ERA. Those numbers will be hard to replicate and owners can expect to see lesser numbers, but still a very productive season.
11. Jason Motte, STL 37 Saves, 2.68 ERA, 62 K’s – After his brilliant performance last postseason which helped win the World Series, Motte will get his chance to be the full-time closer in 2012. He should respond with a solid season with above average fantasy value.
12. Joakim Soria, KC 36 Saves, 2.87 ERA, 63 K’s – Soria had a down year in 2011 with seven blown saves, five losses and a 4.03 ERA. With that being said, he’s a lot better than that and should have a much better season in 12’.
13. Sergio Santos 37 Saves, 3.13 ERA, 84 K’s – The 28-year-old right was traded from the White Sox to the Blue Jays this offseason after posting 30 saves and 92 punch-outs in 63 innings. Santos has great stuff and is in a good position to produce well again this year.
14. J.J. Putz, ARI 35 Saves, 2.92 ERA, 68 K’s – Putz was back in a closing role last season, this time with the Diamondbacks, notching 45 saves in 49 chances. His health has been an issue in the past and the only concern in drafting him because David Hernandez is waiting in the lobby.
15. Carlos Marmol, CHI 35 Saves, 3.30 ERA, 96 K’s – The 29-year-old Dominican blew ten saves last year along with a 4.01 ERA, which is unacceptable. Marmol will be better this year and can probably be found in the mid to late rounds.
16. Brandon League, SEA 34 Saves, 3.10 ERA, 50 K’s – Last year was League’s breakout season with 37 saves to go along with a 2.79 ERA. At age 28, look for League to continue to pitch well featuring a sinker that compliments Safeco Field nicely.
17. Huston Street, SD 33 Saves, 3.22 ERA, 59 K’s – Street gets a fresh start in San Diego now playing his home games at Petco Park after playing at Coors Field for the past three seasons. He isn’t overpowering and gets hit hard sometimes, but doesn’t walk many batters.
18. Jordan Walden, ANA 30 Saves, 3.01 ERA, 71 K’s – As it stands now, Walden has the closer’s job to lose. He blew ten saves last year in his first as the closer but still managed to close out 32 games. He has talent and an opportunity.
19. Joe Nathan, TEX 32 Saves, 3.25 ERA, 63 K’s – The save opportunities are reportedly going to Nathan, as of now. We’ll keep an eye on the situation and if the veteran gets the first crack during Spring Training and beyond. If he does and remains healthy, Nathan could very well be an asset to your fantasy term.
20. Andrew Bailey, BOS 30 Saves, 2.92 ERA, 67 K’s – The Red Sox acquired Bailey from the Athletics to replace Papelbon as the team’s close with good reason. Bailey has proven to be a very valuable when he can stay healthy and should be ready to go to start the season.
21. Brandon League, SEA 29 Saves, 2.88 ERA, 52 K’s – League pitches to contact often and uses a sinker to induce a good amount of double plays. His 37 saves in 2011 were very impressive in his first season as the team’s closer.
22. Chris Perez, CLE 30 Saves, 3.15 ERA, 46 K’s – The former Miami Hurricane won’t strikeout many hitters, but Perez has been reliable in converting saves the past couple years. He has converted 59 saves in 67 chances combined in 2010-11.
23. Kyle Farnsworth, TB 28 Saves, 2.93 ERA, 61 K’s – Farnsworth’s fantasy value has risen from the dead after he notched 25 saves a year ago with the cutter being one of his new favorite pitches. Look for similar success from this season.
24. Rafael Betancourt, COL 26 Saves, 3.03 ERA, 71 K’s – The 36-year-old veteran will get his first chance at being a full-time closer in 2012. He should do nicely once he gets the mindset of closing games and will be helpful to fantasy owners.
25. Javy Guerra, LAD 25 Saves, 2.83 ERA, 64 K’s – There is uncertainty as to who will be the primary option to finish games for the Dodgers, Guerra or Kenley Jansen. Both pitchers are young and talented, but Guerra should have the inside track based on his performance last season.
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings – Top 75 Outfielders
1. Matt Kemp, LAD .299 BA, 38 HR, 111 RBI – Kemp will come back with another monster year to carry a weak Dodgers offense. An MVP snub from last year will provide Kemp a chip on his shoulder to perform big again in 2012.
