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2010 Fantasy Baseball Preview: Second Basemen
Written by TG Fantasy Baseball Staff
February 6, 2010

Feature Article

Arizona Diamondbacks

Aaron Hill (Projected Value: $17)
Hill (28) had a career year in 2009, batting .286 with 36 homers, 37 doubles, 108 RBI, 103 runs scored, and six stolen bases. He did all that after suffering a serious concussion in 2008. He will probably move to the three-spot of the 2010 lineup. Expect him to duplicate his 2009 numbers (maybe not so many home runs, but maybe the same number of RBI).

Ryan Roberts (Projected Value: $0)
Roberts hit .279 with seven home runs and 25 RBI as the Diamondbacks' regular second baseman after the midseason trade of Felipe Lopez. Will Roberts (30) keep his job going into 2010? Watch to seee if the Diamondbacks acquire a more experienced second baseman before the season begins.

Atlanta Braves

Dan Uggla (Projected Value: $20)
Uggla (30) hits for power. He finished 2009 by hitting .243 with 31 homers and 90 RBI. He became the first second baseman to have three consecutive seasons with 30 or more homers. Couldn’t you use a middle infielder who hits for power - consistently?

Jack Wilson (Projected Value: $1)
Wilson (32) missed weeks of playing time last year with a hamstring injury and a bruised right heel. After being traded from the Pirates to the Mariners, he got into just 31 games and hit .224 with one homer. Consider drafting him in AL-only leagues.

Baltimore Orioles

Brian Roberts (Projected Value: $22)
Roberts (32) hit .283 with 16 homers, 79 RBI, 110 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases - one of the best stat lines for a second baseman - again. He can snag another 30 bases and put up other decent stats.

Boston Red Sox

Dustin Pedroia (Projected Value: $25)
Pedroia almost hit .300 (.296 - close enough) with 15 HR, 115 runs (AL-best), 72 RBI, and 20 steals. Expect him to continue to evolve in 2010.

Mike Aviles (Projected Value: $4)
Aviles (29) had break-through season in 2008 (11-59-.293), but an elbow injury and subsequent Tommy John surgery ended his '09 campaign early. KC will be hosting a competition at the middle infield positions, so watch for personnel changes. Nevertheless, Aviles looks like a sleeper, as long as he gets and stays healthy in Spring Training.

Nick Punto (Projected Value: $2)
Punto (32) posted a .228 average with one homer, 16 steals, and 56 runs scored in 2009. You do not know what to expect from him at the plate - because he can hit .290 or .210. You know that he plays good defense at many positions - so he will get time on the field (position flexibility) - and he will steal a few bases.

Chicago White Sox

Gordon Beckham (Projected Value: $18)
Beckham had a great 2009 rookie season, batting .271 with 14 homers, 63 RBI, and seven steals in 378 at-bats. He will shift his position to second base in 2010, which will qualify him for second base and third base (his position in 2009) in some leagues. He might hit close to 20 HR this year.

Cincinnati Reds

Brandon Phillips (Projected Value: $30)
Phillips (28) delivered his third consecutive 20-20 campaign in 2009. He finished the year batting .276 with 20 homers, 98 RBI, and 25 stolen bases. Expect more of the same in 2010. He remains a top-flight option at second base.

Detroit Tigers

Ryan Raburn (Projected Value: $6)
Raburn had a productive season for the Tigers in 2009, batting .291 with 16 HR, 45 RBI, and five steals in 261 at-bats. He deserves serious consideration as a sleeper candidate for 2010.

Ramon Santiago (Projected Value: $0)
In a utility role, Santiago batted .267 with seven home runs and 35 RBI last year. He might get significantly more time at second base in 2010 if rookie Scott Sizemore needs to spend more time to develop in the Minors.

Kansas City Royals

Chris Getz (Projected Value: $1)
Getz (26) might get the second base job in KC. He had a good rookie year in Chicago with the White Sox who traded him to the Royals. Getz batted .261, with two homers, 31 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 27 attempts over 375 at-bats. He should steal 30-plus bases.

Los Angeles Angels

Howard Kendrick (Projected Value: $13)
Kendrick (26) batted .291 with 10 homers, 61 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 2009. Expect the same again only because he has a tendency to get injured, or to even go through a prolonged slump, which warrants a trip to the minors. Make no mistake about it, this guy is gifted. He might break out this year, but, like his buddy, Brandon Wood, he has yet to show truly what all the hype was all about.

