Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is fighting to put a horrendous, confusing, injury-marred first four months of the season behind him.

The speedy Boston Red Sox outfielder has dealt with a rib injury for nearly the entire season, a nagging wound suffered on April 11 that didn’t get a correct diagnosis immediately, according to ESPNBoston.com.

So, nearly 100 games later, Ellsbury is still trying to make an impact, both for the Red Sox and the many fantasy owners who made a sizable invest in him. For the first time this season, Ellsbury, batting ninth in the order against the Yankees, did just that. Read more »

New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez hasn’t just stumbled on his path to career home run No. 600.

Rodriguez hasn’t been his usual, powerful self all season, starting with the home runs and including a career-low .471 slugging percentage. He’s productive, but isn’t the roto star we’ve all come to know. Read more »

For fantasy owners with a stake in Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett, home runs have been the source of steady frustration. Long balls have been partially responsible for spikes in production from season to season, and they have played a large part in his shorter, more implosive outings. In his first start of 2010, home runs by Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson helped derail a disastrous outing and send Beckett to the showers early.

As a member of the Florida Marlins, Beckett allowed 0.8 home runs per 9 innings and had a sub-4.00 ERA in four of his five seasons. Since his 2006 trade to Boston, that rate has swelled to 1.1 homers per 9 in four seasons. Certainly, there are external factors involved — the gauntlet of offenses in the AL East, Fenway Park, his transition to the American League — but some of that responsibility is on Beckett. Read more »

We will be rolling out plenty of 2010 fantasy baseball coverage in the coming days, weeks and months, but let’s start right here with player-by-player profiles of our rough top 100 preseason rankings. Stay tuned to the site for more player profiles, draft kit information, rankings, sleepers, busts, etc. as the regular season approaches.

Curtis Granderson, OF, New York Yankees
Overview: Five-tool player moving from Detroit to New York, where he joins the most potent offense in the AL … is still in the running for the valuable No. 2 spot in the Yankees’ lineup … has four productive, albeit slightly imperfect, seasons under his belt … power numbers spiked while his average plummeted in ‘09 … is two years removed from becoming one of four players with at least 20 doubles, triples, homeruns and stolen bases in a season.
2009 numbers: .249 avg., 30 HRs, 71 RBIs, 91 runs, 20 SBs in 160 games
Key splits and trends: Average has declined in each of the last two seasons, bottoming out at .249 in ‘09 … warrants benching against left-handed starters, putting up a .183 BA with only 2 HRs and 9 RBIs last season … hit for much better numbers across the board away in 2009; 20 HR, .267 BA.
Strengths: Main strength is his versatility and ability to produce in almost every category … move to the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium will be a benefit to power and run production numbers … has 20/20 potential, perhaps more if his power trends continue.
Weaknesses: Is unpredictable when it comes to making contact … swing gets long, so he’s prone to strikeouts and a low batting average … fantasy owners must work off the assumption he’ll hit in the .250 range … is a man without a lineup spot; could hit as high as second or as low as seventh or eighth in the Yankees’ order.
Bold prediction for 2010: A well-protected lineup breeds more fastballs and a better average along with more runs scored: .280 BA, 30 HRs, 80 RBIs, 100+ runs scored.

We will be rolling out plenty of 2010 fantasy baseball coverage in the coming days, weeks and months, but let’s start right here with player-by-player profiles of our rough top 100 preseason rankings. Stay tuned to the site for more player profiles, draft kit information, rankings, sleepers, busts, etc. as the regular season approaches.

Javier Vazquez, SP, New York Yankees
Overview: Rejoins the Yankees, where he had a 4.91 ERA in 2004 … is coming off arguably his best season, posting a 2.87 ERA in his lone season with the Braves to finish fourth in the NL Cy Young voting … was traded to New York in a four-player deal this offseason … has long been one of fantasy’s most reliable strikeout artists, but has posted a sub-4.00 ERA just twice in the last six seasons.
2009 numbers: 15-10, 2.87 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 238 Ks in 219.1 IP.
Key splits and trends: Stayed consistent throughout the season, never posting an ERA higher than 3.76 in any month … shut opponents down with a 1.27 ERA in his 15 victories … 34.8 percent fly ball ratio was his lowest since 2002; any rise could cause an increase in HRs at Yankee Stadium … is a workhorse with 30+ starts and 198+ IP in each of the last 10 seasons.
Strengths: Durability and consistency are valuable; know what to expect from him in fantasy … strikeouts are another premium contribution; he averages 8.1 Ks per 9 thorughout his career.
Weaknesses: Solid work has never yielded impressive numbers in wins or ERA … move to the American League and hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium almost assures a significant rise in his ERA, probably into the neighborhood of his career 4.17 mark.
Bold prediction for 2010: Run support may rise, but so will numbers in all major pitching categories: 15-12, 3.70 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 220 Ks.

