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Baltimore Orioles Luke Scott (Projected Value: $10) Scott (31) has averaged 20+ home runs over the last three seasons and batted consistently around .255. He actually hit more home runs in fewer at-bats last year. Expect more of the same in 2010 - mostly from the DH slot. Ty Wigginton (Projected Value: $8) Wigginton (32) ended his three-year run of hitting 20-plus home runs by hitting only 11 in 2009. Expect a return of power in 2010 - if he gets 400+ at-bats in Baltimore. Boston Red Sox David Ortiz (Projected Value: $18) Ortiz (34?) had a brutal start to the 2009 season, but returned to his former self, a feared AL slugger. He ranked at or near the top of the league in both homers and RBI over the last four months: he hit six or more home runs in each of those last four months. Papi probably will not hit .300; he might hit 30 HR and drive in 90 - 100 runs. Chicago White Sox Andruw Jones (Projected Value: $0) Jones (32) apparently can still hit for power, even discounting the Texas home field effect from last year. His batting average will keep him on the bench more often than not. Cleveland Indians Travis Hafner (Projected Value: $0) More than a year removed from arthroscopic right shoulder surgery, Hafner expects to have no playing time restrictions in 2010. Last season, he played more than three days in a row just once. Hafner can help AL-only Leagues with his power, but his shoulder issues make him an injury risk. Detroit Tigers Magglio Ordonez (Projected Value: $20) The Tigers honorably played Ordonez (36), knowing that too many at-bats guaranteed him an $18 million contract for 2010. He responded by hitting .410 with six doubles in September, securing his fourth .300 average in the last five seasons. About the power: can he expect to hit more home runs this year? Probably, but don’t bet on 20. Carlos Guillen (Projected Value: $6) 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. Kansas City Royals Brayan Pena (Projected Value: $0) Pena (28) hit for average in the minor leagues and had six home runs in 165 at-bats for the Royals last year. He has potential as a second catcher in AL-only leagues. Los Angeles Angels Hideki Matsui (Projected Value: $1) Matsui knocked 28 balls over the fence for the Yankees in '09, and he stayed healthy for the entire year. He probably will not play in the outfield in Los Angeles - he can concentrate solely on hitting, and he makes for an excellent middle-of-the-order hitter. Minnesota Twins Joe Mauer (Projected Value: $21) Mauer (26) won the AL MVP. He led the Majors with a .365 average and a .444 on-base percentage. He also displayed power by hitting 28 homers, and by driving in 96 runs. Consider him the elite player. Watch for injuries - he did not play at all in April last year. Jason Kubel (Projected Value: $3) Kubel (27) put it together last year and contributed power and average to the Twins’ lineup. The former top prospect is living up to expectations and should get even better if he can stay healthy as he enters his peak performing years. Jim Thome (Projected Value: $0) Future HOF Jim Thome (39) is feeling the affects of age and the occasional back woe, plus he qualifies only at DH now. With the Twins this year, you can nevertheless expect to see him hit 20-25 long balls with an average around .250. None Randy Ruiz (Projected Value: $0) Ruiz (31) made a claim for regular at-bats in Toronto. If he gets them at the DH spot, he might duplicate what Jack Cust did in Oakland, i.e., become a late-blooming home run hitter. In addition to the 10 HR that he hit for the Blue Jays, he hit 25 HR and had 106 RBI for Triple-A Las Vegas prior to getting called up by Toronto. Pat Burrell (Projected Value: $0) Burrell (33) had a sore neck that affected his batting swing – and ultimately his confidence in his first year at Tampa Bay. If he stays healthy, he can hit 30 HR and drive in 90 runs. Tampa is looking to move him. Oakland Athletics Jack Cust (Projected Value: $0) Cust (31) batted .240/.356/.417 with 25 home runs and 70 RBI in 2009. He must lose at-bats and become more of a part-time player this year. San Francisco Giants Aubrey Huff (Projected Value: $28) Huff (33) joins the Giants to play first base, although he has played third base (2008 with the Orioles) and the outfield (2006 with the Astros). He split last year in the AL between the Orioles and Tigers and batted .241 with 15 home runs. The Giants want him to revisit his stats from 2008 when he hit .304 with 32 homers and 108 RBI. Seattle Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. (Projected Value: $0) Griffey (40) had his lowest career single-season batting average in ’09 – but he showed with his power stroke that he still has something left in the tank. He might hit between 15-20 HR again in 2010. Mike Sweeney (Projected Value: $0) Sweeney (36) might emerge as a DH/PH who can contribute to a team’s average. Think about him during the season if/when you need someone from the waiver wire. Tampa Bay Rays Willy Aybar (Projected Value: $0) Aybar (27) can play just about anywhere in the infield and has hit double-digit home runs (10, 12) in a part-time role over the past two years. Consider him a late-round AL-only pick. Hank Blalock (Projected Value: $0) Blalock batted .234 with 25 home runs and 66 RBI in 462 at-bats (123 games) in 2009. He had not played in 100 games since 2006 because of injuries. He can hit with power or he can hit for average, but he has not done both in the same year in the recent past. If he leaves Texas, his chances for power results will diminish. Texas Rangers Vladimir Guerrero (Projected Value: $37) Vlad (34) batted .295/.334/.460 in 2009 with 15 home runs in an injury-plagued 2009. He went on the disabled list twice, first for a torn chest muscle from April 18 to May 25, and again for a strained left knee from July 10 to Aug. 4. Expect him to hit well in 2010 - just no longer at an elite injury-free level. Julio Borbon (Projected Value: $0) Borbon (23) opened up a lot of eyes in limited action last year. You have to marvel at the number of steals that he had: 19 of them in only 157 at-bats. With Marlon Byrd out of the picture, look for Borbon to start in center field and to bat lead-off in 2010 – an obvious sleeper. Toronto Blue Jays Adam Lind (Projected Value: $0) Lind had one of the biggest breakthrough performances of 2009. He delivered a great average and top-shelf power numbers. His emergence as a 100-RBI thumper will probably continue. Can you imagine how good his owners in keeper leagues from previous years feel? (Not bad!) |