Written by Robert Burghardt
February 1, 2007
Source: mlb.com Hot Stove report

Arizona Diamondbacks Stephen Drew Stephen Drew heads to spring training as the starting SS and number 6 hitter. Drew disappointed last year and never really reached the numbers expected from him. Look for Drew to improve his numbers across the board and become a top SS in the NL. Atlanta Braves Yunel Escobar Yunel Escobar heads to spring training as the starting SS after the Braves traded veteran Edgar Renteria in the offseason. Escobar showed great range at SS and handled the bat well hitting .326 in 94 games. Escobar qualifies at 2B, SS and 3B and will most likely hit leadoff or second in the order. Brent Lillibridge Brent Lillibridge is considered one of the Braves top prospects but will probably be given another year in the minors. Lillibridge could get a call up later in the year or if injuries occur but for now, he is someone to keep an eye on. Baltimore Orioles Donnie Murphy Murphy will get his share of at-bats at shortstop because he’s backing up Bobby Crosby, who, unfortunately for him, cannot stay out of the emergency room. Despite the fact that Murphy can hit a home run now and then, he will play the role of reserve in Oakland, and you can treat him as such. Luis Hernandez The Orioles have penciled Hernandez in as their Opening Day shortstop. The 23-year-old infielder possesses good defensives skills, but has not yet made a name for himself at the plate or on the base paths. Watch before you draft. Boston Red Sox Julio Lugo Since leaving Tampa Bay for the big city lights (glare) in Los Angeles and Boston, Lugo has lost his keen batting touch. He still can steal a significant number of bases, and the Red Sox have lots of faith (and invested dollars) in him, so he will have the chance to bounce back. Even though he is 32, you can expect 30 stolen bases from him, but he has to hit better than .237 as a fulltime player, or his 500+ at-bats will hurt your overall average. Josh Wilson Josh Wilson heads to spring training hoping to secure a utility slot. Wilson does not do anything great but offers versatility by playing 2B, SS & 3B. Wilson should be passed over in NL drafts. Chicago Cubs Ryan Theriot Ryan Theriot heads to spring training listed as the Cubs SS and number 7 hitter. Theriot emerged as the starter last year beating out Ronny Cedeno and a host of others. Theriot has plenty of speed but little power and needs to improve his average to hold onto the starting job. Ronny Cedeno Ronny Cedeno heads to spring training with hopes of becoming the starting SS. Cedeno has been mentioned in trade rumors and will have to beat out Ryan Theriot but has had a nice run while playing in Venezuela. If Cedeno does not win the SS job, he will be a solid utility infielder for the Cubs. Luis Figueroa Figueroa has a chance to make roster as a backup with a good spring. Chicago White Sox Juan Uribe Uribe can hit the long ball – you can expect him to put 20+ over the fence, but he hits in bunches, and his average seems to have leveled out at .235. The White Sox had to deal for another (better) shortstop in Orlando Cabrera, meaning that Uribe is likely gone from Chicago. Monitor his status before you draft him. Alexei Ramirez The White Sox signed 26-year-old Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez to a four-year contract in December. Ramirez profiles as the ChiSox center fielder, and he can also play second base. He led the Cuban baseball league in home runs last season and some experts think he can win a major league job this spring. Stay tuned. Cincinnati Reds Alex Gonzalez Alex Gonzalez heads to spring training as the starting SS and #8 hitter. Gonzalez missed close to 30 games with family issues but still had his highest HR/RBI totals since 2004. Gonzalez has marginal value in mixed leagues but should definitely be owned in NL only leagues. Jeff Keppinger Jeff Keppinger heads to spring training looking to land a spot as a reserve infielder. Keppinger offers versatility as he played 1B, 2B, SS, 3B and OF but only qualifies at SS. Keppinger offers a nice batting average but is not worth drafting. Cleveland Indians Jhonny Peralta Peralta got Off Season laser surgery for his eyes before the 2007 season, and it paid off for him at the plate. He hit 21 home runs and batted .270. The 25-year-old shortstop will not steal many bases for you (4 in ’07); but he can hit 25 dingers and might top the 100 RBI mark sooner rather than later. Colorado Rockies Troy Tulowitzki Troy Tulowitzki heads to spring training as the starting SS and number 5 hitter. Tulowitzki burst onto the scene last year and had a phenomenal year, just missing ROY honors. Tulowitzki ended at 24 HR's and 99 RBI's and should surpass those numbers this year while batting .300 or better. Tulowitzki has value in all leagues and should be drafted. Detroit Tigers Carlos Guillen Guillen moves to first base this year and – if he stays healthy – will most certainly drive in 100 RBI. He drove in 102 last year along with 21 home runs - and he had 13 stolen bases to boot! Expect him to bat over .300 in 2007. He has batted .310 over the past three years. Guillen qualifies at two positions in most leagues: first base and shortstop. Florida Marlins Hanley Ramirez Hanley Ramirez heads to spring training with the Marlins as their starting SS and leadoff hitter. Ramirez has quickly become one of the best shortstops in the game and has posted back to back seasons with 51 SB's. As he matures physically, Ramirez has the potential to produce even better power numbers. Draft him now and enjoy. Houston