We have many great articles planned leading up to the 2010 Fantasy Baseball season including sleepers, busts, rookies, strategy, full player rankings and projections all wrapped up into a nifty draft kit to help you win your league next year. Stay tuned for more, but for now, here's a team preview for you.

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2009 RECORD: 75-87, 4th in NL West

LINE-UP

1. Cabrera, Everth SS
2. Eckstien, David 2B
3. Gonzalez, Adrian 1B
4. Headley, Chase 3B
5. Blanks, Kyle RF
6. Gwynn, Tony CF
7. Hairston, Scott LF
8. Hundley, Nick C

The small-market Padres return basically the same line-up that finished near the bottom in every meaningful offensive category last season. So what can we expect to change this year? Not much, unfortunately. Manager Bruce Bochy needs some significant development from his younger players to finish outside of the cellar in the NL West. The only Padre you should consider in the first ten rounds is Adrian Gonzalez. He's having problems seeing hittable pitches with no protection in the line-up, though. Instead of drafting the slugger, you may be wise to wait until the trade deadline and deal for him as he'll likely be moved to a contender. In deeper leagues (14+ teams), you may want to keep an eye on Cabrera, Blanks, Headley, Venable, and Gwynn. Either Cabrera or Gwynn will hit leadoff and have plenty of opportunities to swipe some bases. Cabrera's value would take a bigger boost if he's thrust into the leadoff spot. He stole 25 bases in just over half a season in 09. He'll add to that total this season and should be a nice late-round sleeper if he can improve his OBP. Blanks burst onto the scene late last year hitting 10 HR in 148 AB, but it's hard to put too much stock into a hot September. He's worth keeping an eye on though. OF Will Venable made a nice debut last year and will be available if an injury hits (or even work his way into a platoon role from the get-go). Venable will battle for time with the newly acquired Scott Hairston, who will provide some consistency in all categories but nothing of significant value. Once a super prospect, Headley didn't quite live up to the hype, but he could develop into a decent contributor as the season goes forward. He'll likely resume his clean-up role, which should provide him with a lot of opportunities, with Gonzalez being walked in front of him. In your standard 10-12 team leagues, Gonzalez is your only sure-fire bet. You won't be disappointed with the streaky slugger occupying your 1B slot. 2B Matt Antonelli is a "failed" prospect looming at AAA, should Eckstien get hurt.

STARING ROTATION

1. Young, Chris RHP (coming off shoulder problems)
2. Correia, Kevin RHP
3. Latos, Mat RHP
4. Richard, Clayton RHP
5. Stauffer, Tim RHP
6. Poreda, Aaron LHP
7. LeBlanc, Wade LHP
8. Gallagher, Sean RHP

San Diego's pitching had a better 2009 than the offense, but let's face it, that's not saying much. Chris Young returns from as the ace of the staff from a series of injuries that season. When healthy, Young can be an excellent source of strikeouts but will hurt your ERA and WHIP. I wouldn't count on that, though, as mandatory visits to the triage unit may be in his contract. The real sleeper of this staff is 29 year old Kevin Correia. In his first season as a starter, Correia provided streamers with some quality starts in the fantasy playoffs last season. He made it through the year without injury and improved all season long. If he can build on his sub-4.00 ERA and 6.45 K/9 ratio, he'll be a Top 20 NL pitcher. The rest of the staff has potential but are relatively green. Latos, Richard, and Stauffer all boast a 6.5+ K/9 and take the mound in baseball's most friendly park to pitchers, so consider them all in deep leagues and for streaming purposes.   

BULLPEN

1. Bell, Heath RHP
2. Adams, Mike RHP
3. Gregerson, Luke RHP
4. Mujica, Edward RHP
5. Webb, Ryan RHP
6. Perdomo, Luis RHP
7. Burke, Greg RHP
8. Ekstrom, Mike RHP
9. Russell, Adam RHP

Heath Bell turned in a stellar 2009, finishing as a Top 5 closer. His excellent season will inflate his 2010 draft value so, despite his potential, you'll find better value deeper in the draft. Mike Adams was lights out last year and should usurp Gregerson as the set-up man. Adams seems to be the likeliest candidate to become closer if Bell is injured or traded.  

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