Kuzul

Third base is generally considered a weak position, but in AL-only formats, it doesn’t look so bad. 

While he may not be an ideal option, would only complain about a potential 20-plus HR hitter in Edwin Encarnacion? 

What about a potential 30-plus SB option like Chone Figgins? While there may be good options (especially once Miguel Cabrera gains eligibility), that doesn’t mean there aren’t some options that are better than others. 

Let’s take a look at how things currently look:

1. Jose Bautista: Toronto Blue Jays
2. Evan Longoria: Tampa Bay Rays
3. Adrian Beltre: Texas Rangers
4. Brett Lawrie: Toronto Blue Jays
5. Kevin Youkilis: Boston Red Sox
6. Michael Young: Texas Rangers
7. Alex Rodriguez: New York Yankees
8. Mark Reynolds: Baltimore Orioles
9. Mike Moustakas: Kansas City Chiefs
10. Edwin Encarnacion: Toronto Blue Jays
11. Chone Figgins: Seattle Mariners
12. Sean Rodriguez: Tampa Bay Rays

Thoughts:

• Both Kevin Youkilis and Alex Rodriguez have proven how talented they are, but both carry significant injury risks at this point in their careers. They are high risk, high reward, but could prove well worth it. I’d prefer to take the gamble on Youkilis, myself, since the Yankees will give Rodriguez significantly more time off throughout the season. In other words, consider Eduardo Nunez could ultimately prove to be a viable sleeper.

• Is there any doubt that Brett Lawrie is the future of the position? However, while everyone may want to write off Mike Moustakas given his slow start to his Major League career, he may not actually be too far behind. I’ve given my projection of him for 2012 (click here to view), so make sure to check that out. The bottom line is that Moustakas has a history of starting slowly at a level before figuring it out. In September ’11, he hit .352 with 4 HR and 12 RBI. Yes, there was some luck, but it could easily be the start of things to come.

• Now that it appears Chone Figgins will be playing every day and hitting leadoff, he has suddenly re-entrenched himself as a viable fantasy sleeper. Remember, he posted a pathetic .215 BABIP last season. He also had stolen at least 40 bases five times in six seasons from 2005-2010 (and at least 30 every year from 2004-2010). He simply needs some improved luck and he should be a viable option in all formats.

• Evan Longoria struggled in 2011, hitting .244 with 31 HR, 99 RBI and 78 R. However, does that mean that he no longer should be viewed as one of the elite players in the game and a potential first-round pick? Absolutely not, which I discussed here. The fact is that he suffered from a .239 BABIP after never posting a mark below .309. With an improved average will come more runs scored. Considering he already had the power and RBI, there’s no reason to think that he won’t rebound.

Make sure to check out all of our 2012 rankings:

• Catchers
• First Basemen
• Second Basemen
• Third Basemen
• Shortstops

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

One of the more important storylines in baseball this spring training is the health and bounce-back ability of San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey. If you recall, Posey was the roadblock who got steamrolled last season in a home-plate collision with the Florida Marlins’ Scott Cousins, which resulted in Posey’s season-ending surgery to repair a broken bone and three torn ankle ligaments.

Prior to that high-speed, high-profile collision, Posey was following up his 2010 NL Rookie of the Year campaign with a respectable sophomore season. In the 45 games played before he went down, he was batting .284 with four home runs and 21 runs batted in. Though his numbers did not exactly jump off the computer screen, Posey’s presence in the lineup far exceeds raw statistics. As the team’s cleanup hitter, he provides a legitimate right-handed bat to a famished Giants offense that ranked dead last in the league in runs scored.

The Giants sorely missed Posey’s production in the heart of the order. His replacements, Hector Sanchez, Chris Stewart and Eli Whiteside, combined for a .200 batting average in 2011. They were often clogging up the eight-hole in the batting order, and it forced manager Bruce Bochy to play “eeny, meeny, miny, mo” when filling out the rest of the lineup.

Needless to say, with Posey’s bat, the Giants could have at least squeaked into the playoffs as the NL wild card last year. And with him back to full strength this spring training, San Francisco has high aspirations in returning to the postseason this October. While the Giants are pinning the team’s success in 2012 on their slugging catcher, more importantly, the return of Posey bodes well for fantasy baseball owners. After all, there is a dearth of solid contributors at the catcher position throughout the MLB. Though Posey is only entering his third season, and has only 160 career games under his belt, the soon-to-be 25-year-old is still considered one of the game’s elite catchers—despite missing two-thirds of last season.