Astros Miguel Tejada Miguel Tejada, acquired from the Orioles in the offseason, will be the starting SS and bat 3rd in the lineup. Tejada has had quite the offseason, from dealing with the death of his brother to the US Government, and hopes to have everything finished before spring training. Moving to a more "hitter friendly" park, look for Tejada to bounce back offensively and approach 25/100/.300 type numbers. Mark Loretta Mark Loretta is coming back to the club for another season and will be used as a super sub. Loretta played at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B and even DH last year. Loretta will come in for defensive purposes and get the occasional start to rest players. Loretta has a nice bat and will not embarrass himself at the plate. Kansas City Royals Tony Pena The book on Pena does not have many pages. The 27-year-old Royal shortstop has shown what he can do with the glove, but not with the bat. Consider him a reserve on your fantasy team. Tony Pena The book on Pena does not have many pages. The 27-year-old Royal shortstop has shown what he can do with the glove, but not with the bat. Consider him a reserve on your fantasy team. Los Angeles Angels Erick Aybar The Angels are committed to giving Aybar a chance to become their regular shortstop this season. If he struggles, Brandon Wood might step in by the All Star Game. Consider Aybar a sleeper for steals. Los Angeles Dodgers Ching-Lung Hu Chin-Lung Hu heads to spring training hoping to show a glimpse into the future. Hu was the MVP of the Futures Game last season and provides the Dodgers with insurance should Rafael Furcal leave at the end of the season. Hu provides a rare speed/power combination not found in many middle infielders and is worth a look if Furcal lands on the DL. Milwaukee Brewers J.J. Hardy JJ Hardy heads to spring training as the teams starting SS and probable #2 hitter. After a torrid first half, Hardy leveled off a little but overall still had the best season of his career. Hardy will look for continued success and a line of 25/80/.280 is not too much to expect. Minnesota Twins Brendan Harris Harris brings an offensive presence to second base that the Twins have not had the last two seasons. In 137 games for the Rays last season, Harris hit 12 home runs with a .434 slugging percentage and a .286 batting average. While Harris appears to be the front-runner for the second base job, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said, "We've got Nick Punto as an option, too. I enjoy watching him play and he plays the game the right way." Whoever does not earn the starting job will see plenty of at-bats in a utility role. New York Mets Jose Reyes Jose Reyes heads to spring training as the starting SS and leadoff hitter for the Mets. Reyes has increased his stolen base totals each of the last three years and has held steady in Runs and batting average. Reyes is an elite option at SS and should be drafted early in all leagues. New York Yankees Derek Jeter Jeter accumulated 200 hits for the third consecutive season and the sixth time in his career. You can rely on the 33-year-old shortstop for average and for 15+ stolen bases. (He had 15 last year and 34 in 2006.) His power numbers do not inspire, but he can drive in 80 runs at the top of the Yankee lineup. You can do worse than to draft him. None Orlando Cabrera Why doesn’t the 33-year-old Cabrera stay on one team? He hits between .280 and .300, steals 25 bases, and drives in his share of runs. Rumors circulate about him not being a team guy, but then why do his teammates embrace him wherever he plays? Consider him a top-10 shortstop who might hit a dozen home runs in hitter-friendly Cellular Field. Edgar Renteria Edgar is going to give the American League another chance in Detroit. He can hit well over .300, and even at 32, can steal a dozen bases. He does not drive the ball for distance that often. However, you can take him in the draft after the top tier shortstops are gone. Rafael Furcal Rafael Furcal heads to spring training as the starting SS and #2 hitter. Furcal played the entire season with nagging injuries and was never quite the spark he used to be. If healthy, look for Furcal to rebound and again offer speed, average and runs to any fantasy team. David Eckstein Eckstein will hit .290, score 80 runs, and steal 10 bases for his new team in Toronto. The 33-year-old shortstop has limited power and drives in far too few runs. You can draft him after the names of the top tier starting shortstops have left the board. Felipe Lopez Felipe Lopez heads to spring training as the leadoff hitter and starting 2B. Lopez qualifies at 2B and SS and can provide a fantasy team with speed. Lopez also has enough pop to hit 10+ and drive in 50+ but his average has declined the last three years. Worth drafting in NL only leagues because of his speed. Craig Counsell Craig Counsell heads to spring training as the clubs super utility infielder. Counsell played and qualifies at 2B, SS and 3B this year and is valuable for defensive purposes and double switches. Counsell used to be able to contribute speed but even that has diminished so for fantasy purposes...don't build around Craig Counsell. Willie Bloomquist Bloomquist qualifies at four positions: second and third base, shortstop, and the outfield. He can hit .275 and, until last year, stole a dozen or more bases annually. If you need versatility, draft him. He probably can steal 10 bases again. Alex Cora Cora will get the occasional start at shortstop and second base with the Red Sox this year. Consider him a reserve