Top 250

1. Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers

2. Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Tigers

4. Albert Pujols, 1B, Angels

5. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies

6. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Red Sox

7. Jose Bautista, OF, Blue Jays

8. Justin Upton, OF, Diamondbacks

9. Joey Votto, 1B, Reds

10. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Red Sox

11. Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees

12. Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays

13. Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers

14. Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox

15. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates

16. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Rockies

17. Prince Fielder, 1B, Tigers

18. Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins

19. Curtis Granderson, OF, Yankees

20. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers

21. Justin Verlander, SP, Tigers

22. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies

23. Cliff Lee, SP, Phillies

24. Jose Reyes, SS, Mets

25. Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees

26. Brett Lawrie, 3B, Blue Jays

27. Carlos Santana, C/1B, Indians

28. Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners

29. Matt Holliday, OF, Cardinals

30. Mike Stanton, OF, Marlins

31. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Nationals

32. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Rangers

33. Jered Weaver, SP, Angels

34. David Wright, 3B, Mets

35. Tim Lincecum, SP, Giants

36. Josh Hamilton, OF, Rangers

37. Mike Napoli, C/1B, Rangers

38. Hunter Pence, OF, Astros

39. Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays

40. Jay Bruce, OF, Reds

41. David Price, SP, Rays

42. CC Sabathia, SP, Yankees

43. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals

44. Cole Hamels, SP, Phillies

45. Zack Greinke, SP, Brewers

46. Paul Konerko, 1B, White Sox

47. Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners

48. Dan Haren, SP, Angels

49. Shin-Soo Choo, OF, Indians

50. Alex Gordon, OF, Royals

51. Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs

52. Nelson Cruz, OF, Rangers

53. Shane Victorino, OF, Phillies

54. Carl Crawford, OF, Red Sox

55. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Nationals

56. Lance Berkman, 1B/OF, Cardinals

57. Mike Morse, 1B/OF, Nationals

58. James Shields, SP, Rays

59. Craig Kimbrel, RP, Braves

60. Michael Bourn, OF, Braves

61. B.J. Upton, OF, Rays

62. Dan Uggla, 2B, Braves

63. Billy Butler, DH, Royals

64. Buster Posey, C, Giants

65. Brian McCann, C, Braves

66. Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds

67. Yovani Gallardo, SP, Brewers

68. Rickie Weeks, 2B, Brewers

69. Brett Gardner, OF, Yankees

70. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, Indians

71. Ben Zobrist, 2B/OF, Rays

72. Matt Cain, SP, Giants

73. Madison Bumgarner, SP, Giants

74. Kevin Youkilis, 3B, Red Sox

75. Pablo Sandoval, 3B, Giants

76. Mariano Rivera, RP, Yankees

77. Michael Young, 3B/1B, Rangers

78. Jonathan Papelbon, RP, Phillies

79. Elvis Andrus, SS, Rangers

80. Ian Kennedy, SP, D’backs

81. Jason Heyward, OF, Braves

82. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees

83. Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Brewers

84. David Ortiz, DH, Red Sox

85. C.J. Wilson, SP, Angels

86. Jayson Werth, OF, Nationals

87. Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies

88. Corey Hart, OF, Brewers

89. Mat Latos, SP, Reds

90. Jon Lester, SP, Red Sox

91. Adam Jones, OF, Orioles

92. Drew Stubbs, OF, Reds

93. John Axford, RP, Brewers

94. Matt Wieters, C, Orioles

95. Howie Kendrick, 2B/OF, Angels

96. Joe Mauer, C, Twins

97. Matt Garza, SP, Cubs

98. Miguel Montero, C, D-backs

99. Brandon Beachy, SP, Braves

100. Matt Moore, SP, Rays

101. J.J. Putz, RP, D-backs

102. Yu Darvish, SP, Rangers

103. Alex Avila, C, Tigers

104. Chris Young, OF, D-backs

105. Drew Storen, RP, Nationals

106. Ricky Romero, SP, Blue Jays

107. Michael Pineda, SP, Yankees

108. Nick Swisher, OF, Yankees

109. Cameron Maybin, OF, Padres

110. Josh Beckett, SP, Red Sox

111. Josh Johnson, SP, Marlins

112. Daniel Hudson, SP, D-backs