In fact, most fantasy baseball projections still forecast Posey as a top-five catcher. ESPN.com ranks him as the fifth-best catcher available, squeezed between Matt Wieters and Alex Aliva, and FantasyBaseballTools.com slots him in the top tier of catchers that includes Carlos Santana, Brian McCann and Mike Napoli. NYTimes.com, however, projects Posey to be the sixth-best catcher in 2012, behind Joe Mauer and ahead of Miguel Montero.

What does this all mean? Well, for one, the battle to be one of the top-five catchers in the majors is a tight one. Mauer, of course, is a lock, albeit only when he’s not on the disabled list. Unfortunately, his history of injuries prevents him from being a sure-fire top-five pick. In years past, Mauer could have been considered as a genuine first-round selection in some fantasy drafts. Now, it’s a tough call to predict a) how healthy he’ll be, and b) how many starts at first base he’ll draw.

The consensus is that Santana, McCann and Napoli will all be nabbed within the first four rounds. Assuming a regular 5×5 rotisserie league, Yahoo! Sports projects Posey to be a late sixth-round pick in its fantasy baseball mock draft. Solid estimates for his 2012 stats, according to NYTimes.com, include a .292 batting average with 16 home runs and 70 runs driven in—very similar to his 2010 Rookie of the Year résumé (.305/18/67). 

Those numbers are respectable, especially for a catcher. The only caveat is Posey’s own return to full health. True, it’s only spring training, but Posey has sparingly demonstrated his baserunning, as well as the endurance to catch a full nine innings on consecutive days. “He’s not there,” acknowledged Bochy. But there’s still time, obviously.

Fantasy owners, however, should be cautious assuming Posey will bounce back so quickly. Though he is a naturally gifted hitter who could probably sport a .300 batting average with one leg, Posey will have to get up to speed in his all-around game to be considered a higher pick on the fantasy draft board. Furthermore, in order to ensure that Posey performs at the offensive level he is capable of, San Francisco needs to make sure that he is protected throughout the batting order. According to the Giants lineup projected by Rotochamp.com, first baseman Aubrey Huff could potentially bat behind Posey, in the fifth spot in the order, followed by Brandon Belt.

Huff trudged through a World-Series-hangover-laden 2011 season, finishing with a terrible .246 batting average, 12 home runs and 59 runs batted in. He also scored an abysmal 45 runs, his lowest output since 2001. Belt, meanwhile, experienced one of those tortuous rookie seasons last year, staggering to a .225 batting average, with nine homers and 18 runs driven in, in 63 games played.

Yikes. Not the kind of protection one would hope for Posey.

Could Bochy consider moving the Giants’ only other bona fide hitter, Pablo Sandoval, to the five hole? Or bat Sandoval fourth and Posey third? If not, then look for a significant number of intentional walks for the right-handed-hitting Posey, as both Belt and Huff are left-handed hitters behind him. That certainly won’t boost Posey’s fantasy numbers all that quickly. Additionally, if new Giants leadoff man Angel Pagan is unable to set the table effectively at the top of the order, Posey may struggle to find himself in run-scoring opportunities.

Without a doubt, however, the question will be whether fantasy owners would want to gamble and pick up Posey earlier in the draft, ahead of other catchers like McCann or Wieters. McCann is a perennial All-Star, who has slugged over 20 home runs in five of the past six seasons, and over 40 extra base hits in six straight seasons. Furthermore, he posts a .286 career batting average. Though he gets plenty of rest in Atlanta—not starting in more than 133 games in each of the past three seasons—for the sake of this analysis, Posey is still the lesser picker.

Meanwhile, Wieters is the likely candidate to slip from his career season in 2011. His 22 home runs and 50 extra base hits were quite impressive, as was the fact that he scored more runs (72) than he drove in (68). Well, maybe not impressive so much as interesting. But if Posey is as healthy as he can be throughout 2012, it’s possible that he could outperform Wieters. The Baltimore Orioles are equally as likely to not scare their opponents offensively.

Can Posey be ranked higher than Wieters?

A good catcher is hard to find for owners, both real and fantasy. Picking up Posey in the late fourth round or fifth round would not be the worst idea in the world, considering that other positions have way more depth and are less predictable (starting pitchers).

