When the team re-signed veteran backstop Bengie Molina, Posey became either an emergency infielder or a minor league catcher in the short-term. There’s no need to get carried away with his versatility. Not yet, anyway. We still like his chances to somehow, someway crack the Giants’ lineup by the All-Star break.

Young Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier is knocking on the door of fantasy’s elite National League hitters, says The Fantasy Man.

Ethier does have a sweet stroke, one that should point to a batting average well beyond the .272 he hit last season. During the course of 2009, though, Ethier did surprisingly hit 31 home runs, drive in 106 runs and establish himself as the Dodgers’ top clutch hitter. Those are some big-time positives, even as Ethier’s BABIP was a lowly .292 — a full 30 points below his career average.

Chinstrap Ninjas likes Cincinnati Reds outfielder Drew Stubbs as one of its nine sleepers for 2010. So do we. Stubbs is a talented guy who will make a big splash in steals and offer sound production elsewhere. As a late rounder, a fantasy owner could do far, far worse.

Jon Schuman at Baseball Fantasy highlights Nos. 11-20 on a suddenly deep list of intriguing shortstops. There’s production to be had in the second level of shortstops, from younger players with untapped potential — Alcides Escobar, Erick Aybar — to veterans with lengthy track records — Miguel Tejada, Rafael Furcal.

Stubbs was a highly touted high school prospect who was billed as a five-tool player entering his career at the University of Texas. The results from his three seasons at Texas never quite matched the hype, but the Reds still saw enough in Stubbs to make him the No. 8 pick in the 2006 amateur draft.

Since his debut as a pro, Stubbs has drifted further away from a do-it-all offensive standout to a player who keeps the ball down, attacks the gaps and makes use of his plus-speed. He struggles to make consistent contact and has a .269 batting average in four minor league seasons, but the rest of his skill set more than makes up for the deficiency.

Stubbs’ baserunning skills have been a revelation. Between Triple-A Louisville and Cincinnati last season, Stubbs efficiently stole 56 bases in 68 attempts. Ten of those steals came in his 42-game stint with the Reds, during which Stubbs spent most of his time as the team’s leadoff hitter and added a surprising 8 home runs in 180 at-bats.

Stubbs’ track record has been enough for Bill James to project 11 homers and steal 51 bases from him in 2010, according to Ray Guilfoyle at Fake Teams.

Even if 51 steals are on the high side, Stubbs offers a power/speed combination not entirely unlike elite speed threats Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Stubbs will quickly rise up draft boards in fantasy, but represents outstanding value as a 15th or 16th round choice in standard mixed leagues. The secret may be out on Stubbs, but he’s still a rarity as a young speed threat with untapped potential and tools to make contributions elsewhere.

Bobby Abreu, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Overview: Trustworthy and reliable veteran who makes solid contributions across all five standard rotisserie categories … power has been on the decline, but is still a stolen base threat and run producer with 7 straight 100-plus RBI seasons under his belt … is looking for a 13th straight season with at least 150 games played.
2009 numbers: .293 avg., 15 HRs, 103 RBIs, 96 runs, 30 SBs in 152 games
Key splits and trends: Durability and balance have been constants throughout his career … gone are the 30/30 seasons, but he still offers 20/30 potential … faded after the All-Star break, which was counter to previous trends in his career … hit .311 and went 19-for-22 in stolen base attemps before the break, then .273 and 11-for-16 SBAs after it.
Strengths: Speed is his best individual asset, but is rare in that he can drive in runs as well … is a known commodity who plays every day and produces consistent numbers from season to season.
Weaknesses: Is drafted early in fantasy, where more power should be expected from a corner outfielder … is in the twilight of his career with his best days behind him.
Bold prediction for 2010: Not so bold, but all signs point to another season with a .290 avg., 30 SBs and 100 RBIs.

There’s a balance to be struck between production, upside and a player’s position. Going into a draft dead set on filling scarce positions immediately is just as bad as completely disregarding position for the sake of stockpiling top talent. The best balance is found when an owner fluidly navigates a draft, identifying the best value for his particular situation.

Baseball Professor looks at off-season moves that have had the biggest impact in fantasy. Benefactors, according to their panel of writers, included Roy Halladay, who was traded to Philadelphia; Curtis Granderson, trade to the Yankees; and the Boston Red Sox pitching staff, boosted by management’s approach to team defense.

