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.

Josh Hamilton, OF, Texas Rangers
Overview: Dynamic, five-tool outfielder with a checkered past and a recent history of injury troubles … had surgery on his abdomen last season and missed time with back and groin injuries … already has a bruised shoulder early in spring training but not considered serious … was still on pace for over 100 RBIs last season despite playing just 89 games.
2009 numbers: .268 avg, 10 HRs, 54 RBIs, 43 runs in 89 games
Key splits and trends: In one of the friendliest parks for a hitter, Hamilton surprisingly just hit .226 at home … when finally healthy in August, Hamilton tore the cover off the ball, hitting .342 and driving in 17, but had just one long ball … continued a strong trend of hitting in clutch situations, with a .314 avg. with RISP.
Strengths: Few can match Hamilton’s raw power, which he showcased in the 2008 Home Run Derby with 28 homers in the first round … hits well away from home and is a strong run producer … finally appears to have his head on straight.
Weaknesses: Always have to wonder about a drug relapse … has a short track record of success, and it’s been marred by recent injuries … already has a bruised left shoulder in spring training.
Bold prediction for 2010: Power numbers, and health, return and he’ll make another run at 30 HRs and 120 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 Spring Training approaches.

Nelson Cruz, OF, Texas Rangers
Overview: After bursting onto the scene in 2008, backed that up with a powerful ‘09 season, in which he played over 100 games for first time in his career … is a big, powerful hitter, but a good athlete and baserunner … homers and steals are his bread and butter, and they are likely to come at the expense of a so-so batting average … missed 15 games with a sprained ankle, an injury that slowed him in the second half.
2009 numbers: .260 avg., 33 HRs, 76 RBIs, 75 runs, 20 SBs in 128 games.
Key splits and trends: Hit .286 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, in contrast to a paltry .232 average on the road … power numbers declined in the second half, partly because of the ankle sprain … hit 11 HRs and drove in just 23 runs after the All-Star break.
Strengths: Power and speed can be an elite combination … was one of just three players in the American League to hit 30+ home runs and steal 20+ bases, and he did it in just 128 games …. with a full season’s work, offers 40 HR/20 SB potential.
Weaknesses: Batting average will drain fantasy lineups everywhere … must work on consistency, especially on the road … Rangers also want better RBI production in the middle of their lineup.
Bold prediction for 2010: Another rollercoaster ride is likely, but one that yields 35 home runs and 30 stolen bases.

Young Texas Rangers’ flamethrower Neftali Feliz’s future is uncertain. We know that. The Rangers’ roster is chock full of starting pitcher types, and Feliz is part of that parade, albeit the youngest and most talented. But, would it be so terrible — for both Feliz and fantasy owners — if he moved to the bullpen and emerged as a top-flight closer?

The idea isn’t that far-fetched, according to the Dallas Morning News. And, if Feliz were to be the odd man out in the starting rotation, he’d be just a small step away from taking the place of oft-injured Frank Francisco. 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 Spring Training approaches.

Michael Young, 3B, Texas Rangers
Overview: Reluctantly moved from shortstop to third base last season to make room for rookie SS Elvis Andrus … proceeded to have a resurgent offensive season, despite missing much of September with a hamstring strain … power numbers (22 HRs) were the most pleasant surprise … loses shortstop eligibility this season, so will need to repeat his power performance to be a viable starter as a corner infielder.
2009 numbers: .322 avg., 22 HRs, 68 RBIs, 76 runs, 8 SBs in 135 games
Key splits and trends: Run production suffered, even as he established a new career-high with a .518 slugging percentage … much of his power came after the All-Star break, when he hit .345 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs … mashed at Rangers Ballpark, hitting .347, compared to .297 on the road.
Strengths: Consistency is his most viable strength … is always a contender for 200 hits and has the lineup support to vie for 100 runs and 100 RBIs … wild cards in his fantasy value are HR and SB totals.
Weaknesses: Isn’t likely to repeat slugging performance, which will mean below average HR production … there are signs of erosion; single-season hits total has declined in 4 straight seasons.
Bold prediction for 2010: Young spends more time on the DL, and his hits total declines for a 5th straight season.

Vladimir Guerrero signed with the Texas Rangers last week, marking the end of a six-year reign as one of the American League’s most dominant hitters with the Los Angeles Angels. Guerrero, who made the switch to full-time designated hitter last season, struggled with injuries and played in just 100 games. For the first time in 13 seasons, he fell short of a .300 average, hitting .295 with 14 home runs and 50 RBIs.

Is there any chance Guerrero, who soon turns 35, bounces back with the Rangers and salvages the last handful of years in his career?

Of course, it’s a possibility. But unlike past Rangers’ DHs, a move to Arlington is no magic, cure-all solution for Guerrero. Health, regardless of home stadium or the amount of lineup support he has, is the ultimate key for Guerrero. And the last information we have shows Guerrero aging poorly and unable to stay healthy, even as a full-time DH. Read more »

Texas Rangers right-hander Neftali Feliz is a rare talent. He’s just now getting his foot in the door with the Major League club, but his stardom has been a foregone conclusion since signing with the Atlanta Braves as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2006. Now, he’s becoming a more and more valued member of the Rangers’ bullpen, armed with a fastball regularly clocked in triple digits.

Feliz’s future is in the Texas rotation, and early results from his first three appearances suggest that he will make a smooth transition next season. He’s allowed just an Adam Kennedy home run while striking out eight and walking none in 4.2 innings as a reliever. Even though setup men only carry so much value in basic rotisserie leagues, ones with sky-high upside and bright futures can help both in the current and future seasons for keeper leaguers. Read more »

The Texas Rangers have been one of baseball’s most pleasant surprises this season, and not just for the fact they enter Wednesday’s games leading the American League West by 4.5 games.

Texas has finally assembled a pitching staff that can keep its potent offense in games, which is all that can be expected of it. How the group can sustain its [relative] success is another question entirely, but for now it hangs in the middle of the pack in Major League ERA and supports the game’s seventh-highest scoring offense. Read more »

The “fluke” alarms are already sounding, in Cleveland and across the roto universe. Cleveland Indians left-hander Cliff Lee was roughed up in his 2009 debut, giving up 10 hits and seven runs in five innings against the Texas Rangers Monday afternoon. This was a stern early test, but one that the reigning American League Cy Young award winner failed badly.

One start doesn’t make Lee’s season. That’s obvious. But, even his biggest proponents were a little unsure of his abilities to follow up such a dominant, unexpected season. And that hint of doubt turned into a much bigger concern just five innings into the 2009 season. Read more »

We’re seeing a lot of different reactions to Alex Rodriguez’s admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs. The interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons has been called an undetailed version of the truth, a ploy by A-Rod to control the damage, and a disingenuous attempt to further fleece baseball fans everywhere.

It was also called, by SI.com’s Jon Heyman, a good first step for the slugger. And it was. We didn’t have to buy the sappy charade or the fact that A-Rod never knew what he was ingesting or that he never knew he tested positive. Rodriguez still laid himself at the mercy of the court and gave us some kind of confession and apology, and that’s enough for now. Read more »

Michael Young didn’t have to like it, but he accepted the Texas Rangers’ plan to move him to third base, the Dallas Morning News reported on its blog Thursday. This clears the way for young Elvis Andrus to debut at shortstop and for Hank Blalock to shift into the primary designated hitter role. 

A very professional move by Young, who came to terms with a position change after taking an adamant stance against it. He cited pride for his initial resistance to the idea, then duties to his teammates and talks with team president Nolan Ryan as reasons for coming around. Read more »