Make no mistake about it: If Posey is given a clean bill of health heading out of spring training, fantasy owners might come away with a steal in their league drafts by picking him higher than projected.

Follow me on Twitter: @nathanieljue

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Catcher is perhaps the hardest position to draft.  This year is perhaps one of the worst, with many of the big names having problems with injuries (Joe Mauer, Brian McCann, Buster Posey) or stretches of mediocrity (Mauer again, Carlos Santana, Geovany Soto). 

As a primer for drafting catchers, here are the three starting catchers, two bench catchers and a watch list catcher for your consideration.  As for the other 25, don’t bother with them.

Begin Slideshow

Yesterday brought on some rather surprising news as the Yankees signed Andy Pettitte to a minor league contract. They already had six starting pitchers for five rotation spots, which had brought on questions as to who was going to be in and who was going to be out. 

The questions just got much more plentiful.

Obviously there is no guarantee that Pettitte can produce. He will turn 40 years old in June and did not pitch in 2011. Is that a pitcher that you want to bet on? As it was, he had posted an ERA above 4.00 and a WHIP above 1.38 in four of the final five seasons of his career. Sure, he was solid in 2010 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 129.0 innings, but he also enjoyed a 77.3 percent strand rate.

Could he produce those types of numbers again? It’s possible, but I wouldn’t invest too highly on him and expect it a given. He’s going to have to face the Red Sox, Rays and Blue Jays on a regular basis.  Those are not going to be easy matchups, and there’s a good chance that he struggles.

Maybe the Yankees are bringing him back for his leadership. Maybe they want to expose their young pitchers like Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos to Pettitte as he prepares for the season in the minor leagues. Maybe they want Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova to learn from him.

Whatever their reasoning is, don’t let that skew your thoughts on drafting him for your fantasy team. He’s a huge gamble and shouldn’t be considered anything more than a late-round flier.

The more interesting question is who Pettitte will replace in the Yankees rotation. It would be shocking to see him working out of the bullpen (more shocking than his signing), and you have to think the Yankees are going to give him a shot in the rotation sooner rather than later. As it is, the Yankees were sporting the following options:

1. CC Sabathia
2. Hiroki Kuroda
3. Michael Pineda
4. Ivan Nova
5. Phil Hughes
6. Freddy Garcia

At this point you would have to expect the last two pitchers to be working out of the bullpen. Hughes has done so in the past and excelled in the role. Let us not forget his 3.03 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 10.05 K/9 in 86.0 IP in 2009 (he did make seven starts that year). 

You would think it would make sense for the Yankees to start prepping him to move back to that role now, wouldn’t you? Maybe you keep Hughes stretched out a little longer, just in case Pettitte completely fails, but long-term you would think his ticket has been punched.

How much better would the bullpen look with Hughes joining David Robertson (once healthy) and Rafael Soriano in setting up for Mariano Rivera. That foursome would have the potential to be the best group in baseball.

As for the other pitcher to lose out, Garcia would make the most sense. He could work as a swingman, making spot starts when needed and operating as a long man out of the bullpen.

However, could the Yankees ultimately decide to send Nova to the minor leagues? While you would think that Nova did enough in 2011 to entrench himself in the rotation, he does have options left. That opens the door for the possible move, especially if Garcia is pitching exceptionally well.

I was never big supporter of Nova, thanks to a mediocre K/9, but I wouldn’t completely write him off in deeper formats even if he is demoted to Triple-A. Sooner or later he’s going to be pitching for the Yankees and, with their offense behind him, he’s going to have value.

The bottom line is that the Yankees are now a better team than they were on Thursday. There’s no arguing that fact, but that doesn’t mean the bottom of their rotation is going to hold value. Outside of the top three options, the other four guys all have questions.

Can Nova end up at Triple-A?

Could Hughes and Garcia end up in the bullpen?

Will Pettitte even produce enough to justify a rotation spot?

They all could have value, but they also all could fall completely flat. Consider them in deeper formats, but the situation just seems to get cloudier and cloudier at this point. It’s a situation I’d prefer watching from a distance.

Make sure to check out all of our 2012 rankings:

Catchers
First Basemen
Second Basemen
Third Basemen
Shortstops

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Here’s the 2012 LestersLegends shortstop rankings for NL-only leagues.

1. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies 

My top-ranked shortstop last year holds onto the top spot thanks to a .302-81-30-105-9 line. I’d like to see 100 runs, but given his other numbers, it’s hard to complain.

2. Hanley Ramirez, Miami Marlins 

It was a lost year of sorts for Han-Ram with his meager .243-55-10-45-20 line. I expect him to bounce back, especially with Jose Reyes joining the lineup. Plus, he’s moving to third base, which enhances his value.

3. Jose Reyes, Miami Marlins 

Was he a contract-year wonder? Hard to say. It’s also hard to argue with the .337-101-7-44-39 line he posted.

4. Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs 

He’s turning just 22 next month. He has already posted two .300 seasons. His run total jumped dramatically to 91 and he provided a solid amount of RBI (66) and SBs (22). He has arrived.

5. Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies 

Can he stay healthy again? That is a concern at 33, but he was just one of two players (Cabrera) with 15-plus HRs and 15-plus SBs.

6. Dee Gordon, Los Angeles Dodgers 

Swiped 24 bases in 56 games. He should also be in the running for most SBs at the position.

7. Emilio Bonifacio, Miami Marlins 

Stole 40 bases last year. Has eligibility at SS, 3B and OF. He didn’t do much besides steal though.

8.  Stephen Drew, Arizona Diamondback 

He only played half a season and is recovering from ankle surgery. Still, he has been a productive player in the past and if healthy should be again.

9.  Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals 

He swiped 25 bases last year. The rest of his line (.253-65-8-49) does little to get anybody excited. He’s 26 this year though, and it would not be out of the question if he suddenly got it this year. Considering he combined to hit .295 in August and September with five HRs and 22 RBI, he may have already done so.

10.  Alex Gonzalez, Milwaukee Brewers 

He is 35, but he still has some pop in his bat. He has slugged 38 home runs over the past two seasons. He has moved on to Milwaukee. Gonzalez doesn’t bring much else to the table in a fantasy sense, but he is solid defensively, which should keep him in the lineup so he can add to his counting stats.

11.  Zach Covart, Cincinnati Reds

He had 37 at bats, in which he collected 12 hits for a .324 average. He scored six runs, hit two home runs, and had three RBI as he finished with a .811 OPS before an elbow injury shut him down. Low risk, with good potential.

12.  Jason Bartlett, San Diego Padres

He has forgot how to hit (.254, .245 the past two seasons) and playing in San Diego doesn’t help, but he has swiped 20 or more bases in four of the past five seasons.

Also check out:

• 2012 Fantasy Baseball First Base Rankings
• 2012 Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Rankings
• 2012 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Rankings
• Additional 2012 Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Options
• 2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

If you want to win in fantasy baseball, you need to take some risks during the draft. 

There are a lot of players with boom-or-bust potential, but if you pick the right ones, it can create a huge payoff for your team as the season progresses.

Ike Davis, 1B New York Mets

Ike Davis was on his way to a breakout sophomore season last year, but an ankle injury caused the first basemen to end his season in mid-May.

When Davis finally seemed healthy to start the new season, he was diagnosed with Valley Fever.

Selecting the youngster would be risky, as he could be shut down due to fatigue.

However, if he plays a full season, Davis could become one of the best young hitters in baseball.

Bryce Harper, OF Washington Nationals

Even Bryce Harper does not believe he will make the team out of spring training, but the phenom can pay dividends for a patient fantasy owner.

Odds are very good that Harper will be on the major league roster within the first few months of the season, and he will be able to do damage.

If you are playing in a keeper league, there is no question he should be drafted and stored on a bench.

Trevor Cahill, SP Arizona Diamondbacks

At 22, Trevor Cahill looked ready to become one of the best young pitchers in baseball with 18 wins and a 2.97 ERA.

Unfortunately, Cahill took a step back last year and his numbers were down across the board.

During the offseason, Cahill was traded to Arizona, where he can greatly benefit from a change in scenery. 

Expect a bounce-back year from the young pitcher.

Carl Crawford, OF Boston Red Sox

Before signing a major deal with the Boston Red Sox, Carl Crawford had hit above .300 in five of the last six years. 

In his first year with his new club, Crawford only hit .255 with a .289 on base percentage. 