Lester’s Legends likes Colorado Rockies’ ace Ubaldo Jimenez as a No. 2 starting pitcher in fantasy. Jimenez has come a long way in two seasons, and he’s certainly distanced himself from the Coors Field factor. Last season, Jimenez improved in virtually all areas and, as Lester’s Legends points out, groundballs were again a key to his success. Jimenez had a hearty 1.26 groundball-to-flyball ratio, inducing 344 grounders to 274 fly outs.

Roto Professor Eric Stashin makes the case for Tampa Bay Rays’ prospect Desmond Jennings as the best rookie prospect in fantasy this season. Jennings is a virtual clone of talented, do-it-all Rays’ outfielders Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton, and he brings the same type of power/speed combination to the table. He is a starting job away from fantasy relevance, an opportunity that Stashin says will come by the All-Star break.

Seattle Mariners’ third baseman Chone Figgins checks in at No. 57 on Fantasy Baseball Hot Stove’s preseason player rankings. Figgins moves to Seattle, but expectations shouldn’t drastically change. The dilemma with Figgins is, what to do with his extreme lack of power at a corner infield position?

The top 10 at the position is pretty sound, but anything after that and you’re wishing on a star with nearly no breakout prospects.

Position rankings
1. Alex Rodriguez, NYY: Overcame hip injury, steroids woes to post 30 HRs, 100 RBIs
2. Evan Longoria, TB: Has potential to pass A-Rod as power numbers continue to rise
3. David Wright, NYM: Excellent pure hitter, but the long ball has no place at Citi Field
4. Ryan Zimmerman, WAS: His .292/33/106 campaign is just the tip of the iceberg
5. Mark Reynolds, ARZ: Broke out with 44 HRs, 24 SBs, but skeptics see record K total
6. Aramis Ramirez, CHC: Shoulder injury derailed run at 4th straight 100-RBI season
7. Pablo Sandoval, SF: Kung Fu Panda backed up preseason hype with .330/25/90 year
8. Chone Figgins, SEA: No power, but has top-notch run-scoring and stolen-base ability
9. Gordon Beckham, CHW: Move to 2nd base in ‘10 is a better fit for his fantasy game
10. Michael Young, TEX: Hit 22 HRs in just 135 games after 21 HRs total in ’08 and ’09
11. Chipper Jones, ATL: Our bust pick, Chipper had his worst season in years in ’10
12. Adrian Beltre, BOS: Sleeper has the lineup protection to push 30 HRs again
13. Ian Stewart, COL: Hit a dismal .228 but has 30-HR potential playing in Coors
14. Casey Blake, LAD: Has so-so power, but is steady with decent AVG and RBI output
15. Jhonny Peralta, CLE: Career low in HRs last year since becoming full-time starter

Draft tip
Similar to first base, third base is a position known mostly for its offense. However, there isn’t the depth at third base like there is at first, which is why if you miss on a top-of-the-line third baseman, you may as well wait a few rounds before taking a stab at the next one.

After David Wright, Ryan Zimmerman and Mark Reynolds, the next crop of third basemen offers comparable production and upside. Aramis Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval, Chone Figgins and Gordon Beckham represent the next tier, all four of whom can be found after the first five rounds of standard drafts.

Sleeper
Adrian Beltre, Boston Red Sox: Beltre isn’t the same player that hit .334 with 48 HRs and 121 RBI in his contract year with the Dodgers. Beltre moved on to Seattle in 2005 and his production immediately tailed off. Boston’s supporting cast is significantly better than Seattle’s, offering Beltre protection in the lineup and some potential to drive in runs. We don’t expect Beltre to have a renaissance and put up those same numbers from 2004, but he could have his best season since coming over to the AL.

Hibernator
Jake Fox, Oakland Athletics: Fox, who qualifies at third base, could crack the A’s lineup in the outfield or as a designated hitter. The team’s recent acquisition of Kevin Kouzmanoff from the San Diego Padres closes the door at the hot corner, but plenty others remain open. From Rajai Davis in left to Ryan Sweeney in right and Jack Cust at the DH, Fox could get a shot either by injury or ineffectiveness. If so, he brings quality power and RBI potential to the table.

Bust
Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves: After chasing .400 for most of 2008, age caught up to Jones in ’09. Jones had career lows in home runs (18) and RBIs (71), and his .264 average was the second worst of his career. He turns 38 in April, and it looks like Chipper’s best days are behind him.