2. Jose Bautista, TOR .279 BA, 44 HR, 127 RBI – Joey Bats is a legitimate slugger. Expect him to perform much like he did the last two years. I only wonder if teams might start pitching around him.
3. Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS .309 BA, 27 HR, 85 RBI – If not for Justin Verlander, Ellsbury could have been your AL MVP despite the Red Sox collapse. He should have another big year and likely swipe another 30+ bags. Great player.
4. Carlos Gonzalez, COL .290 BA, 28 HR, 100 RBI – There is not much CarGo can’t do. Much like Ellsbury, Gonzalez adds several other key dimensions that light up a fantasy scoreboard like stolen bases and runs scored.
5. Justin Upton, ARZ .293 BA, 34 HR, 101 RBI – Upton had a breakout year in 2011 and is only 25 years of age. He is yet to reach his potential and anyone should be happy to get this guy with first-round pick.
6. Curtis Granderson, NYY .268 BA, 37 HR, 108 RBI – Granderson was another MVP candidate after his monster year in 2011. Trying to pull homers out of Yankee Stadium causes his batting average to dive but his power numbers and SB’s more than make up for it.
7. Josh Hamilton, TEX .305 BA, 29 HR, 121 RBI – These numbers are predicated upon a healthy, both physical and mental, Josh Hamilton. He is an absolute natural on the field. We hope he rebounds well.
8. Adam Jones, BAL .292 BA, 26 HR, 89 RBI – Jones is a high-level, 5-tool guy who is still improving. The kid from San Diego will be an All-Star very soon and could be a steal if people sleep on him during the draft.
9. Matt Holliday, STL .304 BA, 33 HR, 110 RBI – Don’t be too concerned about Holliday’s numbers dropping with Albert Pujols’ departure this past offseason. That lineup is still stacked and Holliday should have another superb season.
10. Mike Stanton, MIA .279 BA, 40 HR, 115 RBI – This is dude is just scary! I don’t even feel right predicting his numbers for fear of Stanton making me look very silly!
11. Alex Gordon, KC .285 BA, 25 BA, 90 RBI – Gordon is another guy that people may sleep on, you shouldn’t. He will score plenty of runs too in a good young KC lineup.
12. Carl Crawford, BOS .296 BA, 17 HR, 75 RBI – He will have a bounce back year and score 100+ runs and steal 45+ bases. Crawford is too good to have another miserable season like he did last year.
13. Andrew McCutchen, PIT .280 BA, 24 HR, 95 RBI – This dude is another stud on a team that does not get much attention. McCutchen will put up great numbers for anyone who gets him.
14. Hunter Pence, PHI .276 BA, 26 HR, 99 RBI – Philly’s lineup is loaded and Pence will put up rock-solid numbers playing a corner OF position every day. He a great addition to your roster and is overlooked by most people.
15. Shin-Soo Choo, CLE .293 BA, 23 HR, 87 RBI – The Korean sure can swing the stick with a .291 career batting average. He missed a lot of last season with injuries but his combination of power and speed is worth an early round draft pick.
16. Desmond Jennings, TB .281 BA, 16 HR, 61 RBI – Jennings is “coming into his own” as a big leaguer. If he plays every day, which he should, expect Jennings to steal 35+ bases and score 90+ runs.
17. Michael Bourne, ATL .278 BA, 3 HR, 45 RBI – Bourne brings the element of elite speed and base running ability to any fantasy owner. He will be among the tops in runs scored and stolen bases.
18. Lance Berkman, STL .288 BA, 29 HR, 97 RBI – The Big Puma will be hitting until he can’t stand anymore. As long as he stays healthy, he will mash after finding a home in St. Louis last season.
19. Ben Zobrist, TB .270 BA, 23 HR, 81 RBI – Zobrist is a great, versatile player who puts up solid stats. He can be a perfect utility player for your fantasy squad.
20. Nelson Cruz, TEX .272 BA, 38 BA, 98 RBI – Cruz would be ranked higher if it weren’t for the nagging injuries that have hampered him in recent years. He’s got a ton of power and can drive in plenty of runs if he’s a regular in the lineup.
21. Corey Hart, MIL .281 BA, 30 HR, 79 RBI – He will have to carry his team if Ryan Braun has to sit 50 games, which is likely. He has proved that he can do the job for stretches at a time so look for Hart to be very valuable.