113. Mark Reynolds, 3B/1B, Orioles

114. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves

115. Ike Davis, 1B, Mets

116. Brandon Morrow, SP, Blue Jays

117. Heath Bell, RP, Marlins

118. Gio Gonzalez, SP, Nationals

119. Chris Carpenter, SP, Cardinals

120. Erick Aybar, SS, Angels

121. Tommy Hanson, SP, Braves

122. Jesus Montero, DH, Mariners

123. Andre Ethier, OF, Dodgers

124. Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees

125. Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies

126. Cory Luebke, SP, Padres

127. Carlos Beltran, OF, Cardinals

128. Michael Cuddyer, 1B/OF, Rockies

129. Logan Morrison, OF, Marlins
130. Peter Bourjos, OF, Angels

131. Jordan Zimmerman, SP, Nationals

132. Joel Hanrahan, RP, Pirates

133. Rafael Betancourt, RP, Rockies

134. Ryan Madson, RP, Reds

135. Jason Kipnis, 2B, Indians

136. Adam Wainwright, SP, Cardinals

137. Jose Valverde, RP, Tigers

138. Alejandro De Aza, OF, White Sox

139. Alexei Ramirez, SS, White Sox

140. Jhonny Peralta, SS, Tigers

141. Neil Walker, 2B, Pirates

142. Dustin Ackley, 2B, Mariners

143. Torii Hunter, OF, Angels

144. Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Indians

145. Nick Markakis, OF, Orioles

146. Jemile Weeks, 2B, A’s

147. Dee Gordon, SS, Dodgers

148. J.J. Hardy, SS, Orioles

149. Jaime Garcia, SP, Cardinals

150. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, D-backs

151. Sergio Santos, RP, Blue Jays

152. Brian Wilson, RP, Giants

153. Austin Jackson, OF, Tigers

154. Gaby Sanchez, 1B, Marlins

155. Yunel Escobar, SS, Blue Jays

156. Coco Crisp, OF, A’s

157. Angel Pagan, OF, Giants

158. Adam Lind, 1B, Blue Jays

159. Brandon Belt, 1B/OF, Giants

160. Mike Carp, 1B/OF, Mariners

161. Lucas Duda, 1B/OF, Mets

162. Ryan Howard, 1B, Phillies

163. Shaun Marcum, SP, Brewers

164. Jose Tabata, OF, Pirates

165. Jeff Francouer, OF, Royals

166. Matt Joyce, OF, Rays

167. Tim Hudson, SP, Braves

168. Max Scherzer, SP, Tigers

169. Josh Willingham, OF, Twins

170. Emilio Bonafacio, SS/3B/OF, Marlins

171. Danny Espinosa, 2B, Nationals

172. Ryan Roberts, 2B/3B, D-backs

173. David Freese, 3B, Cardinals

174. Anibal Sanchez, SP, Marlins

175. Carlos Pena, 1B, Rays

176. Mark Trumbo, 1B/3B, Angels

177. Dexter Fowler, OF, Rockies

178. Huston Street, RP, Padres

179. Justin Morneau, OF, Twins

180. Denard Span, OF, Twins

181. Brennan Boesch, OF, Tigers

182. Jason Kubel, OF, D-backs

183. Doug Fister, SP, Tigers

184. Yadier Molina, C, Cardinals

185. Kendrys Morales, DH, Angels

186. Ted Lilly, SP, Dodgers

187. Carlos Lee, 1B/OF, Astros

188. Mat Gamel, 1B, Brewers

189. Adam Dunn, 1B, White Sox

190. Kelly Johnson, 2B, Blue Jays

191. Justin Smoak, 1B, Mariners

192. Ryan Dempster, SP, Cubs

193. Wandy Rodriguez, SP, Astros

194. Carlos Marmol, RP, Cubs

195. Edwin Encarnacion, 1B/3B, Blue Jays

196. Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals

197. Geovany Soto, C, Cubs

198. Brandon League, RP, Mariners

199. Jason Motte, RP, Cardinals

200. J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays

201. Jordan Walden, RP, Angels

202. Alex Rios, OF, White Sox

203. Colby Rasmus, OF, Blue Jays

204. Andrew Bailey, RP, Red Sox

205. Scott Baker, SP, Twins

206. Brandon McCarthy, SP, A’s

207. Ervin Santana, SP, Angels

208. John Danks, SP, White Sox

209. Jhoulys Chacin, SP, Rockies

210. Joe Nathan, RP, Rangers

211. Kyle Farnsworth, RP, Rays

212. Ryan Raburn, 2B/OF, Tigers

213. Matt Thornton, RP, White Sox

214. Neftali Feliz, SP, Rangers

215. Chris Sale, SP, White Sox

216. Daniel Bard, SP, Red Sox

217. J.D. Martinez, OF, Astros

218. Hiroki Kuroda, SP, Yankees

219. Trevor Cahill, SP, D-backs

220. Justin Masterson, SP, Indians

221. Colby Lewis, SP, Rangers

222. Gavin Floyd, SP, White Sox

223. Lorenzo Cain, OF, Royals

224. Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros

225. Aaron Hill, 2B, D-backs

226. Martin Prado, 3B/OF, Braves

227. Johnny Giavotella, 2B, Royals

228. Ryan Vogelsong, SP, Giants

229. Daniel Murphy, 1B/2B/3B, Mets

230. Ricky Nolasco, SP, Marlins

231. Bud Norris, SP, Astros

232. Derek Holland, SP, Rangers

233. James Loney, 1B, Dodgers

234. Sean Rodriguez, 2B/SS/3B, Rays

235. Yonder Alsonso, 1B/OF, Padres

236. R.A. Dickey, SP, Mets

