LINE-UP

1. Borbon, Julio CF
2. Young, Michael 3B
3. Hamilton, Josh RF (back, should be ready for spring training)
   
4. Guerrero, Vladimir DH
5. Kinsler, Ian 2B
6. Cruz, Nelson LF
7. Davis, Chris 1B
8. Teagarden, Taylor C
9. Andrus, Elvis SS

They may never have the pitching to take them all the way, but the Rangers always have a potent offense. 2010 will be on different. Texas will provide us with a smorgasbord of fantasy goodness. New leadoff man Juilo Borbon should be an excellent table setter. Borbon is a regular Speedy Gonzalez, stealing 19 bases in just 46 games. While it is unknown if he can maintain his stellar average over the course of an entire season, he should still end the year among the league leaders in runs and steals, making him a valuable fantasy commodity. With all the power that the Rangers’ line-up boasts, Michael Young is the catalyst. Always a consistent hitter, Young sported is highest average (.322) and home run total (22) since 2005. His RBI took a big dip mainly because he was moved from third to second in the order. Young is always undervalued in drafts for some unknown reason, so he should be able to be taken at a discount. It seems like he’s been around forever, but he’s only 33 and should still have another year of top-tier play left in him. Josh Hamilton is easily one of baseball’s best talents, but I will be avoiding him at all costs in 2010. It’s not a reflection of his talent, but more of an indictment of his health. In his three big league seasons, Hamilton has turned more than 90 games only once. That was 2008, the year he was the star of the Home Run Derby, despite losing (Justin Morneau was the victor that year). That year, Hamilton played 156 games but faded in the second half of the year. It strikes me that the years of abuse he put on his body makes him unable to put together an entire season of greatness.  If it weren’t for his brutally low average last year, we would be talking about Ian Kinsler as a top-5 pick right now. He and Chase Utley are in a class of their own at second base, blending a perfect balance of speed and power into their games. Kinsler will likely be a top-20 pick, but like Hamilton, isn’t scared of a DL trip or two. That being said, Kinsler is one of two elite second baseman and you can have a huge advantage at the position with him in your line-up. If Nelson Cruz had his 2009 season five years ago, he’d be a lock to be in the Mitchell Report. Cruz slugged 33 home runs in his first full season of action and looks to improve on that total this year. In early mock drafts, Cruz is going around the sixth round, which seems a bit high. He’s a legitimate 20/20 threat, but his low average leaves him below what he should be producing in runs and RBI. If he can become more disciplined at the plate, he’ll increase those totals, but don’t count on it. If there’s one player who embodies the Rangers offense, it’s Chris Davis. In 2009, Davis hit a home run roughly every 18 at bats, which is excellent. Unfortunately, he struck out basically every other at bat. If he could ever figure out some patience at the plate, he’d be a force in fantasy, but things aren’t looking that way. If you can pair him with an elite average producer like Mauer or Ichiro, he’ll be a nice fit, but if you don’t have anyone to pick up the slack, you’ll find yourself dead last in the category. 21-year-old Elvis Andrus started to come into his own at the tail end of 2009. He was getting the ball in play more and taking advantage of it when he was on the base paths. Andrus will likely hit at the bottom of the order, so his main contribution will come in the form of his steals. The big unknown in this line-up is former Angel (and Expo!) Vladimir Guerrero. Getting to play at DH will only do Vladdy favors -- his knees may be the only ones in baseball that can rival Ken Griffey’s for lack of cartilage. Guerrero still has some pop left in his bat, but everything that used to make him a fantasy superstar (the average, the steals) are gone. Don’t get duped by name recognition. David Murphy, Khalil Greene, and Esteban German are capable bench bats and should do well if they inherit regular playing time due to injury.

STARTING ROTATION

1. Harden, Rich RHP (shoulder, should be ready for spring training)
   
2. Feldman, Scott RHP
3. Hunter, Tommy RHP
4. Feliz, Neftali RHP
5. Harrison, Matt LHP (shoulder, ribs, should be ready for spring training)
   
6. McCarthy, Brandon RHP
7. Holland, Derek LHP
8. Lewis, Colby RHP
   

I really hope Neftali Feliz can crack this rotation -- he’s absolutely lights-out.  We may have only gotten a small sample size of his talents last season, but he made quite an impact. In 31 innings, he posted a 1.74 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, and an astonishing 39 strikeouts. It’s hard to determine how this will play out over an entire season, but it’s a risk you should take. Oh Rich Harden, if you could only stay healthy. The Canadian fireballer has all the gifts of an ace, but his body just can’t keep up with him. Don’t put yourself through the headache of drafting him early, but if you can get him in the 16th round or later, take him and pray he discovered HGH. Don’t be fooled by Scott Feldman’s 17 wins, he wasn’t that good. He wasn’t bad, but not 17-wins good. There’s the possibility that he can improve on his rookie season, but leave the finding out to someone else. Lewis, a former Ranger prospect, returns to MLB from a two-year stint in Japan. He apparently "figured things out" over there, so he should be monitored in-season in AL-only leagues.

BULLPEN

1. Francisco, Frank RHP
2. Wilson, C.J. LHP
3. Ray, Chris RHP
4. Oliver, Darren LHP
5. O’Day, Darren RHP
6. Nippert, Dustin RHP
7. Mathis, Doug RHP

Frank Francisco is a wonderful source of saves, but you’ll have to handcuff him with CJ Wilson because he always seems to hurt. Both strike out batters at a fantastic rate and would be a great fits for any team. If you’re scouring for holds, look no further than Darren O’Day. On top of the holds, O’ Day will help out your ratios while adding a good chunk of strikeouts along the way.