22. Shane Victorino, PHI .280 BA, 19 HR, 72 RBI – Being the leadoff hitter for the Phillies’ potent offense, Victorino will fill the stat sheet all across the board this season.
23. Jay Bruce, CIN BA, .269 BA, 39 HR, 96 RBI – This guy can absolutely rake! He will score plenty of runs too.
24. BJ Upton, TB BA, .255 BA, 23 HR, 80 RBI – One of those guys who is what he is; a good player that never maxed out his full potential over the course of 162 games. Upton still carries good fantasy value but won’t get close to his younger brother’s numbers.
25. Ryan Braun, MIL .305 BA, 18 HR, 59 RBI – Braun is a top-10 guy. But having to sit 50 games, which I am predicting, makes him a draft day gamble.
26. Michael Morse, WAS .286 BA, 32 HR, 95 RBI – Morse is a stud who could be an MVP candidate in the future. He hits for above average power and average, but does not steal bases.
27. Andre Ethier, LAD .291 BA, 21 HR, 86 RBI – Ethier is one of my favorites but it is hard to depend on a hitter with wrist issues.
28. Nick Markakis, BAL .307 BA, 18 HR, 83 RBI – Markakis is a very good player and can be even better if the power numbers develop. He’s also been pretty consistent over the years.
29. Brett Gardner, NYY .275 BA, 9 HR, 50 RBI – Garder will bring the speed to the top of the Yankees’ lineup, which will translate to lots of runs scored and an abundance of steals.
30. Ichiro Suzuki, SEA .304 BA, 7 HR, 49 RBI – It’s not certain that Ichiro will reach the 200 mark in a season going forward, but he is a master of consistency. He may even score more runs than usual in an improved Mariners offense.
31. Jayson Werth, WAS .260 BA, 26 HR, 75 RBI – Washington definitely overpaid for Werth’s services but he has proved he can put up big numbers. He’s going to be hitting in a pretty good Nationals’ lineup, which bodes well for his numbers.
32. Drew Stubbs, CIN .257 BA, 23 HR, 62 RBI – Stubbs can score runs and steal bases. His power numbers come in stretches as Stubbs is a streaky hitter.
33. Logan Morrison, MIA .278 BA, 30 HR, 85 RBI – Great young talent when his organization is smart enough to play him which was an issue last season. You should follow him on Twitter @LoMoMarlins — he is a riot!
34. Nick Swisher, NYY .255 BA, 29 HR, 96 RBI – Swisher’s occasional frigid stretches are made up for by the fact that he can carry a fantasy team when on a hot streak. Just sit him when he gets cold.
35. Chris Young, ARZ .250 BA, 26 HR, 87 RBI – I don’t understand why this guy can’t hit for a better average. Regardless, his numbers in other categories more than make up for it.
36. Howard Kendrick, ANA .290 BA, 17 HR, 70 RBI – Kendrick’s value is his versatility and his ability to hit regardless of where he plays. He’s a solid pickup.
37. Carlos Beltran, STL .293 BA, 25 HR, 85 RBI – Just like Berkman did last year, Beltran will have a comeback year in 2012 with the Cardinals.
38. Martin Prado, ATL .302 BA, 17 HR, 69 RBI – Prado is consistent. You can leave him in your lineup without having to worry about him killing you.
39. Emilio Bonifacio, MIA .278 BA, 5 HR, 43 RBI – One of the fastest players I have ever seen. Bonifacio will score plenty of runs and steal plenty of bases for your team.
40. Cameron Maybin, SD .270 BA, 12 HR, 65 RBI – Had an impressive first season in San Diego. I expect him to improve on his 2011 campaign and use the space of PetCo Park to his advantage.
41. Jason Heyward, ATL .286 BA, 22 HR, 84 RBI – Heyward can be a top pick if he developed the consistency that type of slot requires. He has the great potential; it is just a matter if he reaches it.
42. Austin Jackson, DET .269 BA, 13 HR, 57 RBI – He will steal you 30+ bases and score plenty of runs with the Tigers scary lineup. He is a base-hit machine.
43. Michael Cuddyer, COL .281 BA, 18 HR, 77 RBI – Here’s another great utility player. The big question is ‘How does he adjust to Colorado when it seemed he was at home in Minnesota?’
44. Brennan Boesch, DET .274 BA, 19 BA, 78 RBI – Boesch is another potent bat in the Detroit lineup. He will put up his share of numbers on what should be a tremendous team in 2012.