237. Johnny Cueto, SP, Reds

238. Kenley Jansen, RP, Dodgers

239. Melky Cabrera, OF, Giants

240. Allen Craig, OF, Cardinals

241. Tim Stauffer, SP, Padres

242. Chad Billingsley, SP, Dodgers

243. Jonathon Niese, SP, Mets

244. Carlos Quentin, OF, Padres

245. Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Rays

246. Vance Worley, SP, Phillies

247. Mike Minor, SP, Braves

248. Henderson Alvarez, SP, Blue Jays

249. Aroldis Chapman, RP/SP, Reds

250. Yoenis Cespedes, OF, A’s

Catcher rankings and projections

First Base rankings and projections

Second Base rankings and projections

Third Base rankings and projections

Shortstop rankings and projections

Outfield rankings and projections

Designated Hitter rankings and projections

Staring Pitcher rankings and projections

Relief Pitcher rankings and projections

Only RotoAce has the guts to take a look at how we did with our Top-30 fantasy baseball rankings and projections for each position by showing you our projection on top of the player’s actual statistics. We also highlight breakouts and busts.

Take a look at each position and let us know how you think we did.

Catcher

First Base

Second Base

Third Base

Shortstop

Outfield

Starting Pitcher

Relief Pitcher

1. Craig Kimbrel: With a career strikeout rate of 15.4 K/9, the Braves’ 23-year-old closer is poised to be at the top of the pack for years to come. He got his walk rate down from 7.0 BB/9 in 2010 down to 3.7 last year and any continued improvement would be just plain unfair to hitters.

2. Mariano Rivera: Just when there were signs of an impending decline with his strikeout rate having slipped to 6.8 K/9 in 2010, he spiked it back up to 8.8 while lowering his walk rate to 1.2 BB/9. Rivera has finished with a sub-2.00 ERA eight of the past nine seasons and is easily the greatest closer of all-time, so it’s a good bet that trend continues.

3. Jonathan Papelbon: Moving to the NL should help a strikeout rate that at 12.2 K/9 last season was his best since 2007 and the Phillies should provide plenty of save opportunities.

4. John Axford: We wanted to see Axford repeat his 2010 breakout and he did that and more, so we expect the Ax-Man to keep it up.

5. Drew Storen: It still is fishy that the Nationals seemed willing to trade Storen for the Twins’ Denard Span last summer, but maybe they’ve come to their senses after he completed a 43-save season that included a rising strikeout rate (8.8 K/9) and a falling walk rate (2.4 BB/9).

6. Brian Wilson: You have to be a little worried about last year, which saw Wilson get shut down twice with injuries (including elbow problems late in the season) on top of a falling strikeout rate (11.2 K/9 in 2010 to 8.8) and a rising walk rate (3.1 BB/9 to 5.1). Assuming he gets back the 1.6 mph he lost on his average fastball from 2010 to last season, Wilson should be able to return to the elite tier of closers.

7. Heath Bell: Moving away from the best pitcher’s park would seem to be a problem, and we won’t know for sure how the Marlins’ new stadium will play. But considering how Miami is at sea level and the dimensions of the new ballpark are actually slighter tougher than Sun Life Stadium (especially with a much deeper right-center gap), it should also play as a pitcher’s park. Bell’s strikeout rate dropped precipitously from 11.1 K/9 in 2010 to 7.3 last year, but he’s averaged 44 saves over the past three seasons, earning him the benefit of the doubt.

8. Ryan Madson: He shook the label of setup man who stumbles when given the chance to close by racking up 32 saves with a 2.37 ERA last year with the Phillies. Now he’ll be the ninth-inning man in Cincinnati and has plenty of incentive after settling for a one-year contract with an option.

9. J.J. Putz: After battling injuries and playing for three different teams in the three previous seasons, Putz returned to his elite form of 2006-07 with the Diamondbacks last season. He had struggled with his command in those three previous seasons, but dropped his walk rate down to 1.9 BB/9 to go with his always-glittering strikeout rate of 9.5 K/9. Putz will be 35 this season and his velocity was down to 93.0 mph last year from its high of 95.6 in 2006, but as long as he stays healthy there should be another productive season in the big closer.

