Complete 2009 Projections

Position: All | Batters | Pitchers | C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | 2B/SS | 1B/3B | IF | LF | CF | RF | OF | DH | SP | RP
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PROJECTED 2009 SEASON STATS
1.
Hanley Ramirez
, Fla SS		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics58912533679212235.301.400.540.940
2009 Projections62811931968012029.311.391.543.934
2009 Outlook: A sore shoulder hardly slowed Ramirez down, as he completed his first 30/30 season and continued to prove himself as a top-three fantasy player, possibly the best in the game. Ramirez could become more of a power hitter this season, especially if Cameron Maybin wins the leadoff job, which would move Ramirez to third in the order. He's capable of 40 homers, or 40 steals, or both. He's only 25, so this might be merely the beginning.
2.
Albert Pujols
, StL 1B		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics52410037116104547.357.462.6531.114
2009 Projections54610740124103556.346.449.6411.090
2009 Outlook: Here's a stat that exemplifies just how extraordinary a talent Pujols is: He's the only player in baseball history to have managed at least a .300 batting average, 30 home runs, 100 RBIs and 99 runs scored in each of his first eight big-league seasons. What more needs be said? More important than the numbers is mid-January news that Pujols was already training without restriction coming off October nerve-transposition surgery near his right elbow. Elbow worries were the primary reason that kept him from being the No. 1 pick in the draft a year ago, but with diminished health risk, he makes a much better case for consideration there entering 2009. We won't say he's guaranteed to outperform a Hanley Ramirez or Alex Rodriguez, but as a safe .330-35-115 candidate, he makes a darned strong case.
3.
David Wright
, NYM 3B		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics626115331249411815.302.390.534.924
2009 Projections614112311099011721.308.395.534.929
2009 Outlook: A fantasy monster who annually delivers top statistics, Wright posted career bests in home runs, RBIs and runs scored, but fantasy owners bemoaned his decline in stolen bases from 34 to 15. It's anyone's guess how much Wright will opt to run this season, but considering his consistency and potential for 30/30, he warrants an early first-round draft pick and remains a top keeper. Wright has averaged 158 games in four seasons, so there's really no downside here.
4.
Jose Reyes
, NYM SS		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics6881131668668256.297.358.475.833
2009 Projections6801161567678163.293.354.462.815
2009 Outlook: Arguably the best player in fantasy from May through August, Reyes was second in the majors in stolen bases and among the leaders in runs scored, ultimately finishing second to Albert Pujols on the Player Rater. While Reyes might never hit 20 home runs in a season, he has few faults as a fantasy option, especially considering he's a shortstop who steals a ton of bases. Reyes is annually a high first-round pick who delivers what he's expected to.
5.
Ryan Braun
, Mil OF		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics61192371064212914.285.335.553.888
2009 Projections603103431094612817.295.341.599.940
2009 Outlook: A monster slugger who is questionable on defense at his drafted position of third base, Braun seemed much more comfortable in his shift to left field in 2008. He didn't commit a single error, and while he fell short in repeating his outstanding rookie numbers, he did manage healthy numbers in all the pertinent Rotisserie categories. With a year's experience in left, and his prime years just around the corner at age 25, Braun might yet have room for growth, especially in the power department. It hurts fantasy owners that he no longer qualifies at third base, but even as an outfielder, a 40-homer, 15-steal candidate who's strong in every other category makes this franchise-caliber slugger a solid cornerstone for your fantasy squad.
6.
Grady Sizemore
, Cle OF, DH		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics63410133909813038.268.374.502.876
2009 Projections63611030859614034.274.379.497.876
2009 Outlook: As long as he continues to hit leadoff for the Indians and thus gets 600-plus at-bats, Sizemore will pretty much be a lock for another 30-30 season. Plus, with just a few more balls that fall in for hits, you're looking at a .280 average as well. Sizemore has drawn 199 walks over the past two seasons, showing increased selectivity and patience at the plate as well. You really can't go wrong drafting Grady.
7.
Miguel Cabrera
, Det 1B		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics6168537127561261.292.349.537.887
2009 Projections61810039131701292.319.388.581.969
2009 Outlook: Let's call last season's move to the AL the reason for Miggy's first-half power slump (only 11 homers) shall we? The second half, in which he hit .304 with 26 home runs, was far more the Cabrera we remembered from the Marlins. At worst, he matches last season's fantasy value. At best? Say hello to your 2009 MVP.
8.
Johan Santana
, NYM SP		YEAR    G   GS   IP   BB    K    W   SV   HD  ERA WHIP  K/9
2008 Statistics3434234.16320616002.531.157.91
2009 Projections3434234.06322318002.621.148.58
2009 Outlook: Sure, Santana saw his strikeouts decline while his WHIP and walk rate rose, but he still finished as the No. 5 starter on the Player Rater. Who is more consistent than Santana year after year, yet offers this much upside? Santana registered quality starts in 28 of his 34 2008 starts, so with a beefed-up bullpen, it's reasonable to expect more than 16 wins and a strong Cy Young run. Put simply, Santana is arguably the best in the business, and worthy of being the top pitcher taken in drafts.