We will be rolling out plenty of 2010 fantasy baseball coverage in the coming days, weeks and months, but let’s start right here with player-by-player profiles of our rough top 100 preseason rankings. Stay tuned to the site for more player profiles, draft kit information, rankings, sleepers, busts, etc. as the regular season approaches.

Robinson Cano, 2B, New York Yankees
Overview: Bounced back last year after a disappointing 2008 campaign … validated the comparisons to Hall of Famer Rod Carew by showing his dynamic ability to hit for both power and average … had 200 hits for the first time in his career and ranked fifth in the American League with 75 XBH … power numbers increased across the board last year.
2009 numbers: .320 avg, 25 HRs, 85 RBIs, 103 runs, 5 SBs in 161 games
Key splits and trends: Cano struggled in May and June with a .271 average combined, but led all second basemen with 94 hits and had a .336 average after the All-Star break … was consistent away from Yankees Stadium with a .338/.303 split.
Strengths: Is surrounded by all-world talent throughout the entire order … has power to all fields and drives the ball in the gaps … has missed a total of six games over the last three years … still hasn’t maxed out his potential.
Weaknesses: Still has little, if any, plate discipline … walked just 30 times last year … is often bounced around the lineup and, as a result, his production could fluctuate.
Bold prediction for 2010: For the fourth time in his short career, Cano will top .300 with 27 home runs and just under 100 RBIs.

We will be rolling out plenty of 2010 fantasy baseball coverage in the coming days, weeks and months, but let’s start right here with player-by-player profiles of our rough top 100 preseason rankings. Stay tuned to the site for more player profiles, draft kit information, rankings, sleepers, busts, etc. as the regular season approaches.

Derek Jeter, SS, New York Yankees
Overview: Classy leader of World Series Champions advancing in age (35, 36 in June), but also coming off a resurgent offensive season in ‘09 … had possibly his worst statistical season in ‘08, then bounced back to contend for American League MVP honors … at his best, is an AL batting title contender with potential for 20 HRs, 20 SBs, 110 runs and 70 RBIs … there are ongoing concerns about his age, especially after showing signs of regression in ‘08.
2009 numbers: .334 avg., 18 HRs, 66 RBI, 107 runs, 30 SBs in 153 games.
Key splits and trends: Consistent whether home or away, though HR totals are higher at home (13 to 5 last season) playing in the bandbox that is Yankee Stadium … heated up throughout the year, peaking with a .377 BA in August.
Strengths: Setting the table in front of Teixeira and A-Rod, runs will again be ample … is among the best bets in baseball to post a .300+ average and has room for much more … offers balanced contributions with average or above average category contributions across the board … is also very stabile, having played in 150+ games in 11 of his 14 seasons as a starter.
Weaknesses: Age could be one of the only things slowing him down … true value lies in power and speed, and those categories are more iffy as he gets older.
Bold prediction for 2010: Comes through with a prototype season, but with dips to 12 HRs and 15 SBs.

Curious who New York Yankees catching prospect Jesus Montero is and why he’s popping up in 2010 fantasy baseball position rankings? Our suggestion: find out what he’s all about. You’ll be glad you did.

Montero, 20, is by most accounts the next great offensive catcher, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound cross between Paul Bunyan, Chuck Norris and Johnny Bench. He can hit for power and average and, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, is patient and has a good approach at the plate. Read more »

There’s always a handful of Hot Stove surprises, and this year’s biggest yet has to be the New York Yankees’ dealing outfielder Melky Cabrera to the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Javier Vazquez today.

It was a good deal for the Yankees, who acquire a top-notch, innings-eating No. 3 starter and trade away prospects and a good, but expendable, young player in Cabrera. Surely, general manager Brian Cashman has a plan in place to replace Cabrera’s production and restock his empty cupboard of outfielders. Read more »

Former New York Yankees designated hitter Hideki Matsui signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels this week, according to the LA Daily News. Matsui comes off a resurgent season, in which he hit .274 with 28 home runs and 90 RBIs, and ventures away from New York for the first time in his Major League career.

Matsui figures to take on the same role in Los Angeles as he did in New York. The 35-year-old got 437 of his 456 at-bats last season as the Yankees’ designated hitter, and he led all DHs with 27 homers, according to MLB.com. The Angels are deep in the outfield and should call on Matsui to man left field only on the rarest of occasions. Read more »