10. Huston Street: Moving from Colorado to San Diego should be a boon for Street, being a fly-ball pitcher going to the cavernous Petco Park. Combine that with a career 9.1 K/9 and a 2.3 BB/9 and you have the formula for an elite closer, ala Heath Bell the past three years in San Diego.

Honorable mentions

Joel Hanrahan: You could make a case for Hanrahan in the top 10, but like Axford last year, we’d like to see a repeat of last season’s breakout first.

Jason Motte: The Cardinals should settle on the blazing fastball of Motte to be their closer after he finished the season in the role both in the pennant race and in the drive to the World Series title. Motte had a solid strikeout rate (8.3 K/9) and an excellent walk rate (2.1 BB/9), so he could be one of the better closers in the NL this year.

Kenley Jansen: Coming off an amazing run that saw him lower his ERA from 11.42 in mid-April to 2.85 at year’s end, Jansen ended up with an off-the-charts 16.1 K/9. He has the pesky Javy Guerra to contend with in spring training for the Dodgers’ closer job, but if Jansen earns the role he could put up an elite season like Kimbrel last year.

Rafael Betancourt: Now that Street’s gone, Betancourt is expected to take over the Rockies’ closer job and should flourish there with his sparkling control (1.2 BB/9) and excellent strikeout rate (10.5 K/9). He’ll turn 37 in April and is a fly-ball pitcher, so don’t get too excited, but Betancourt should provide a nice return on a minimal investment.

1. Justin Verlander: The AL Cy Young winner can’t possibly match last season’s 24 wins, but adding Prince Fielder gives him even more run support despite losing Victor Martinez. Verlander takes no-hitter stuff to the mound more often than anyone since Nolan Ryan.

2. Clayton Kershaw: The NL Cy Young winner got his walks under control and is now entering his prime clicking on all cylinders. The Dodgers should be able to provide more support this season and Kershaw should be sticking around even later in games as he has continued to build up his innings load.

3. Roy Halladay: The Phillies’ ace of aces keeps rolling along, showing no signs of slowing down despite the fact he’ll turn 35 in May. He posted a career-high 220 strikeouts last year, one more than the previous season and part of a near carbon copy of his overall 2010 numbers. Consistency is what you pay for with Halladay.

4. Cliff Lee: Uncle Cliffy saw his strikeout rate soar in his first full season in the NL, racking up 238 strikeouts, or 53 more than his previous career high. Lee’s impeccable command will again keep walks and WHIP down, and he should be able to earn more wins than the 17 he garnered last season.

5. Felix Hernandez: King Felix had a disappointing season along with the rest of the Mariners in 2011, but he still has the most dynamic arsenal of pitches and is capable of becoming the No. 1 fantasy pitcher while taking advantage of pitching in Safeco Field.

6. Jered Weaver: The Angels ace just keeps getting better, improving his numbers for a third straight season and establishing himself as one of the game’s elite pitchers. Adding Albert Pujols to the lineup can only help Weaver have a chance for more wins too.

7. Tim Lincecum: The Freak struggled to a 13-14 record despite having much better peripherals than the year before when he went 16-10. Lincecum has shown a few chinks in the armor the past two seasons, but he still averaged 226 strikeouts and has AT&T Park to absorb any drop in pure stuff.

8. Cole Hamels: After posting a career-best 0.99 WHIP and 2.79 ERA, his down season of 2009 is now an anomaly for the third of the Phillies’ co-aces. It’s time the Phillies give Hamels more run support and he is finally able to break his career-high of 15 wins set back in 2007.

9. Stephen Strasburg: Considering he was coming off Tommy John surgery, Strasburg’s late-season performance last year was astounding – 1.50 ERA and 24-2 K-BB in 24 IP. His average fastball velocity was down a tick as you would expect from 97.3 to 95.8, but as he gets it all the way back he should be able to start living up to the pre-surgery hype. If it weren’t for the innings limitations he’ll likely have, we would have Strasburg even higher.

10. Dan Haren: With his history second-half struggles behind him, Haren turned in the type of consistent campaign his fantasy owners were hoping for. The Angels’ horse has pitched at least 216 innings in each of his seven full seasons, so Haren is one of the more reliable pitchers.

11. Zack Greinke: His first season with the Brewers was a weird one, as he missed the first month with a fractured rib suffered playing basketball, then was victimized by an abnormally high HR/FB rate that saw his ERA hover over 4.00 for most of the year. The move to the NL agreed with his strikeout rate (10.5 K/9) and should allow him to match his ERA closer to the 2.56 xFIP he posted last season.

12. CC Sabathia: The Yankees portly ace is rapidly approaching 200 wins and won’t turn 32 until after the All-Star break, putting him on a Hall of Fame pace. Sabathia has averaged 235 innings, 20 wins and 208 strikeouts with New York and shows no signs of slowing down.