45. Carlos Quentin, SD .249 BA, 29 HR, 88 RBI – He is a slugger who will hit his homeruns and drive in runs. It is just a matter of how much his power numbers dip from playing at PetCo and other NL West pitcher’s parks
46. Torrii Hunter, ANA .250 BA, 20 HR, 73 RBI – Hunter is still a very good MLB outfielder even though he will be 37 this year. Should be a really good late-round pick.
47. Jeff Francoeur, KC .276 BA, 19 HR, 80 RBI – If outfield assists were a fantasy stat, Francoeur would be a star. His arm is scary strong and his bat is not bad either.
48. Matt Joyce, TB BA, .280 BA, 24 HR, 81 RBI – Joyce is just another young stud that Tampa Bay seems to produce off an assembly line. I could see him surpassing my predictions with a huge year.
49. Coco Crisp, OAK .282 BA, 12 HR, 51 RBI – Coco’s numbers could also be better than expected if the Oakland offense wakes up out of its four-year slumber.
50. Melky Cabrera, SF .281 BA, 15 HR, 62 RBI – Cabrera had a career year last year in KC. I think it will be difficult for him in the NL West with superb pitchers and spacious ball parks. The Giants offense won’t help him either.
51. Delmon Young, DET .295 BA, 21 HR, 84 RBI – Don’t give up on Delmon Young. He is immensely talented and will have a career year.
52. Ben Revere, MIN .269 BA, 2 HR, 35 RBI – Most of Revere’s production will come in the runs and stolen Base categories because he is super fast with good base running ability.
53. Alejandro De Anza, CWS .277 BA, 10 HR, 50 RBI – A young hitter with some pop and speed, look for De Anza to be a regular in the White Sox lineup. He could steal 30 bags if he plays enough.
54. Mike Carp, SEA .239 BA, 22 HR, 72 RBI – Carp is a ‘power bat’ who can also play first base. If he plays regularly, owners can expect to see above average power numbers.
55. Brandon Belt, SF .275 BA, 26 HR, 72 RBI – The retirement of Pat Burrell and the departure of Aubrey Huff should clear the path for Belt to potentially explode. He has a wealth of talent.
56. Bobby Abreu, ANA .259 BA, 18 HR, 68 RBI – He will be 38 on opening day but he has been consistent his whole career. Expect another solid campaign from Abreu.
57. Yonder Alonso, SD .283 BA, 20 HR, 84 RBI – Alonso has a ‘big’ bat with enough natural power that PetCo Park will not faze him. The Cuban plays first too.
58. Carlos Lee, HOU .277 BA, 21 HR, 86 RBI – Lee is clearly not the player he once was but he can still hit for power. He also has the luxury of playing in a sandbox in Minute Maid Park.
59. Alex Rios, CWS BA, .257 BA, 18 HR, 65 RBI – Rios is a head scratcher. The dude can play but he is incredibly inconsistent. Which Rios will show up in 2012?
60. Dexter Fowler, COL .265 BA, 11 HR, 63 RBI – Speed and some surprising pop. He will score a number of runs and swipe 20 bags for you.
61. Jason Bay, NYM .260 BA, 19 HR, 77 RBI – I am also not ready to declare Jason Bay a FA bust. He plays for the Mets and in a humongous park. Look for a 2012 improvement from the one time MVP candidate.
62. Jason Kubel, ARZ .268 BA, 25 HR, 83 RBI – His power numbers will rise now that Kubel is in Arizona as opposed to spacious Target Field in Minnesota.
63. Mike Trout, ANA .287 BA, 15 HR, 51 RBI – The one time #1 prospect in baseball should see a plenty more playing time this year. Trout is fast fast fast!!!
64. Josh Willingham, MIN .255 BA, 22 HR, 78 RBI – He will have to adjust to a new position and not-hitter friendly park. His numbers will decline but Willingham has some serious pop in his bat.
65. Nyjer Morgan, MIL .300 BA, 4 HR, 49 RBI – He is a spark plug for his team. He will use his speed on the base paths to score and steal and drive the other team mad.
66. Peter Bourjos, ANA .284 BA, 15 HR, 52 RBI – Another of the Angel’s many speedsters, Bourjos can be a nightmare for opposing teams but he can be remarkably inconsistent. That can improve with experience.