With a new manager, the veteran should be able to refocus on his play and have a better year in a great lineup. 

Matt Moore, SP Tampa Bay Rays

The risk here is selecting a player that has only thrown 9.1 regular season major league innings in his career.

Trusting a small sample-size is usually not a good idea, but the important thing is that Matt Moore passes the eye-test.

The rookie pitcher has incredible stuff and will be able to get out any major league hitter.

Considering he can throw upper-90’s with solid off-speed pitches, Moore can be one of the best pitchers in the league by the end of the year. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Here are a few fantasy takes from the world of baseball, specifically involving Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay and the Yankees’ latest reclamation project:

News: Ryan Howard likely won’t return to Phillies until late May/early June

Views: I cannot recall one circumstance where a player from the NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL sustained a career-defining injury at precisely the same moment his team was eliminated from the playoffs. So in terms of gaining sympathy votes from Phillies fans and fantasy gurus everywhere, Howard is breaking new ground when confined to the sidelines.

Bottom line, I would only invest a Round 24 or 25 pick on Howard (34 HRs/224 RBIs from 2010-11) in mixed-league drafts; and perhaps Round 21 for NL-only leagues.

Even if Howard says all the right things during his extended spring break, history tells us that major Achilles injuries require at least one full year of controlled recuperation. Sure, Howard may be able to jog well and knock out good swings in a batting cage—but it’s rare for an athlete to regain 80 percent of his/her explosion and power in the first year back—especially one of Howard’s size.

Howard projections: 14 HRs, 43 RBIs, .256 average

News: Andy Pettitte ends one-year retirement to sign with Yankees

Views: Without a doubt, Pettitte had a superb 16-year career with the Yankees (13 seasons) and Astros, notching 240 regular-season wins, five World Series titles and two All-Star berths; and when his name comes up for Hall of Fame consideration in six years, he’ll probably garner more than 45 percent of the initial vote (75 required for Cooperstown).

But just three months shy of his 40th birthday and undoubtedly rusty from his first retirement, Pettitte doesn’t have much cachet for 10, 12 or 14-team mixed leagues. Maybe an AL-only league, but only if you’re desperate for victories.

Pettitte tallied 11 wins, 101 strikeouts, a 3.28 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 2010, his final campaign in pinstripes. These numbers, representative of a No. 5 or 6 starter in fantasy, likely won’t be repeated this season—given the southpaw’s age and depth of the Yankees’ starting rotation.

His return to the game makes for great copy. Maybe it’ll nudge his Hall of Fame standing a little higher, too. But in the fantasy realm, it’s no more substantial than Jamie Moyer attempting a comeback with the Rockies at age 49.

Pettitte projections: Seven wins, 4.72 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 91 strikeouts

News: Roy Halladay reportedly incurs drop in velocity during Phillies camp

Views: I can break this one down in seven sarcastic words: As of March 16, I…DON’T…CARE!

Snarky humor aside, it really doesn’t matter if Halladay is struggling to reach his Spring Training peak at this point. At 35 (hardly a death sentence for today’s conditioned athletes) and fresh off a monster season (19-6, 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 220 strikeouts), it’s impossible to envision old Roy falling off the proverbial cliff anytime soon.

Barring an unforeseen injury or a “dead arm,” I trust Halladay enough to believe he’ll arrive at Opening Day in tip-top shape, or something very close to that. The man’s a Hall of Famer with a near-spotless record of durability, for heaven sake. He has earned the benefit of the doubt.

Halladay projections (subject to change): 18 wins, 208 strikeouts, 2.80 ERA and 1.04 WHIP

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Every year the fantasy draft comes and goes. And, no matter how well you prepare, chances are things aren’t going to go 100 percent the way you hoped.

Things like that are fine when you can fix them with free agency pickups or easy trades.

But what about difficult trades? Such as those for superstars and fantasy studs?

The following is a list of 15 stellar options for fantasy baseball trades. Each of these players has a factor that can be exploited to give you an easy trade, possibly even a trade at a premium.

Begin Slideshow

There was a time when Hanley Ramirez was among the elite players in the game and, if he lasted past the third or fourth selection, it was a shocking development.

But after a 2011 filled with injuries and controversy, he suddenly looks like a potential second round bargain. There’s no arguing that he’s a highly risky selection, but the reward is quite hefty as well.