Maicer Izturis (Projected Value: $7)
Izturis made the most of his time on the field last year. He stayed healthy enough to get 387 at-bats and to bat .300 with 13 stolen bases. He will still get plenty of at-bats for the Halos in 2010 because of injuries and with expectations too high for Brandon Wood at third base, and Howie Kendrick at second base.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Mark Ellis (Projected Value: $9)
Ellis (32) produces when he plays, but he gets injured a lot. If he can get 500+ at-bats, like he did in 2007, he can hit 20 HR. If he gets 350+ at-bats, he can hit 10 HR and steal 10 bases.

Eugenio Velez (Projected Value: $0)
Velez (27) split time in '09 in San Francisco at second base and the outfield. He has a history as a base stealer (11 SB in ’09) and he batted .267 to go along with his five homers, 31 RBI, and 38 runs in 84 games. You can draft him for position flexibility and steals potential.

Miami Marlins

Omar Infante (Projected Value: $0)
Infante hit .305 with two home runs, 27 RBI, and two steals over 70 games (203 AB) in '09. He batted a combined .296 over the past two seasons. You can use him to bolster your team's batting average.

Milwaukee Brewers

Rickie Weeks (Projected Value: $11)
Weeks (27) had season-ending wrist injury in May. Prior to that, he hit .272 with nine homers and 24 RBI over 147 at-bats. He still has potential, but consider him an injury-risk.

Minnesota Twins

Alexi Casilla (Projected Value: $0)
Casilla (25) has a solid Minor League track record, but he sat on the Twins' bench a lot last year after the ASG. He might show that he can be a sleeper source for steals.

New York Mets

Daniel Murphy (Projected Value: $3)
Murphy (25) qualifies as both first baseman and outfielder. He hit .266 with 12 home runs and 63 RBI in fulltime duty last year. Players at either of his positions have to hit for power or steal lots of bases. He has yet to do either. He can hit .300 – the power stroke may come yet.

New York Yankees

Robinson Cano (Projected Value: $22)
Cano (27) hit .320 with 25 HR and 85 RBI in 2009, bouncing back from an uneven 2008. He avoided his perennial first-half slump and produced a remarkably even season during which he hit for both average and power. Expect him to continue to improve.

None

Jose Lopez (Projected Value: $17)
Lopez (25) has increased his production in each of his past four seasons, an encouraging sign for the second baseman who is entering his prime. He ended 2009 with a .272 average, 25 home runs, and 96 RBI. Why expect any less in 2010?

Orlando Cabrera (Projected Value: $13)
Cabrera (35) maintained his high level of performance in ’09 in all categories except stolen bases. He can probably hit close to .290 again and drive in his share of runs. Though age might take its toll on him overall, expect him to contribute to the categories of average, runs, and RBI.

Cristian Guzman (Projected Value: $10)
Guzman (32) played shortstop in 2009 for Washington, but he will move to second base in 2010 (to accommodate his limited range after Off Season shoulder surgery). He batted .284 and scored 74 runs last year and can probably help your team with average in runs in 2010.

Luis Castillo (Projected Value: $8)
Castillo (34) hits for average and can still steal bases. He batted .302 with one homer, 40 RBI, 77 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases in 2009. Considering his age, he might have overachieved last year.

Kazuo Matsui (Projected Value: $7)
Matsui (34) batted .250 in 2009 with nine homers, 46 RBI, and 19 steals. He played in a career-high 132 games, but fell short of expectations, especially with batting average. He continues to have steals potential, and needs to rebound with his batting average to have fantasy value.

Akinori Iwamura (Projected Value: $1)
Iwamura (30) comes to Pittsburgh from Tampa Bay where batted .290 with 19 extra-base hits and 22 RBI in 69 games in 2009. A left knee injury shortened his season. Expect positive things in the batting average department only.

Aaron Miles (Projected Value: $0)
Miles (33) batted under .200 in part-time duty for the Cubs last season, but he has a career average of .282. He will likely serve as a utility infielder for the Reds this year.

Craig Counsell (Projected Value: $0)
Counsell (39) made 90 starts at three different positions in 2009. He started at second base (44 games), third base (27 games), and shortstop (19 games). He batted .285 with four home runs and 39 RBI over 130 games - totally unexpected good production. He does not plan to retire yet.

