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.

Victor Martinez, C, Boston Red Sox
Overview: Big, athletic switch hitter who can hit for power and average as well as drive in runs … was traded to the Red Sox last July after spending seven seasons as a top catcher for the Indians … has flexibility in fantasy as his eligibility should be for catcher and first base.
2009 numbers: .303 avg., 23 HRs, 108 RBIs, 88 runs, 1 SB in 155 games.
Key splits and trends: Exploded after trade to Red Sox, batting .336 with a team-high 41 RBIs in 56 games … is a better left-handed hitter, with a .316 BA versus .273 right handed … has never topped 25 HRs in a season, including a serious drought in 2008 when he hit just 2 HRs in 266 at-bats … is a disciplined hitter, who for the first time in his career, had more walks (75) than strikeouts (74) in ‘09.
Strengths: His flexibility is always a great asset to fantasy, though he has far more value behind the plate … can expect a high average and a good run at 100 RBIs, both of which are rarities among catches.
Weaknesses: As good at hitter as he is, power has never been an asset … is also a heavy-footed base runner who will neither steal bases nor score runs.
Bold Prediction for 2010: Firmly cements himself as the No. 2 catcher  in fantasy with a .300 BA, 25 HRs, 120 RBIs, 90 runs.

Catchers are typically the slowest, least athletic position players on a baseball field. Unlike first basemen, who can be just as slow and bulky, a catcher’s offensive contributions, specifically power, are not requirements of the job. Because of the defensive-minded nature of the position, good athletes and good hitters are typically few and far between.

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. Read more »

There’s a certain amount of unpredictability leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, but all indications are that the action will once again revolve around the American League East. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are traditionally the most active buyers on the market, and the Tampa Bay Rays are emerging as parties interested in pulling a big deal by the end of the month.

And that’s just the buyers. The Toronto Blue Jays have the most coveted trade chip to sell in ace right-hander Roy Halladay, and the Baltimore Orioles have some nice, tradeable assets in relievers Danys Baez and George Sherrill to help continue their youth movement. Read more »

Fans and fantasy owners can be remarkably short-sighted.

In trying to project for an upcoming season, the tendency is to look at last season’s results and assume they are going to repeat themselves. Understandably so, too; the fresher information is the safest approach to evaluating players and the best way to feel good about the picks you’ve made.

It takes some guts to reach for a rookie or a player coming off an injury plagued season. We can’t look at the statistics and feel safe in our decision-making, so we tend to avoid those players and only look at them when prices are absolutely right. Read more »

Cleveland Indians prospect Matt LaPorta is on the cusp of a major league career, but his first chance may not come until late 2009 or 2010. The Indians have a glut of outfielders and seem content to give LaPorta a full year of seasoning at Triple-A Columbus before inserting him into their everyday lineup.

LaPorta was the seventh overall pick in the 2007 draft as a slugging first baseman out of the University of Florida. He proceeded to mash in his first minor league season, then got off to an excellent start in ‘08 when he hit .288 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs in 84 games with Milwaukee’s Double-A Huntsville. Read more »