So now the question facing fantasy owners is what to expect from him in 2012. Is he going to rebound or should we bypass him in the second round, opting for a safer selection? Before we answer that question we need to look at the numbers he actually produced last season:

338 At Bats
.243 Batting Average (82 Hits)
10 Home Runs
45 RBI
55 Runs
20 Stolen Bases
.333 On Base Percentage
.379 Slugging Percentage
.275 BABIP

There were countless issues, but it would be a significant mistake to harp on the details. It was a down season and there isn’t going to be one simple explanation for why the poor performance. You can point to the injury, a lack of effort, or a number of other issues.

Some will want to say that we should simply expect those things to continue. Others will say that Hanley’s move to third base will cause controversy, something that will lead to a repeat of last season’s effort deficit and overall struggles. 

It’s impossible to know how the position switch will influence him for sure, but adding 3B eligibility will obviously add to his fantasy appeal.  We all know that the position is generally the weakest in the game, so adding another potential stud is certainly not going to hurt anything.

You also have to look at the additions of both Ozzie Guillen and Jose Reyes. I know Reyes spurred the position change, but he also helps to significantly upgrade a lineup that now should look like this:

• Jose Reyes
• Emilio Bonifacio
• Hanley Ramirez
• Mike Stanton
• Gaby Sanchez
• Logan Morrison

How can you not like someone hitting in the middle of that lineup? It should provide both opportunities to drive in and score a ton of runs, assuming his bat comes back to him.

The one thing we never have to worry about with Ramirez is the ability to steal a base. There’s always the concern that when someone moves lower in the order that they aren’t going to get as many opportunities to run. Last season Ramirez stole 20 bases, 16 of which came with him hitting either third or fourth. He may not be the 50 SB threat he was earlier in his career, but he’s stolen at least 27 bases every year he’s reached the 500 AB plateau (2011 was the first time he didn’t).

Last season there were two 3B to steal at least 15 bases, Eduardo Nunez and Ryan Roberts. Right away, Ramirez gives any owner who gets him an advantage on that part of the stat sheet.

The power, however, has become a major concern. While we don’t know how the new ballpark will play, we have seen a disturbing shift in his groundball rate in recent years.  From 2006-2009 his high was at 45.8%, but also posted years of 40.1% and 38.6%. That meant more line drives and more fly balls, which obviously helped to lead to more home runs.

Over the past two seasons he’s posted groundball rates of 51.0% and 50.9%. If it was just in 2011 we could probably come up with a few excuses to help explain the problem. However, with Ramirez’ ground ball issues stretching back to 2010, there’s no way to deny that there is an issue here. Unless he can reverse that trend, his power is going to take a serious hit. Seeing him exceed 18-22 HR may be a stretch.

Obviously if he adds 25 SB no one will care. Just keep in mind that we are not talking about a 30/30 threat, but more of a 15/25 type player.

You put it all together and you get the following projection:

.292 (146-500), 18 HR, 95 RBI, 85 R, 30 SB, .325 BABIP, .368 OBP, .478 SLG

I don’t think anyone would complain about a player posting that type of line, especially since you could argue that it’s more of a floor than a ceiling and comes from a player who will quickly gain 3B eligibility.  We’ve seen what Ramirez is capable of when he puts it all together and you could definitely think that he is going to be motivated to show everyone that 2011 was an aberration, not the new rule.

You couple that with the new position eligibility and I would say Ramirez is worth the risk in the second round in all drafts.

Make sure to check out our 2012 projections:

• Bumgarner, Madison
• Goldschmidt, Paul
• Lawrie, Brett
• Strasburg, Stephen
• Stubbs, Drew

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

For those who cannot survive on Top 40 rankings alone, here is a compilation of the next 40 outfielders to target in mixed- and league-specific drafts.

41. Carlos Lee, Astros
Skinny: Lee posted better numbers in hits, triples, RBI, steals, walks and batting average last year, compared to 2010. The biggest omission of the Top 40 outfielders.

42. Andre Ethier, Dodgers
Skinny: Coming off a sluggish campaign, Ethier is a good bet for modest across-the-board improvements in 2012. Targets: 17 HRs, 72 RBI, 69 runs, 1 steal and .292 average.

43. Jeff Francoeur, Royals
Skinny: This pedestrian ranking is based on the assumption Francoeur won’t collect 601 at-bats again, while vying for space in the Royals’ crowded outfield.