9.
Jimmy Rollins
, Phi SS		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics556761159585547.277.349.437.786
2009 Projections7061242586578040.288.343.499.842
2009 Outlook: Rollins never had the chance to duplicate his 2007 MVP season; he hurt his ankle in April and landed on the DL. After the short DL stint, Rollins produced everything but the power, particularly excelling in stolen bases. Hey, at least he wasn't Rafael Furcal, who missed most of the season, right? While asking for another 30 home runs seems egregious, Rollins should settle back into the 20-something range. Considering he's a shortstop and an annual 40-steal option, Rollins is first-round-worthy.
10.
Mark Teixeira
, NYY 1B		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics5741023312197932.308.410.552.962
2009 Projections56210034121891052.308.404.564.968
2009 Outlook: Teixeira's surprise deal this December gave the Yankees baseball's four largest contracts, but for once, you can argue Brian Cashman has invested wisely. Rather than squander cash on aging former stars, New York has locked up a fabulous 29-year-old two-way player who should mash for another decade. He's an on-base and OPS machine who's joining a great lineup; however, we don't think Big Tex matches that crazy 43-HR, 144-RBI 2005. But 30/120/.300 with 100 runs is an absolute lock if he stays healthy.
11.
Tim Lincecum
, SF SP		YEAR    G   GS   IP   BB    K    W   SV   HD  ERA WHIP  K/9
2008 Statistics3433227.08426518002.621.1710.51
2009 Projections3232223.08425218002.951.1510.17
2009 Outlook: You could make a case that Lincecum will be the No. 1 starting pitcher in fantasy this season, after leading the NL in ERA and all of the majors in strikeouts last year and ranking third in our Player Rater behind Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. Lincecum's unorthodox delivery may actually be a help instead of a hindrance in handling his heavy workload from last season, and he still has some room to get better, thanks to an improved changeup that's more of a modified split, and his toying with a slider. He should be no worse than the third starter off the board. Draft with confidence.
12.
Carlos Lee
, Hou OF		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics436612810037494.314.368.569.937
2009 Projections583853412250639.309.361.549.910
2009 Outlook: Criticize him for his lack of range and point out that a 32-year-old with his build seems destined to break down eventually, but the fact remains that Lee has been one of the most productive, consistent sluggers in baseball this decade. And you can throw out the fact that a broken finger cost him the final six weeks of 2008 because that's definitely a fluky injury. Here are Lee's per-year averages this decade: 150 games, .290 batting average, 29 home runs, 102 RBIs, 90 runs scored. Those are averages, remember; he topped every one of those numbers in 2006 and 2007. At his age, Lee might never be a double-digit base stealer again, but barring any setbacks with his finger in the spring, he's about as consistent a .290-30-100 candidate as there is. That's a certain top-25-overall candidate.
13.
Lance Berkman
, Hou 1B		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics554114291069910818.312.420.567.986
2009 Projections548105311079411115.296.402.536.939
2009 Outlook: Berkman is remarkably consistent, posting a .300/.400/.500 season (.300-plus batting average, .400-plus on-base percentage and .500-plus slugging percentage) in 2008 for the fourth time in his past eight seasons. And while some might wonder whether Berkman's career is entering a declining phase, fact is, at age 33, he's hardly "old," and his .821 second-half OPS might not trouble you so much if you consider that Geoff Blum served as his lineup protection in 33 of his final 45 games after Carlos Lee got hurt. Berkman's runs and RBI totals might suffer as a result of the aging, thinning Houston offense, but having Lee back behind him in the order will help. He has at least one more vintage Lance Berkman season left in his bat.
14.
Chase Utley
, Phi 2B		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics607113331046410414.292.380.535.915
2009 Projections605103311076110613.296.379.532.911
2009 Outlook: By most accounts Philly's top player, Utley was on his way to becoming the team's third consecutive MVP award winner from the infield when a hip injury derailed his monster season. Utley hit 25 homers before the All-Star break, a terrific season for a second baseman, and ended up in the top 20 on our Player Rater. That should become a regular occurrence, and he also has enough speed to be taken seriously.
15.
Dustin Pedroia
, Bos 2B		YEAR   AB    R   HR  RBI   BB    K   SB  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2008 Statistics6531181783505220.326.376.493.869
2009 Projections6051051571494916.322.372.478.850
2009 Outlook: If Pedroia is 5-foot-8, we're Manute Bol. He's 5-6, folks, which makes him perhaps the unlikeliest AL MVP in baseball's modern era. In a season with no dominant power hitter, Pedroia's leading the league in doubles and runs scored and tying for the lead in hits made him the right choice. But was he that good fantasy-wise? Really, he was. His 17 homers show he swings hard, and his high contact rates seem sustainable. He'll dominate in runs and batting average, two undervalued categories, and be respectable everywhere else.
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