David Eckstein (Projected Value: $0)
Eckstein batted .260 with two home runs and 51 RBI, with 64 runs scored last year. He offers inexpensive value at a middle infield position.

Philadelphia Phillies

Chase Utley (Projected Value: $42)
Utley (30) did great in 2009. He batted .282, scored 112 runs, swatted 31 homers, drove home 93 runs, and stole 23 bases in 23 attempts. He will benefit from a full off season of rest after having hip surgery over a year ago. He remains the top fantasy second baseman.

Ronnie Belliard (Projected Value: $2)
Belliard had become a part-timer in Washington, but the Dodgers' Joe Torre traded for him, and Belliard proved that he can indeed hit well. He took the second base job away from Orlando Hudson, a decent player in his own right. Draft Belliard for some power and average in a middle infield position.

San Diego Padres

Orlando Hudson (Projected Value: $12)
Hudson (32) hit .283 with nine homers, 62 RBI, and 74 runs scored in 2009. He hit extremely well through May (.332), but became a virtual backup player by the time that playoffs started. He might be showing the signs of a decline – not that he cannot contribute good defense and a respectable average.

San Francisco Giants

Ryan Theriot (Projected Value: $12)
Theriot (30) hit .284 in 2009 with seven homers, 54 RBI, 81 runs, and 21 steals. He has a .288 career average and has swiped at least 20 bags in each of the last three seasons. Get him in the later rounds of your draft.

Freddy Sanchez (Projected Value: $5)
Sanchez (31) hit .293 with seven homers and 41 RBI in 111 games for the Pirates and Giants last year. He can bat .300 and give you 10-Plus homers and 70-plus RBI if he stays healthy. He has knee and shoulder concerns.

Bill Hall (Projected Value: $0)
Hall (30) batted.201/.258/.338 with 8 home runs and 36 RBI for Milwaukee and Seattle last season. Now he is playing for the Boston Red Sox, who will put him in a utility role. He does hit lefties well: 810 career OPS.

Mike Fontenot (Projected Value: $0)
Mike Fontenot is more than willing to take a few grounders at shortstop. Whether or not he can handle the position could determine who will make up the Cubs' bench. The Cubs' starting eight is set, with the exception of second base. Fontenot and Jeff Baker are competing for regular playing time there. Piniella also said if shortstop Ryan Theriot was out for a significant amount of time, 19-year-old Starlin Castro would get the call.

Mike Fontenot (Projected Value: $0)
Fontenot earned the starting second base job with the Cubs last year, but lost it to Jeff Baker. Fontenot (29) had shown promise the prior year, and he still has time to show that he can hit .300 and provide some pop.

Seattle Mariners

Carlos Guillen (Projected Value: $10)
Uh-oh – here we go with Carlos. Just when we thought he’d finally get over one or more of his health issues and start hitting like we know he can/could/did, he decides to get old (35). The clock is ticking.

St. Louis Cardinals

Skip Schumaker (Projected Value: $8)
Schumaker (30) batted .303 last year, performing virtually the same as he had the year before. He will probably do it again, and score 80+ runs.

Tyler Greene (Projected Value: $0)
Greene (26) performed well at the minor league level last year, hitting 17 home runs and stealing 34 bases. He can fill in as a utility player who offers speed and power potential. Consider him a sleeper at shortstop.

Tampa Bay Rays

Ben Zobrist (Projected Value: $22)
Zobrist (28) had a career year with Tampa Bay in ‘09, affecting all the major offensive categories in a good way. He became one of fantasy's top middle infielders and also qualifies as an outfielder. Consider him an elite second baseman.

Texas Rangers

Ian Kinsler (Projected Value: $25)
Kinsler (27) packs a punch. He batted .253 with 31 homers, 86 RBI, 101 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases in 2009. He put together a 30-30 season despite missing more than two weeks because of a strained hamstring. Despite the lower-than-expected batting average last year, consider him a legitimate first round draft pick.

Toronto Blue Jays

Luis Valbuena (Projected Value: $0)
Valbuena (24) contrbuted to the 2009 Cleveland offense, hitting in spurts and also fielding second base well enough to hold down the job during the stretch. He hit .250 with 10 home runs, 31 RBI, and 52 runs scored over 368 at-bats. He might swat close to 20 HR in 2010.