Rookie watch
A few names to watch, though none are expected to reach the majors in 2010. Pirates’ farmhand Pedro Alvarez is probably the best mix of talent and proximity to his major league debut, but Lonnie Chisenhall (Indians) and Mike Moustakas (Royals) are skilled players with bright futures. Cubs’ prospect Josh Vitters may have the best raw power of the group, but is sorely in need of some offensive refinement.

Jake Peavy, SP, Chicago White Sox
Overview: 28-year-old right-hander looking to re-claim his place among fantasy’s best pitchers … is in his first full season with the White Sox, where he went 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 3 starts last season … is as hungry as he’s been in his career, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, but embarks on a full season in a hitter’s park … when healthy, is a Cy Young candidate and one of baseball’s top strikeout artists.
2009 numbers: 9-6, 3.45 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 110 strikeouts in 101.2 IP
Key splits and trends: Missed time with an ankle injury and an elbow injury after getting hit with a line drive in a minor league rehab start … gave up at least 3 runs in each of his first 5 starts and finished the month of April with a 5.74 ERA … went 7-1 over his final 8 starts, including a 3-0 mark with the White Sox.
Strengths: Is a premium source of strikeouts and ratios … has swing-and-miss stuff and consistently ranks among the Major League’s most difficult pitchers to hit … finally lands on a team that will provide decent run support.
Weaknesses: Unknowns count as strikes against him, most notably the transition to the American League and how he’ll fare in a hitter’s park.
Bold prediction for 2010: Handles the AL just fine and finishes in the top five of Cy Young balloting.

The prototypical fantasy second baseman hits for high average, scores runs and puts up competitive numbers across the board. Beyond Utley, who provides big-time production in all these areas, the second tier of second basemen goes seven deep. In order, Utley, Kinsler, Brandon Phillips, Dustin Pedroia, Brian Roberts, Aaron Hill and Robinson Cano all will produce at a very solid level.

1. Chase Utley, PHI: Full season, at the least, will yield typical .290-30-100-100-15 line
2. Ian Kinsler, TEX: Looking for more consistency, in terms of both production and health
3. Brandon Phillips, CIN: Safe play with rare ability for 25 HRs, 25 SBs, 100 RBIs
4. Dustin Pedroia, BOS: High batting average, plenty of runs, not much anywhere else
5. Brian Roberts, BAL: A known commodity as a consistent SB threat with surprising pop
6. Aaron Hill, TOR: Breakout season last year; obvious question is, can he repeat it?
7. Robinson Cano, NYY: Sweet swinger is prime benefactor of Yanks’ powerful lineup
8. Gordon Beckham, CHW: Strikes gold with 2B eligibility; could be Chase Utley-lite
9. Ben Zobrist, TB: See Aaron Hill.
10. Jose Lopez, SEA: Solid overall player and good RBI guy, but is light in power
11. Dan Uggla, FLA: He is what he is: high HR count, low AVG. Swing away, Dan
12. Howie Kendrick, LAA: Injury prone, but talented; hit a sizzling .358 in 2nd half of ‘09
13. Orlando Hudson, FA: Man without a team, but with Gold Glove and usable fantasy bat
14. Rickie Weeks, MIL: Showed glimpses in ‘09 until wrist injury ended his season
15. Martin Prado, ATL: A full season at second base could make Prado a draft day steal

Draft Tips
Utley is an early-to-mid first-rounder. After that, six second baseman can offer very similar production. Beyond them, guys like Hill or Roberts are lesser known commodoties who could be steals in the middle rounds. Depth is an issue at the position, in terms of finding backups, but controlled upside candidates like Howie Kendrick and Rickie Weeks are available for low price tags in the later rounds of drafts.

Sleeper
Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers: Thirty-seven games into the 2009 season, Weeks looks like he had finally figured it out. On pace for 30-plus home runs and with a respectable .272 average, he was ready to break out before a tear in his wrist ended his season. Time’s running out for this former top prospect to finally arrive, but a full year to get his wrist right is a good start.

Hibernator
Martin Prado, Atlanta Braves: Getting his first extended action in his career last year, Prado put up a .307 average and had the fifth-highest OPS (.822) among Major League second basemen last season. Prado, 26, won’t ever be a dominator at second base, but has the skills to be useful with a .290-15-60-70-5 type line.