13. Matt Cain: The Giants’ other ace had his best overall season, but still managed only 12 wins, fitting with the theme of not getting enough run support throughout his career. His peripherals have remained steady as they come, so enjoy the 170+ strikeouts, sub-3.00 ERA and hope the Giants get him some more wins this year.

14. James Shields: His luck did a complete 180 from the year before, as his ERA dropped from 5.18 to 2.82 thanks in large part from his BABIP going from .341 to .258. With his luck evening out, the ERA will likely rise into the threes, but the Rays’ horse should put up solid numbers across the board.

15. David Price: With his strikeout rate rising and walk rate falling, Price should be able to have a career year but could be had at a slight discount for those too focused on his 12-13 record or 3.49 ERA last season.

16. Ian Kennedy: Nobody’s expecting a repeat of his 21-4 breakout season that included a 2.88 ERA and 198 strikeouts, but Kennedy should settle in as a Dan Haren type if he can stay healthy.

17. Yovani Gallardo: With his first 200-inning season under his belt, Gallardo has the chops to break into the top 10 this season with his 9.0 K/9 and declining walk rate.

18. Madison Bumgarner: The Giants’ youngster completely flipped his season around, going 4-9 with a 3.87 ERA in the first half before cruising after the break with a 9-4 mark and a 2.52 ERA. Still just 22, Bumgarner should continue his ascent to possibly being a perennial top-10 SP.

19. Matt Moore: The next in the Rays pipeline of young stars, Moore ripped through Double- and Triple-A last year before getting a taste of the majors that was capped off by seven two-hit scoreless innings at Texas in Game 1 of the ALDS. There could be some growing pains in his first full season, but Moore has off-the-charts potential that should pay off immediately.

20. Yu Darvish: Nolan Ryan wouldn’t pay just under $112 million for Darvish if the 25-year-old wasn’t the real deal. The Japanese import has an elite arsenal, but he has to prove that he’s up to pitching in Texas’ hitter-friendly ballpark and making 34 major-league starts.

1. Matt Kemp: After contending for the NL triple crown until the final week, Kemp is making the bold prediction of going for 50-50 after hitting 39 homers with 40 steals last year. Kemp is entering his age-27 season and is worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick.

2. Jacoby Ellsbury: Speaking of age-27 seasons, Ellsbury put up a ridiculous .321-119-32-105-39 line last year in his. A repeat is unlikely, but for the chance that he does and for the five-category goodness he still has to be drafted early in the first round.

3. Jose Bautista: Joey Bats has become the game’s most feared power hitter and showed last year that he can even maintain an average over .300. His breakout came so late and out of nowhere that we’re in unchartered territory trying to predict how long his peak will last, but having improved last year at age 30 bodes well for this coming season.

4. Justin Upton: With an MVP-caliber year under his belt, Upton could make the leap to fantasy’s best player as he enters his age-24 season. It would be nice if his D-backs teammates didn’t strike out so much so he could blow past the 100-RBI mark.

5. Carlos Gonzalez: If Car-Go can stop crashing into walls, he should be able to return to his 2010 form and makes for another candidate to be the No. 1 outfielder entering his age-26 season.

6. Curtis Granderson: The Yankees got what they bargained for a year later than expected, as the Grandy Man figured out how to hit lefties and took advantage of the Yankees’ stacked lineup and short porch to put up an amazing .262-136-41-119-25 line. His mediocre average is the only thing keeping him out of the top five.

7. Andrew McCutchen: The Pirates star disappointed a bit in average and steals, but his homers and RBIs are developing faster than expected, so he could have a monster breakout at age 25.

8. Josh Hamilton: The injury bug once again struck as expected, but he remains one of the game’s most supremely gifted players when healthy. The talent combined with the lineup and ballpark still make him a solid early-round pick.

9. Mike Stanton: Big Mike crushed 34 homers as a 21-year-old, so imagine the power numbers he’ll be able to put up as he ramps up toward his prime. His average and steals are still a work in progress, but Stanton is one of the few guys capable of leading the majors in homers.

10. Hunter Pence: A full season in the Phillies’ lineup and ballpark could mean a career year as Pence remains in his prime at age 28.

11. Carl Crawford: Hopefully Bobby Valentine is smart enough to return Crawford back to the No. 2 or 3 spot in the lineup. Then hopefully Crawford can stay healthy and return to being one of the game’s premier base-stealers. Considering we had him as the No. 1 outfielder going into last season, getting him this late is a potential steal.

12. Jay Bruce: It’s hard to believe Bruce is still just entering his age-24 season. He continues to show signs of progress and could be ready for his big breakout.