44. Nick Swisher, Yankees
Skinny: Fantasy owners will appreciate Swisher’s latest comfort zone in the draft’s latter rounds. Targets: 22 HRs, 86 RBIs, 77 runs, .257 average.

45. Logan Morrison, Marlins
Skinny: Better plate discipline could easily vault the 24-year-old Morrison into the Top 40, sooner than later. Targets: 24 HRs, 75 RBI, 59 runs, 4 steals, .268 average.

46. Josh Willingham, Twins
Skinny: An underrated two-category force, look for Willingham to take a slight dip in HRs and RBIs…but raise his average to approximately.265.

47. Carlos Quentin, Padres
Skinny: Quentin may never replicate his MVP-caliber season from 2008 (36/100/.288), but he’s still a reasonable play for 25 HRs, 82 RBI and .261 average.

48. Austin Jackson, Tigers
Skinny: It’s rare to find a two-category machine at this point in the countdown. Assuming he bats leadoff for most of 2012, A-Jax could tally 100 runs and 30 steals.

49. Martin Prado, Braves
Skinny: Prado is a respectable four-category contributor to those who have forgotten the 15-HR/100-runs/.300 expectations of last March.

50. Brennan Boesch, Tigers
Skinny: The planets may be aligned for Boesch to finally enjoy a season of relatively good health and fruitful fantasy numbers: Targets: 17 HRs, 70 RBI, 82 runs, 6 steals, .287 average.

51. Matt Joyce, Rays
Skinny: A productive player with some inescapable red flags from last year: two months of sub-.200 hitting…and three months of two homers or less.

52. Peter Bourjos, Angels
Skinny: Bourjos should be a four-category factor this year (excluding RBI)…assuming he logs 500 at-bats for the Angels.

53. Angel Pagan, Giants
Skinny: Like Bourjos, Pagan should be a four-category success in roto and head-to-head leagues, and bonus…30 steals is now the baseline of reasonable expectations.

54. Alex Rios, White Sox
Skinny: Rios may not register stats worthy of the 54th outfielder. But his age (31) and intriguing physical tools will nonetheless prompt fantasy GMs to take a later-round flier on the former star.

55. Brandon Belt, Giants
Skinny: Forget last year’s pedestrian stats (9 HRs, 18 RBI, 21 runs, .225 BA). Belt has the tools and superb minor-league track record to be a four-category factor in his second season.

56. Colby Rasmus, Blue Jays
Skinny: It’s time for Rasmus to take a big leap in his development, while avoiding the wild highs and lows of seasons past. Targets: 22 HRs, 67 RBI, 84 runs, 9 steals, .274 average.

57. Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins
Skinny: A two-category whirlwind (runs, steals) who needs to prove last year’s .296 BA wasn’t a fluke.

58. Dexter Fowler, Rockies
Skinny: A potential National League clone of Austin Jackson, Fowler might approach 90 runs and 25-30 steals for the hot-and-cold Rockies.

59. Mitch Moreland, Rangers
Skinny: Moreland’s hearty supporters might find fault with this conservative ranking. But for 2012, Moreland’s upside likely doesn’t extend past 21 HRs and 67 RBI.

60. Jason Kubel, Diamondbacks
Skinny: With 140 games and 500 at-bats, Kubel can recapture his 20-HR mojo from 2008-10. But that may be a tall order, given the Diamondbacks’ packed outfield and absence of a DH during National League play.

61. Lucas Duda, Mets
Skinny: Duda has the physical tools to be a four-category contributor in his age-26 season. Targets: 16 HRs, 58 RBI, 59 runs, .284 average.

62. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
Skinny: Soriano makes for a productive fifth or sixth outfielder in 12-team leagues, especially for owners in need of 20-plus homers and 80 RBI.

63. J.D. Martinez, Astros
Skinny: A .342 hitter in the minors, Martinez has the skill set to be a four-category factor in his second MLB season. This leap-of-faith ranking will look even better in May.

64. Michael Brantley, Indians
Skinny: Brantley posted across-the-board gains in his second MLB season (7 HRs, 46 RBI, 63 runs, 13 steals, .266 average). Expect another season of modest improvement.