Bust
Dan Uggla, Marlins: Simply put, Uggla’s a hack. He swings and misses more than many in the league, as his high strikeout rates indicates. He may get to 30 HRs and 90 RBIs once again, but not without bringing down a fantasy team’s batting average significantly. Be prepared to take the good with the bad when selecting Uggla.

Rookie Watch
Barring the conversion of Mariners’ prospect Dustin Ackley from outfield to second base, pickings are mighty slim for fantasy prospects in the minors. Take your quest for talent in another direction.

Francisco Rodriguez, RP, New York Mets
Overview: The Major League single-season saves record holder (62), whose star has fallen since signing with the New York Mets last season … established career-worst marks in strikeouts (73), ERA (3.71), saves (35) and blown saves (7) in his Mets debut … has logged heavy innings, so has more wear and tear than a typical 28-year-old reliever … fantasy value hinges on bounceback, especially with his ERA and Ks.
2009 numbers: 3-6, 3.71 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 35 saves, 73 Ks in 68.0 IP
Key splits and trends: Struggled in the second half of the season, posting a 6.75 ERA in 29 appearances … inordinate number of baserunners caught up with him as he became more hittable (.241 BAA in 2nd half) … even more worrisome is that his BABIP was at a career-low .270 last season.
Strengths: Key strength as he became an elite fantasy closer was his K rate, which fell for the sixth straight season … is still a reliable source of saves, but ratios are more in line with middle tier of closers.
Weaknesses: Walks have always been a problem, but especially now as numbers decline elsewhere … downward trends across the board are scary and do nothing to dispel notion that he’s racked up too much mileage.
Bold prediction for 2010: Downward trends continue as he posts his first career season with a 4.00 ERA.

Unlike most other positions, there isn’t a huge drop off between the first two tiers. Most teams put their big, strong defensive liability at first, making it a predominantly offensive position.

Position rankings
1. Albert Pujols, STL: Who else could it be? Legitimate Triple Crown candidate
2. Mark Teixeira, NYY: Slow starter has huge power potential in Yankee Stadium
3. Miguel Cabrera, DET: If his head is on straight, another guy with Triple Crown potential
4. Prince Fielder, MIL: Has finished second in MLB in HRs two of last three seasons
5. Ryan Howard, PHI: Added higher AVG to monster HR and RBI numbers
6. Adrian Gonzalez, SD: Began ’09 on a tear; can hit for power despite Petco Park factor
7. Joey Votto, CIN: Finished strong with .374 AVG, 16 doubles in September
8. Justin Morneau, MIN: If healthy, is an elite run producer with AL MVP potential
9. Kevin Youkilis, BOS: High AVG and increased HR power; qualifies at 3B as well
10. Kendry Morales, LAA: Pleasantly surprised with .300/30/100 line first year as starter
11. Derrek Lee, CHC: Power numbers returned in ’09; should go for .300/30/100 again.
12. Billy Butler, KC: Young and getting better; should hit 30 HRs and knock in 100
13. Lance Berkman, HOU: Had lowest AVG, fewest RBIs since becoming full-time starter
14. Carlos Pena, TB: Big-time HRs and good RBI production, but with a crippling AVG
15. Chris Davis, TEX: Plays in hitter-friendly park and hit .290 in September last season

Draft tips
With so much offensive talent, you have the option of waiting a few rounds before drafting a first baseman. That doesn’t necessarily mean pass on an elite first baseman in the first two rounds — half your league could grab one in the first round alone — it just means the player you’re taking instead needs to be well worth the pick.

If you happen to be drafting later in the first round and the likes of Albert Pujols, Mark Teixeira or Miguel Cabrera are gone, waiting another round or two later before taking a first baseman might be a good idea. Joey Votto, Adrian Gonzalez and Mark Reynolds, who also qualifies at third base, are just a few of the options on the board after the first round.

Sleeper
Nick Johnson, Yankees: How many times has Johnson been labeled a sleeper? Probably since 2002, his second season in pinstripes. Johnson is back in the Bronx for another run and should get a number of at-bats at DH and fill in for Teixeira enough to qualify as a first baseman. He hasn’t played in a hitter’s park since his first run in New York and with the jet stream blowing out to the short right field porch, Johnson could hit 25 home runs and drive in 90.

Hibernator
Jim Thome, Twins: It wasn’t too long ago that the aging Thome was still wandering the baseball streets as a free agent. After signing with the Twins, Thome could at the very least platoon as a DH with Jason Kubel. However, he could see significant time this season if Justin Morneau’s back continues to be a problem. Morneau was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back in September.