13. Matt Holliday: Not having Albert Pujols around will surely hurt and at age 32 he’s nearing the time when burly sluggers start to decline, but he’s still a safe bet to be one of the more productive outfielders.

14. Alex Gordon: The breakout finally came at age 27. Now we’ll see if he can build on it, possibly adding more power.

15. Ryan Braun: A likely 50-game suspension is the only thing keeping him from being a first-round lock. Take a solid extra outfielder to fill in and enjoy the fireworks when Braun returns.

16. Desmond Jennings: The latest in the Rays’ pipeline of supreme prospects finally arrived and delivered explosive results with 10 homers and 20 steals in just 287 plate appearances. If he keeps up the power and gets his average up a bit, Jennings could crack the top 10.

17. Michael Bourn: It should help spending a full season in the Braves lineup, but don’t expect Bourn to duplicate the .294 average. If you like to shore up the steals category in one fell swoop, Bourn’s your man.

18. Nelson Cruz: The leg injuries that have plagued Cruz for the past two seasons make him a very risky play, especially since it meant he ran less last year while also costing him in the other counting stats. There’s still enough chance for a five-category contribution that he can be drafted as a No. 2 outfielder.

19. Shane Victorino: The Flyin’ Hawaiian saw his average climb back to his career mark of .279 and maintained his high-teens power, but his steals took a dive from 34 to 19. Victorino’s at the tail end of his prime at age 31, so he should still stuff the stat sheet even though he likely won’t reach 30 steals again.

20. Shin-Soo Choo: The 2011 season was an unmitigated disaster for Choo, who battled slumps, a DUI arrest, the resulting embarrassment, a broken thumb and a strained oblique. He had been remarkably consistent over the previous three seasons, so now should be a good time to buy low as the 29-year-old tries to re-establish himself in the two years he has before hitting free agency.

21. Adam Jones: Coming off career highs in homers (25) and steals (12), Jones is poised for a breakout in his age-26 season. One caveat is that because he walks so rarely – 29 times last year – he’s not on base enough to score a lot of runs (just 68 last season).

22. B.J. Upton: A hot final month got Upton’s average up 20 points to .243, but he’s still not blossomed into the superstar that it looked like he would be when he broke out in 2007. Now entering his age-27 season, maybe this is the year it happens, but if not then he’s still a solid four-category contributor.

23. Drew Stubbs: It was a tale of two halves for Stubbs, who had 11 homers and 23 steals at the All-Star break, but just four and 17, respectively, in the second half. He hit .189 in the final month and finished the season with an astounding 205 strikeouts. Now he enters his age-27 season looking to put together a full season like last year’s first half.

24. Corey Hart: It was strange to see a guy who had hit 31 homers with 102 RBIs in 2010 wind up batting leadoff the following year, but Hart flourished in the role, hitting .301 with 15 homers in 63 games at the top of the Brewers’ order. With Prince Fielder departing, Hart will need to move back down toward the middle of the lineup, which should help his RBIs while hurting his runs.

25. Michael Morse: After receiving a lot of preseason hype as a possible Jose Bautista-style breakout, Morse struggled out of the gate by hitting .224 with one homer in April. But Morse exploded with a .403 average in May and kept it going the rest of the year, finishing with an excellent .303-73-31-95-2 line. The 6-foot-5 beast will turn 30 during spring training, but could build on last season now that he’s established himself as an everyday starter.

26. Jason Heyward: Nagging injuries and a sophomore slump took the luster off Heyward last season, but he’s still just 22 years old and only scratching the surface of his immense potential. You will still have to pay a premium for his name, but Heyward could well outperform the dialed-back expectations.

27. Lance Berkman: Big Puma was stuck signing a one-year deal with the Cardinals coming off a down season split between the Astros and Yankees. Boy, did it pay off! A World Series title and a .301-90-31-94-2 line behind him, Berkman got a $7 million raise and should resume a Hall-of-Fame path even though he turns 36 before spring training.

28. Jayson Werth: After putting up a disappointing .232-69-20-58-19 line last year, Werth will try to prove he isn’t a $126-million mistake. Werth will turn 33 in May, so there’s a chance the Nationals’ high-priced star is already in steep decline, but we’re banking on a return closer to the form that saw him average 32 homers and 102 runs over the previous two seasons in Philadelphia.

29. Ben Zobrist: While his batting average has fluctuated wildly over the past three seasons, Zobrist has contributed in the other four categories and has second-base eligibility to boot.

30. Brett Gardner: It’s strange to see a guy who hit just .259 with seven homers and 36 RBIs this high in the rankings, but that’s what 87 runs and 49 steals will do for you. His struggles against lefties cost him some ABs, but his presence in the Yankees lineup and all those stolen bases still make him a valued commodity.