67. Alfonso Soriano, CHC .249 BA, 26 HR, 76 RBI – It’s always been about injuries with Soriano but the dude can rake.
68. Lucas Duda, NYM .278 BA, 21 HR, 84 RBI – Good bat who can provide some pop and power numbers. A decent late round gamble, Duda could surprise.
69. Angel Pagan, SF .280 BA, 8 HR, 52 RBI – Interesting to see where he will hit in the Giants lineup. He is a good player but he will be playing in a pitcher-friendly division.
70. Raul Ibanez, PHI .256 BA, 17 HR, 69 RBI – Even though he will be 40 in June, Ibanez can still produce better than players younger than him, plus he plays in Philadelphia where the offense flows like a river.
71. Eric Thames, TOR .270 BA, 19 HR, 65 RBI – Good young prospect with some pop and is worth a late round gamble.
72. Vernon Wells, ANA .244 BA, 23 HR, 68 RBI – The only thing I can figure out about Vernon Wells is that he is overpaid. Can be a steal if he plays up to his salary level.
73. Seth Smith, OAK .280 BA, 19 HR, 67 RBI – Little pressure and playing every day could cause Smith to have a nice 2012 campaign in Oakland.
74. Rajai Davis, TOR .276 BA, 4 HR, 40 RBI – Davis is speedster who will have plenty of opportunities to score on top of Toronto’s lineup. He can cost himself at times with sloppy base running.
75. Allen Craig, STL .289 BA, 20 HR, 68 RBI – If his knee is ready, Craig can be the everyday RF for the Cardinals and put up some impressive numbers.
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings – Top 10 Designated Hitters
Designated Hitters – the hidden position in our 2012 fantasy baseball player rankings .We suggest having a DH position for a 10-man league, but for deeper leagues, drafting a DH can make for a longer, drawn-out draft. There are lots of talent in this list so don’t forget about your designated hitters.
1. Billy Butler, KC, .310 BA, 20 HR, 100 RBI – The Royals have a really good hitter in Butler who has been consistently good in his young career. He will be a mainstay in the heart of a Kansas City lineup that has plenty of potential.
2. Michael Young, TEX, .302 BA, 15 HR, 94 RBI – Young is usually eligible as both a first and third baseman, but will primarily be used as the designated hitter. He’s an ultra-talented hitter who uses the entire field.
3. David Ortiz, BOS, .286 BA, 25 HR, 90 RBI – ‘Big Papi’ had a fine 2011 with a .300 BA, 29 HR and 96 runs driven in which has rejuvenated the 36-year-old. His numbers will drop slightly this season, but owners can expect a very productive campaign.
4. Jesus Montero, SEA, .281 BA, 22 HR, 82 RBI – The Mariners traded for Montero this offseason because he can flat out hit. It will be interesting to see if he’s used much as a catcher which would just increase his fantasy value.
5. Edwin Encarnacion, TOR, .265 BA, 18 HR, 68 RBI – The 29-year-old is a career .260-hitter with decent power. Ecarnacion plays below-average in the field so the designated hitter role is likely.
6. Vladimir Guerrero, FA, .291, 14 HR, 70 RBI – The nine-time All Star is yet to be signed heading into Spring Training. Gerrero is still a very capable hitter and will produce if given the right opportunity, barring injury.
7. Hideki Matsui, FA, .268 BA, 16 HR, 69 RBI – Here is another unsigned hitter who still can contribute enough to warrant a roster spot somewhere. Matsui will find a home because he still has some pop and can come up with the clutch hit.
8. Adam Dunn, CWS, .218 BA, 20 HR, 74 RBI – Dunn was pretty awful last year posting a .159 batting average. At age 32, expect a better season in 2012 given his track record for hitting home runs and knocking in runs.
9. Johnny Damon, FA, .267 BA, 13 HR, 59 RBI – The 38-year-old veteran has a current streak of 14 consecutive seasons with at least 500 at-bats. That run is very much in question since he’s currently unsigned.
10. Magglio Ordonez, FA, .265 BA, 10 HR, 61 RBI – Ordonez is currently a free agent although it could be very possible he resigns with the Detroit Tigers with Victor Martinez (torn ACL) done for the season. Injuries have held Ordonez back the past couple seasons but he’s serviceable.
Their is our complete list of the Top 2012 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings, check back for updates!
Also click here for our expert 2012 fantasy baseball mock draft results
