Preseason Baseball Coverage: Draft Kit Central | New Faces in New Places | Top 250 Rankings

By Enea Zhonga
Fantasy Sports 101 Baseball

1. Scott Kazmir, SP - Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Believe it or not, Kazmir is a sleeper. He’s had some solid years, but his win-loss records don’t show it - he's yet to win 15 games in a season. He has been at a disadvantage pitching for the Rays, but Kazmir is entering his prime and the Rays figure to be much improved in 2008. He’s one of the best pitching prospects in the league and should be good for 15 wins and 200 strikeouts this season. 

2. Derrek Lee, 1B - Chicago Cubs
Remember Derrek Lee? He was an MVP candidate just three years ago. After an injury-plagued season in 2006, his numbers weren’t what owners were expecting in 2007. He’s had time to settle in, get his wrist healthy and develop a relationship with manager Lou Piniella. Of course, being in the same lineup with Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez shouldn’t hurt. Lee should have a much better season than 2007, and, with full health, could reach the 40-home run mark once again.
 
3. Joe Blanton, SP - Oakland Athletics
It’s Blanton’s fourth full season in the majors, and if trade talks don't bother him, could be at his best while working towards a new contract. Blanton has to perform well and get his ERA back to what it was in 2005 (3.53), and you can expect him to win at least 15 of he does - regardless of where he's pitching. The division is tough, but remember, the other young pitchers to come through this franchise? Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Marc Mulder aren’t bad footsteps to follow. It’s hard to put him in that category, but he’s won 42 games in three-and-a-half years and he’s due for a coming out party.
 
4. Rich Harden, SP - Oakland Athletics
Harden is another A’s pitcher who is due for a great, HEALTHY season. He has tremendous ability, but has had a few injury-plagued seasons and is being drafted as a great injury risk. But he’s a pitcher who has a career ERA of 3.60 - not bad in a hitter's area with sporadic health. He has yet to win as many as 12 games in a season yet, but A's general manager Billy Beane didn’t let all those great pitchers get away for no reason. They believe in Harden and owners should expect him to finally win 15 games this season.
 
5. Khalil Greene, SS - San Diego Padres
Greene is good for something other than fielding. The young shortstop had career-highs with 27 home runs and 97 RBI last season, though they came with massive hot and cold streaks and a .254 season average. He has great hitting ability and he finally showed, even at Petco Park, one of the worst hitting stadiums in baseball. Greene is entering his prime and finally coming into his own offensively - look for 30 homers and 50 doubles this year.
 
6. Michael Bourn, OF - Houston Astros
Although Bourn is inexperienced, this is a safe pick. He’ll hit leadoff in front of Hunter Pence, Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada. That’s not a bad spot to begin for his first full season. His speed is a tangible skill, but hasn’t yet stolen a lot of bases. Bourn is a hometown guy and should be comfortable in Houston, and the Astros are crazy about having him in center field. Again, this division is one of the worst in the majors, and Bourn should be a big part of the revamped Astros' push towards a World Series.
 
7. Willy Taveras, OF - Colorado Rockies
Although Taveras only played in 97 games last year, he stole 33 bases to match the total he put up in 149 games in 2006. He had 34 steals in 152 games in 2005, his last season with the Astros. It seems he’s finally figured out how to use his great speed. Taveras will probably be one of the top major leaguers in hits and should probably steal between 60-75 bases. He’s a great pickup and can rival Chicago's Juan Pierre as one of fantasy's best one-category threats. Plus he plays in Colorado, a hitter’s park.
 
8. Jose Guillen, OF - Kansas City Royals
Yes, he’s a sleeper. He was only owned in 37 percent of leagues last season, despite 99 RBI and a career-best 172 hits. He signed with the Royals in the offseason and should be one of few bright spots for a team that will struggle once again. He may not warrant a draft selection, but will be a great source of home runs and, to a lesser degree, run production. The Royals don’t exactly have a lineup that’s going to produce a lot of runners, so don’t rely on him for runs and RBI.
 
9. Luke Scott, OF - Baltimore Orioles
Scott will be one of the few bright spots for the Orioles this year, as they bring along an extremely young team that should be great in the future. Scott should be a big part of their rebuilding plan, but it’s his first chance to play full time. He only played part-time in the Astros' outfield platoon last season and hit 18 homers with 64 RBI. In a full-time role, Scott should be a great American League hitter from the left side of the plate. At hitter-friendly Camden Yards, Scott has the potential to top 30 home runs and 100 RBI. Although he has had a few bright spots in his career, this is going to be a year that Scott proves himself.
 
10. Rick Ankiel, OF - St. Louis Cardinals
Ankiel isn’t a crazy pick as a four or five hitter. He hit 11 home runs and had a .525 on-base percentage in just 47 games last season. He’s cemented himself as a hitter after crashing and burning as a pitcher with the Cardinals. St. Louis re-signed him to a one-year deal in January, so it is a contract year in his first crack at a big league outfield job. Ankiel should see a lot of fastballs hitting behind Troy Glaus and Albert Pujols and is expected to be the Opening Day starter in center field. 

11. Jhonny Peralta, SS - Cleveland Indians
It’s Peralta's fifth year in the league and, though he does strike out a lot, expect him to have more of a season like 2005 when he hit 24 home runs and slugged .520. He’s in the middle of a talented Indians lineup that will be hungry after last year's ALCS loss to Boston and give Peralta every opportunity to produce. him to have a similar year. All of Cleveland's hitters could wind up with better numbers, but Peralta is the prime breakout candidate. Don't expect the world of him in terms of power, but look for a bunch of hits and great RBI numbers for a shortstop. 
 
12. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B - Cincinnati Reds
Encarnacion finished with a bang last season and had a .289 average, 16 home runs, 76 RBI and a career high 145 hits. He’s not a true power hitter, but should be able to knock out at least 20 homers in his fourth season. He's not typically the type of player that new manager Dusty Baker likes, but if he does get the starting third base job his numbers are going to keep increasing. Encarnacion was only owned in 11 percent of ESPN leagues last season, but that’s going to change. Pick him up, view his progress during spring training, then pencil him in for 20 homers, 80 RBI and 80 runs.
 
13. Jose Castillo, 2B/3B - Florida Marlins
Castillo had a couple of good years with the Pirates and now gets a shot at a full-time role with the Marlins this year. He should remind owners a lot of Aramis Ramirez as a guy who got off to a slow start in Pittsburgh, then took off in 2001. Castillo doesn't possess the same type of power as Ramirez, but you can expect at least 20 homers from him this season. In the Marlins overhauled, youthful lineup, don’t expect too much run production. Castillo and Luis Gonzalez are the team's only hitters to make more than $1 million.
 
14. Josh Willingham, OF - Florida Marlins
It’s not crazy to pick two hitters from the same team - veterans Castillo and Willingham should make each other better. Willingham has combined for 277 hits and 47 home runs in the last two seasons, his first full-time years in the Majors. He can be a great power hitter, capable of hitting 35 homers and slugging better than .500. The addition of Gonzalez will provide support for both Castillo and Willingham and make them great, undervalued additions for fantasy owners.
 
15. Shin-Soo Choo, OF - Cleveland Indians
He’ll be on the Disabled List until May, but he should give fantasy owners a boost as he returns and battles for playing time. The only year he’s had decent playing time was 2006, when he had 44 hits, three home runs and 22 RBI in 49 games. He’s still young at age 25, but should be adapting to the Majors in his third year. He’s a player owners can pick up with a final draft pick or as a free agent and stash away for midseason.