1. Troy Tulowitzki: Injuries again caught up to Tulo last season, but not until September in the form of a sore hip or before he had put up his customary huge numbers. He enters his age-27 season primed for a career year if he can avoid the injury bug.

2. Jose Reyes (left): The old hamstring issues cropped up again last season, taking a little of the luster off an otherwise spectacular season that saw him win the NL batting crown with a .337 mark. Now he’s taking his electrifying game to Miami, where he’ll try to live up to his $106 million contract with the Marlins while in his prime at age 28.

3. Hanley Ramirez: Last season’s colossal bust will be one of the bigger stories in spring training as he tries to show he’s recovered from shoulder surgery while making the transition to third base with Reyes joining him in Florida. If the Marlins are able to reel in Albert Pujols, Ramirez would be in the best lineup position in baseball in the three-hole with King Albert and Mike Stanton behind him and Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio setting the table in front of him. There’s a chance Ramirez can return to being the No. 1 overall fantasy player, but enough concerns follow him that expectations need to be lowered from years past.

4. Starlin Castro: The sky’s the limit if he keeps adding to his modest power totals, but entering his age-22 season he should take the next step to superstardom.

5. Asdrubal Cabrera: The big question is whether he can repeat his power explosion of last season, but even if the homers drop into the teens, Cabrera is a solid contributor across the board.

6. Elvis Andrus: There’s a hint of double-digit power potential here that could rise the Rangers sparkplug up the list, otherwise you pay for the runs and steals.

7. Jimmy Rollins: The lifelong Phillie could soon be signing to return to Philadelphia, where his value would perk up playing in his comfort zone of a cozy ballpark and a powerful lineup. Rollins reversed a downward trend with a solid 2011 season, so now we’ll see if he can continue to hold off Father Time as he enters his age-33 season.

8. Erick Aybar: The Angels shortstop was having a breakout season until a miserable slump hit in August, but he recovered with a strong September and looks to have added double-digit power to his speed-based attack. Aybar could be on his way up this list, so he could provide a nice return on a modest investment in 2012.

9. Derek Jeter: The Yankees captain recovered from a slow start with a scintillating second half (.327 after the break), but the power and speed are declining as he enters his age-37 season. A lot of his value comes from the lineup and ballpark he gets to hit in, which boosts his runs and RBIs totals.

10. J.J. Hardy: The power-hitting shortstop returned to his form of 2007-08 with a 30-homer campaign in his first season with the Orioles, who signed the 29-year-old to a three-year extension. Injury concerns and the fact that basically all his value is tied up in his power keep him at the bottom of the top 10.

Honorable mentions

Jhonny Peralta: The 29-year-old has taken well to Detroit and will be undervalued if he can repeat his career season. But Peralta is basically a less powerful version of Hardy.

Alexei Ramirez: The Cuban Missile was a bit of a disappointment in 2011, as his numbers were down slightly across the board. Entering his age-30 season, Ramirez looks like he has plateaued as a solid-not-spectacular shortstop.

Dee Gordon: The Dodgers’ speed merchant struggled during a midseason call-up before injuring his shoulder, but he was a dynamo in September (.372, 12 steals) and appears ready to become a force from the leadoff spot for the next decade.

1. Jose Bautista (left): No. 1 overall on ESPN’s player rater for last year, he’s already produced one encore for his breakout 2010 season, so who are we to doubt he can do it again. The batting average is likely to fall back below .300, but the power numbers are as elite as they come.

2. Evan Longoria: The Rays star missed a full month yet still managed 31 homers and 99 RBIs, so a healthy season could see him rise to the top of the third base rankings if he can get his average back up.

3. Adrian Beltre: The Rangers slugger missed almost six weeks yet finished with even better numbers than Longoria with 32 homers and 105 RBIs, so imagine what the 32-year-old can do in a full season in the Rangers’ prolific offense.

4. David Wright: The injury risks keep on coming, as the Mets’ lone remaining franchise player missed over two months with a stress fracture in his back and turned in the worst season of his career with a .254-60-14-61-13 line. Wright has had his problems hitting for power since the Mets moved to their new ballpark in 2009 and will likely have trade rumors swirling around him as New York possibly looks to rebuild, but he still is capable of being a five-category force.

5. Ryan Zimmerman missed over two months with an abdominal tear that was originally misdiagnosed and his power suffered with just 12 homers. Entering his age-27 season, Zimmerman is primed for a career year if he can avoid the injury bug.

6. Michael Young proved age can be just a number by setting career highs in average (.338) and RBIs (106) as a 34-year-old. His power dropped off, but his presence in the Rangers’ offense and his history of staying healthy gives him the edge over A-Rod.