Bust
Carlos Delgado, Mets: The 16-year veteran is coming off a season in which he played only 26 games, none after May 11. Delgado missed most of the season because of a hip injury - not a good thing for someone turning 38 in June. He had a nice average last year before getting hurt but had only four home runs in 94 at-bats. Those expecting a rebound of 30 homers and 100 RBIs will be sorely disappointed.

Rookie watch
Oakland general manager Billy Beane won’t hesitate to go with (another) full-blown youth movement if the Athletics are out of the hunt by summer. That could be good news for Chris Carter, the future at first base for the A’s. Carter has exceptional power, and with the wide gaps in Oakland, could hit for a number of doubles as well as home runs. He won’t start from Day 1, but he could be up in the big leagues by mid June.

Pickings can be slim in fantasy. There’s an immense dropoff from Tier 1 to Tier 2 in this group, from proven commodities Joe Mauer, Victor Martinez and Brian McCann to a slew of question marks beginning with second-year megatalent Matt Wieters. After McCann, every single player at the position has his issues.

Position rankings
1. Joe Mauer, MIN: Reigning AL MVP took big strides with his 28 HRs last season
2. Victor Martinez, BOS: Benefits from full season in Boston, where he hit .336 in ‘09
3. Brian McCann, ATL: Poor man’s Martinez - only chink in armor is hit-or-miss AVG
4. Matt Wieters, BAL: Next big thing behind the dish, could make rapid ascent to 30 HRs
5. Jorge Posada, NYY: Elder statesman, but one of the position’s premier power hitters
6. Kurt Suzuki, OAK: Broke out last season with nice combo of 15 HRs, 88 RBIs, 8 SBs
7. Miguel Montero, ARI: Soared in 2nd half of ‘09; momentum should lead to 20 HRs
8. Russell Martin, LAD: At a crossroads; time to rebound or further sink into mediocrity
9. Chris Iannetta, COL: Even during nightmare season, hit 16 HRs in just 289 at-bats
10. Geovany Soto, CHC: After disappointing season, mysteriously dropped 40 pounds
11. Mike Napoli, LAA: Hacker makes the most of ABs; seeks 3rd straight 20-HR season
12. Bengie Molina, SF: Cheap source of RBIs, but at age 35, keep expectations in check
13. Ryan Doumit, PIT: After wrist injury, showed potential with torrid September (.346)
14. Yadier Molina, STL: Is a known commodity, offering solid AVG and little else
15. Buster Posey, SF: Begins season in the minors, but has skills for mid-season surge

Draft tips
Define your stance on Mauer, Martinez and McCann. Their availability can set an entire plan into motion. If a run on the elite backstops leaves you high and dry, we would suggest being prepared to wait and build depth elsewhere. The reason? From Wieters to Miguel Montero to Mike Napoli to Chris Iannetta, there are nice upside players scattered throughout the position. Most can be had for good value.

With that in mind, we would also suggest walking into drafts with clears Plans A and B. If no Mauer, then who? If Sleeper A goes off the board, who’s Sleeper B?

Sleeper
Chris Iannetta, Rockies: With 400-plus at-bats, this guy could trip and fall over 20 home runs. The Rockies signed him to a contract extension in the offseason, but also brought in veteral Miguel Olivo to compete for the job. Our hunch is that Iannetta wins out and hits 25-plus homers.

Hibernator
Carlos Santana, Indians: Santana enters spring training with no guarantee for a job, but could easily beat out Lou Marson for the starting gig. Santana, a good athlete and switch hitter, hits for power and average and immediately becomes a top 10 fantasy catcher with a guarantee of at-bats.

Bust
Bengie Molina, Giants: Molina is still a big name — and a big man — but age can’t possibly be good to him. Look for fewer starts and lower totals in all offensive categories. He’s still useful, but is now simply a stopgap until prospect Buster Posey is ready to take over regular catching duties.

Rookie watch
Speaking of Posey … he may begin the year as a catcher in the minors, but he could finish it as a utility infielder in the majors. The Giants will need an offensive spark, one that the talented Posey could provide late in the year. Posey, 22, is also versatile enough to play all over the diamond, which could speed up his arrival.

As good as Posey is billed to be, Santana could be even better. Keep an eye on both these guys, they should both arrive by the summer and hit the ground running in the majors.