With the baseball season starting in less than a month’s time, fans across the US are getting together to draft their fantasy baseball teams, so here are the top five players in this year’s fantasy baseball.
1. Albert Pujols
The game’s best player and without doubt the overall number one pick. He will hit for power, average, hit a tonne of runs, get on base all the time, play gold glove defense and be in the line-up every day.
He’s the favourite to win another MVP award and with Matt Holiday to protect him in the line-up he should be even better. He’s a legitimate contender for the triple-crown, there is no other way to put it apart from that he is the best player in the game.
2. Hanley Ramirez
He won the NL batting title last year to go along with 24 home runs and 106 RBIs and he also stole 27 bases. He has the potential to steal 50 but batting third has restricted his opportunities to do so. However, batting third has spiked his RBI totals and he hit over 100 for the first time last year.
His numbers should increase this year and he should be back up to 30 home runs like he was in 2008. If he is still available in your league after the second pick, someone has made a big mistake in front of you.
3. Alex Rodriguez
Even though he missed the first month of the season last year he still managed to hit 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. You can pretty much pencil him in for 35 home runs and 100+ RBIs.
The Yankees line-up boasts so much offence that A-Rod is well protected and the stadium last year played like a band box, so there is no reason to believe he won’t have another big season.
Add the fact that the pressure of winning a World Series is off him should mean he’ll have an even better year.
A total of 40 HRs, 120 RBIs .310 BA isn’t out of the question for A-Rod.
4. Ryan Braun
Let’s see, he’s only 26 and in three seasons he has hit a minimum of 32 home runs. He has a .308 lifetime batting average and in his first full season in the majors hit 97 RBIs in just 113 games.
And he can steal 20 bases for you which is just another plus. There is no reason why he shouldn’t continue to improve and with Prince Fielder in the line-up he is well protected.
He could take a few more walks and strike out less but when he’s pretty much a lock to go 30/100 you can let that slide. Braun should not be going higher than this however.
5. Chase Utley
He’s hit 30 home runs in three of the last four seasons and hit over 100 RBIs in four of the last five seasons. Utley will also steal you a few bases and last year he had his best year on the bases, stealing 23.
There is a downside to the second baseman however. He is 31 and historically it is the age where players start to decline. But Utley is a true professional and with his work ethic the decline might not come this year.
Also note the lack of depth and second base and Utley becomes an ever better prospect at the fifth overall pick.
If you don’t agree with him at number five, that’s fair but there is no way he’s dropping to the second round.
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