player. Omar Vizquel Omar Vizquel heads to spring training as the Giants starting SS and #2 hitter. Vizquel has a solid glove that is not easily replaced but at age 40, how much is left in the tank. Vizquel saw a big drop in batting average and does not even steal enough bases to warrant more than a $1 bid in NL only leagues. Nick Punto Punto had a terrible year at the plate, batting .210 – after batting .290 in 2006. He can steal bases (16 in ’07), and you can draft him for that purpose – but he will only hurt your other offensive categories if he plays semi- or full-time. He does qualify at third, shortstop, and second in most fantasy leagues. Adam Everett The 31-year-old Everett can field, but cannot hit, plus he broke his leg last June, hampering his ability to steal about 10 bases. Consider him the starting shortstop for the Twins, wish him the best of luck, but leave his name on the Draft Board. Oakland Athletics Bobby Crosby Crosby cannot stay healthy. He showed promise in 2004, and has lived in the A's ambulance since, not getting 400 at-bats in any subsequent season. Wish him the best of health and move on. Philadelphia Phillies Jimmy Rollins Jimmy Rollins heads to spring training as the reigning NL MVP, starting SS and leadoff hitter for the Phillies. Rollins does it all...HR's, RBI's, SB's and he played in every game last year. Rollins is a top SS and should be drafted in all leagues. Eric Bruntlett Eric Bruntlett heads to spring training looking to land a utility role with the Phillies. Bruntlett was acquired in trade with Houston and offers versatility having played SS, 3B and OF. Bruntlett offers speed and little else and should be left undrafted. Pittsburgh Pirates Jack Wilson Jack Wilson heads to spring training as the Pirates starting SS and #8 hitter. Wilson improved his HR total and batting average and may even move back to his #2 spot in the order. Wilson offers value in NL only leagues but don't draft him as your #1 SS. San Diego Padres Khalil Greene Khalil Greene heads to spring training with a new 2-year contract and the starter at SS. Greene could bat in any number of positions but will probably settle in at 4 or 6 spot. Greene finally remained healthy and recognized his potential with 27 HR's and 97 Rbi's. If healthy, Greene is a definite NL only league option. San Francisco Giants Kevin Frandsen Kevin Frandsen heads to spring training with a shot at winning the starting 2B or 3B job. Frandsen will battle Ray Durham and Rich Aurilia but has youth on his side. Frandsen posted modest numbers in limited playing time last year and is one to watch in NL only leagues. Seattle Mariners Yuniesky Betancourt Betancourt turned on his jets during the second half of 2007 when he batted .311, and his slugging percentage increased 115 points: from .366 to .481. Expect the 26-year-old Seattle shortstop to hit 15 home runs and to complement that with a .290 average this year. St. Louis Cardinals Aaron Miles Aaron Miles heads to spring training as another backup infielder for the Cardinals. Miles qualifies at 2B and SS but also played 3B and the OF. Miles had a solid batting average but provided little else for a fantasy team. Look for other options for your MI spot. Brendan Ryan Brendan Ryan will head to spring training as the Cardinals backup infielder. Ryan got his feet wet last year playing in 67 games and producing nice stats. Ryan qualifies at SS and 3B and may even get the opportunity to start if either Izturis or Kennedy faulter in the spring. Cesar Izturis Recently signed Cesar Izturis heads to training camp as the Cardinals starting SS and potential leadoff hitter. Izturis, like Adam Kennedy, is a light hitter with a good glove but will not help your fantasy team...not even with speed. Tampa Bay Rays Jason Bartlett Bartlett changed his address from Minnesota to Tampa Bay over the winter. He already has the stolen base trick down (23 in ’07), but hook him up with Carl Crawford, and the base paths will be blazing. He should steal 30 bases. He does not offer much else extraordinary. Texas Rangers Michael Young Young has experienced a power outage. He still drives in runs, but he does not hit home runs (9 HR in ’07 and 14 HR in ’06). The 31-year-old Texas shortstop will likely hit well over .300 and steal 10 bases, so that makes him worthy of a draft pick at a soft position. Toronto Blue Jays Marco Scutaro The 32-year-old Scutaro will fill in at second base and shortstop in Toronto. He batted .260 with seven home runs and 41 RBI for the A’s last season. The Blue Jays hope that he can put up the same kind of numbers as a semi-regular in Toronto this year. John McDonald McDonald will fill a reserve role for the Blue Jays this year. Valued for his defense, the 33-year-old infielder probably cannot help your fantasy team. Washington Nationals Cristian Guzman Christian Guzman heads to spring training as the starting SS and #2 hitter. Guzman offers good news and bad news for fantasy owners. The good news is Guzman is a starter...the bad news is Guzman is a starter. Guzman does not do any one thing well for fantasy purposes so draft accordingly. Robert Burghardt is the founder and president of TG Fantasy Baseball, providing free fantasy baseball player news and information since 1995. TG Fantasy Baseball has also spawned two subsidiary fantasy sports sites, the RotoUmpire, resolving fantasy league disputes since 2000 and RotoLeague, a customizable fantasy software product. For contact information, please visit http://www.thomasgeorge.com/baseball/contact.cfm

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