65. Vernon Wells, Angels
Skinny: With this outfield ranking, fantasy owners probably wouldn’t mind a repeat of Wells’ 2011 numbers (25 HRs, 66 RBI, 60 runs, 9 steals)—minus the deflating .218 average.

66. Delmon Young, Tigers
Skinny: Fantasy owners shouldn’t expect a homer every five games from Young—his admirable pace with the Tigers last season. But he’s still a respectable four-category contributor.

67. Ben Revere, Twins
Skinny: Revere will be a high late-round priority for owners needing cheap speed, and the fleet-footed Twin is a lock for 42-45 steals in 2012.

68. Juan Pierre, Phillies
Skinny: The 34 year old may be in the twilight of his career, but he’s still a threat for 40 steals and 80 runs when given adequate playing time. An ideal late-round flier.

69. Jason Bay, Mets
Skinny: Bay’s numbers have obviously dipped since that coup de grace season of 2009 with Boston (36 HRs, 119 RBI, 103 runs). But as a healthy Met, he’s still a good play for 16 HRs, 70 RBI and 11 steals.

70. Ryan Raburn, Tigers
Skinny: Opportunity knocks for the OF-eligible Rayburn, who has a clear shot at winning the Tigers’ job at second base and posting numbers of 15 HRs, 58 RBI, 61 runs and .282 average.

71. Jose Tabata, Pirates
Skinny: The next five players in this countdown could all make big jumps in 2012. Tabata is a reasonable candidate for 12 HRs, 34 steals and .279 average.

72. Eric Thames, Blue Jays
Skinny: Thames has down-the-road power potential of 25 HRs and 90 RBI. He could be a last-round gem for upside-loving owners.

73. Jerry Sands, Dodgers
Skinny: Sands would probably rate higher if he had a spot sewn up in the Dodgers’ outfield. Hopefully, owners will have more clarity with Sands in April or May.

74. Lorenzo Cain, Royals
Skinny: Cain was a four-category factor in the minors. Hopefully, that status will transition into big-league success for 2012. A solid late-round flier.

75. Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics
Skinny: You’ve seen the video of Cespedes running, jumping and P90X-ing his way into the hearts of MLB scouts and general managers. But is he ready to play in the bigs?

76. Seth Smith, Athletics
Skinny: It’s hard to guess how Oakland’s outfield situation will shake out by season’s end, but Smith has respectable potential in all five categories. A late-round coup in any format.

77. Travis Snider, Blue Jays
Skinny: A red-hot spring start has fueled the notion that Snider will put it all together in 2012. Here’s the rub: Toronto’s outfield is stacked right now.

78. Yonder Alonso, Padres
Skinny: The Reds took a big gamble on Joey Votto (beyond 2013) when they traded Alonso, a future star at first base, to the Padres. For Alonso, anything above 14 HRs, 63 RBI and .270 BA would be welcome.

79. Mike Carp, Mariners
Skinny: Carp may finally be getting the requisite playing time to become a productive fantasy asset. Targets: 18 HRs and .282 average.

80. Denard Span, Twins
Skinny: The 80th ranking is more ceremonial than a punitive judgment against Span, who tallied 182 runs and 49 steals in 2009-10. With a productive spring, thus erasing last year’s disappointment, Span could vault 14-17 slots before Opening Day.

80a. Bryce Harper, Nationals
Skinny: It might not matter if the Nationals send Harper down for more minor-league seasoning before Opening Day. Fantasy owners won’t hesitate to take a Round 20 flier on one of the most touted hitting prospects of the last 20 years. Expect a June 1 call-up.

80b. Mike Trout, Angels
Skinny: A springtime illness has effectively curtailed Trout’s chances of making the parent club on Opening Day. Nevertheless, he’s a stealth last-round flier and a can’t-miss prospect for the long term.

80c. Alex Presley, Pirates
Skinny: With an outfield of Andrew McCutchen, Tabata and Presley, the Pirates can afford to be patient with Starling Marte. A .291 hitter in the minors, Presley could develop into a four-category factor.

80d. Allen Craig, Cardinals
Skinny: Like so many prospects at this stage of the countdown, Craig’s fantasy potential is directly proportional to the number of at-bats he’ll accrue in his first full season.

80e. Alejandro De Aza, White Sox
Skinny: A poor man’s (or undiscovered) version of Emilio Bonifacio. In the right setting, De Aza could hit .300 and notch 30-35 steals.

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.

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