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: 86-77, 2nd in AL Central

The Tigers season ended on a sour note losing to the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of the 12th inning in a one-game playoff to decide the Central Division. In the off-season, the Tigers were part of a blockbuster trade where Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson were traded to the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Yankees' top outfield prospect Austin Jackson will replace Granderson in center, and young fireballer Max Scherzer will replace Jackson in the rotation. One thing Tiger fans will be happy about is that they signed free agent closer Jose Valverde to anchor the bull pen.    

Stat table note: The better the ranking number, the better the stat, in all categories. For example, for the SO cat for hitting, a #2 ranking means that the team tallied the second fewest strikeouts. For the BB and SB cats for pitching, the #1 teams allowed the fewest bases on balls and steals.

LINE-UP

1. Jackson, Austin CF
2. Sizemore, Scott 2B (ankle, should be ready for spring training)
3. Ordonez, Magglio RF
4. Cabrera, Miguel 1B
5. Guillen, Carlos DH
6. Inge, Brandon 3B (knees, should be ready for spring training)
7. Raburn, Ryan LF
8. Laird, Gerald C
9. Everett, Adam SS

Granderson and Polanco were a big part of the 09 Tigers offense, and now that they are gone, a group of talented youngsters will get a shot to see what they can do. Austin Jackson should be given every chance to prove he can make it in the majors, but if he fails, Clete Thomas would see action in center. Magglio Ordonez is coming off a down season for him, but he turned things around late in the season. Fantasy owners might want to push Cabrera down a few spots come draft time, as the RBI and Runs won't be there for him this year. I'm a big fan of Scott Sizemore, as I think he will be a valuable rookie to have in deeper leagues because he can hit for average and steal a few bags. If your looking for power late in your draft, look at Brandon Inge. He has proven he can hit the long ball, and last year he was even hitting for average at the start of the year. If he can bring that average up some, his value will start to increase.        

STARTING ROTATION

1. Verlander, Justin RHP
2. Porcello, Rick RHP
3. Scherzer, Max RHP
4. Galarraga, Armando RHP
5. Bonderman, Jeremy RHP
6. Robertson, Nate LHP
7. Minor, Zach RHP
8. Willis, Dontrelle LHP (anxiety, hip - should be ready for spring training)

Tiger fans will be able to watch Justin Verlander for a long time now, after his off-season contract extension. Verlander was on top of his game in 2009, going 19-9 with a league-high 269 strikeouts. He will be a fantasy ace once again this year, as he is just hitting his prime. Rick Porcello made the jump from Class A ball to the majors last year and opened many eyes as a 20-year-old. Porcello went 14-9 with a ERA just under four. Porcello's K's were low last year, but look for that to improve -- but be careful not to overpay for this young arm. Max Scherzer will take the spot of Edwin Jackson in the rotation. Last season Scherzer had more K's than innings pitched. I never like a pitcher moving from the NL to the AL, but Scherzer is young and still has not hit is potential yet, so look for him to put up similar numbers in the AL. The rest of the Tigers rotation is up in the air. Jeremy Bonderman will be trying to come back once more from his arm injury, and he is only 27, so keep an eye on him this spring, as he could have some sleeper value. Odds are Nate Robertson and Armando Galarraga will round out the rotation, but you won't get much fantasy value out of those two. Keep an eye on RP Phil Coke, as the Tigers might use him in the rotation.

BULLPEN

1. Valverde, Jose RHP
2. Zumaya, Joel RHP (shoulder, should be ready for spring training)
3. Perry, Ryan RHP
4. Coke, Phil LHP
5. Seay, Bobby LHP
6. Miner, Zach RHP
7. Schlereth, Daniel LHP
8. Ni, Fu-Te RHP
9. Fien, Casey RHP
10. Robertson, Nate LHP

Jose Valverde takes over the closer job for the Tigers this season, after Fernando Rodney left via free agency. Look for Valverde to rack up a good number of saves for the Tigers. Behind Valverde, Detroit has some big young arms who could be closing at some point in the near future. Joel Zumaya has some blazing heat and will be a top set-up man this season. Injury's have been a big issue with Zumaya, but when he is healthy, he is flat-out nasty. Ryan Perry has closer written all over him, but the Tigers are letting him grow into the role. Look for Perry to lock down the 7th or 8th inning set-up job this year. Lefty Daniel Schlereth is another young arm in the Tiger Pen who could be playing a big role in the late innings. Schlereth might need some more time in the minors, but look for him to play a key role in Detroit at some point this season.  

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