7. Alex Rodriguez missed six weeks with a meniscus tear and then jammed his thumb in his first game back, and the Yankees superstar suffered through the longest power outage of his career to boot. Off-season surgery will hopefully help A-Rod stay on the field in 2012, but as the injuries pile up and he turns 37 in July, his best days are behind him.

8. Aramis Ramirez bounced back from a down season in 2010 by .306 with 93 RBIs last year, earning him a two-year contract with the Brewers. Ramirez has been remarkably consistent over the past decade and should still have plenty left in the tank entering his age-33 season.

9. Kevin Youkilis was plagued by injuries that limited him to a modest .258-68-17-80-3 line. Youk’s hard-nosed style and less-than-athletic build could keep the injuries coming and hasten a decline as he already enters his age-33 season.

10. Pablo Sandoval was quickly putting his disappointing 2010 season in the rear-view window last year when a broken hamate bone cost Panda six weeks. He still managed to hit .315 with 23 homers, so as he enters his age-25 season a monster season is possible if Sandoval can stay healthy and in shape.

Honorable mention

Brett Lawrie: He exploded on the scene in August after his arrival was delayed by a fractured hand in June, as the former first-round pick flashed a five-category game that could see him become the No. 1 third baseman in the near future. Lawrie’s not as safe of a bet as the top 10 third baseman because of their track record, but the 22-year-old could easily finish in the top five if he too can stay healthy.

Mark Reynolds has averaged 38 homers over the past three seasons and is entering his age-28 season, so if he can finally curb the strikeouts enough to get his average back near his .260 mark of 2009 then the Orioles slugger could move back into the top 10.

David Freese could be overvalued on draft day because of his remarkable postseason performance that netted him the MVP of both the NLCS and the World Series, but his long history of injuries and moderate power could still make him a value pick if – wait for it – he stays healthy. (Where have we heard that before?)

1. Robinson Cano (left): The Yankees’ most consistent hitter is a safe bet to turn in elite numbers everywhere except steals, and even there he turned in a career-high eight last season. The 29-year-old is a slam dunk to be a top-10 overall pick.

2. Dustin Pedroia: Bouncing back from a 2010 season half-ruined by a fractured ankle, Boston’s sparkplug put up career highs in homers, RBIs and steals. Entering his age-28 season, Pedroia is at the height of his powers.

3. Ian Kinsler: The Rangers returned him to the leadoff spot and he turned in a near carbon copy of his 2009 campaign, with a spike in runs from 101 to 121. The only thing lacking has been average, but he hit .319 in 2008, so there’s a chance he could turn in the top season at the position next year.

4. Rickie Weeks: The injury problems that plagued him before a breakout 2010 season returned last year, but Weeks was putting up dynamic numbers before suffering a severe sprained ankle in late July. If he can stay healthy in his age-29 season, Weeks should provide elite power and runs with a sprinkling of steals and a decent average.

5. Chase Utley: Right knee tendinitis delayed the start of Utley’s 2010 season until late May and he looked like his old self in June and July before slumping down the stretch. With a long injury history and entering his age-33 season, there’s plenty to worry about with Utley, but the ceiling remains oh so high.

6. Michael Young: The longtime Ranger put up career bests with a .338 average and 106 RBIs at age 34 while logging significant time at first, second and third base when he wasn’t at DH. The .308 career hitter should continue to benefit from being in the Rangers’ dynamic lineup and ballpark, but the 11 homers and six steals combined with turning 35 are cause for concern.

7. Dan Uggla: His first season in Atlanta got off to a terrible start, but he used a 33-game hitting streak to return his numbers near his career norms. If Uggla can get his average back closer to his career mark of .258 to go with his usual 30-homer power, he will again be one of the top options at the position.

8. Brandon Phillips: While his base-stealing numbers continue to diminish, Phillips turned in a career-high .300 average to go with his usual solid power numbers. Still in his prime at age 30, Phillips remains capable of putting up elite statistics.

9. Ben Zobrist: One of the game’s most unsung stars, Zobrist was just a little short in batting average from being a five-category stud. He’s still very streaky and may begin a decline as he turns 31 early next season.

10. Howie Kendrick: It looked like the long-awaited breakout was upon us with a six-homer April, but Kendrick managed just three taters in the next three months before a strong finish. Entering his age-28 season, Kendrick could still turn in an elite season, but a repeat of last season’s solid line is more likely.

Honorable mentions

Dustin Ackley: The No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 draft made a splash upon arriving last June and looks like a young Chase Utley, but the hitter’s nightmare of Safeco Field may limit his overall fantasy impact going forward. Still, Ackley could have batting crowns in his future and could improve enough in homers and steals to enter the upper echelon at the position sooner than later.

Neil Walker, Danny Espinosa and Jason Kipnis: Each of these youngsters have shown the potential to move into the top, so they’ll make excellent sleeper picks.