Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings & Projections

2009 Outfield Preseason Preview

 

Nick Markakis

It is all about the upside with Markakis. He has the ability to become a top ten fantasy outfielder in 2009 at a lower draft price.

15. Nick Markakis - Orioles - 2009 Preview:

If he were in a top offense, he would rank higher, but the Orioles' offense are no better than average. Markakis didn't have the huge season that some predicted, but he still hit over .300 and hit 20 home runs. Where he definitely disappointed was in stolen bases where he only stole 10 out of 17 bases. If he can get back up to the twenty level he will move up in the rankings.

2008 Statistics: .306 - 20 HR's - 87 RBI's - 106 Runs.

2009 Projection: .312 - 23 HR's - 90 RBI's - 111 Runs.

 

16. Álex Ríos - Blue Jays - 2008 Preview:

He still has the magic combo of speed and pop that makes fantasy owners drool, but his stats seem to just come shy of being an All Star. Nevertheless, you can not argue with the whole of his stats which include 15 home runs, 8 triples, 47 doubles and 32 stolen bases. Seeing more RBI's and runs would help Rios move up the rankings.

2008 Statistics: .291 - 15 HR's - 79 RBI's - 91 Runs.

2009 Projection: .290 - 18 HR's - 82 RBI's - 97 Runs.

 

17. Jermaine Dye - White Sox - 2008 Preview:

The veteran keeps producing top fantasy numbers, but rarely goes high in the draft. He had a sub par 2007 when he batted just .254 with 28 home runs, but that was after his studly '06 when he smashed 44 home runs and batted .315. So he is a bit inconsistent, but he produces even in the off years.

2008 Statistics: .292 - 34 HR's - 96 RBI's - 96 Runs.

2009 Projection: .287 - 31 HR's - 94 RBI's - 93 Runs.

 

18. Ryan Ludwick - Cardinals - 2009 Preview:

He is kind of in the same boat as Josh Hamilton in that he came out of nowhere and had a huge season. Even worse, Ludwick is 31 and has done nothing in the past to show that his 2008 season wasn't a fluke. In the end it is hard to deny his 37 home runs and the fact that even after a hot start, he pretty much maintained a high level of play all season. There is risk here and you shouldn't expect quite the same numbers, but a notch less is still pretty good.

2008 Statistics: .299 - 37 HR's - 113 RBI's - 104 Runs.

2009 Projection: .287 - 32 HR's - 100 RBI's - 91 Runs.

 

19. Ichiro Suzuki - Mariners - 2008 Preview:

He is a lifetime .331 hitter and is good for 40 stolen bases and 100 runs every year regardless of how his team plays. If the Mariners offense would improve Suzuki would move closer to the top ten, without the improvement (and it isn't likely) He is good for average, stolen bases and runs only.

2008 Statistics: .310 - 6 HR's - 42 RBI's - 103 Runs.

2009 Projection: .328 - 6 HR's - 47 RBI's - 108 Runs.

 

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20. (tie) Nate McLouth - Pirates - 2008 Preview:

McLouth came out of nowhere in fantasy's no man land, Pittsburgh, and put up a heck of a year. The big surprise was his power. In the minors he was a .300 hitting, base stealing center fielder. So he wasn't a complete fluke. Don't expect more home runs in his second full season, you are more likely to get less, but see an up-tick in average and stolen bases. 4 triples, 46 doubles and 23 stolen bases and a 65 walk to 93 strikeout ratio gets him into the top 20.

2008 Statistics: .276 - 26 HR's - 94 RBI's - 113 Runs.

2008 Projection: .288 - 18 HR's - 82 RBI's - 110 Runs.

 

20. (tie) Bobby Abreu - TBD - 2008 Preview:

The veteran is not what he once was, but he was still pretty darn good. He smacked 39 doubles 4 triples and stole 20 bases in addition to hitting the century-mark in RBI and run totals. If he does not return to the Yankees, there is no guarantee that he will have another season with a hundred RBI's and a hundred runs.

2008 Statistics: .296 - 20 HR's - 100 RBI's - 100 Runs.

2008 Projection: .289 - 19 HR's - 91 RBI's - 95 Runs.

 

20. (tie) Raúl Ibañez - Phillies - 2008 Preview:

Definitely the most underrated outfielder in fantasy baseball. He has averaged .290, 25 home runs and 112 RBI's over the last 3 season and now he has moved to a better line-up in Philadelphia. Expect more of the same from Ibanez and maybe a little more in '09.

2008 Statistics: .293 - 23 HR's - 110 RBI's - 85 Runs.

2008 Projection: .290 - 25 HR's - 114 RBI's - 94 Runs.

 

20. (tie) Adam Dunn - Diamondbacks - 2008 Preview:

We all know the story with Dunn, big home runs and big strikeouts. He struck out 166 times in '08, but he helped balance that with 112 walks. That isn't that bad of a ratio. Dunn's other problem is his lifetime .247 average. That doesn't make it in fantasy land. He has hit 40 home runs in each of his first four seasons.

2008 Statistics: .236 - 40 HR's - 100 RBI's - 79 Runs.

2008 Projection: .246 - 41 HR's - 108 RBI's - 92 Runs.

 

 

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