TOP 5 MLB NEWS ITEMS FROM WEDNESDAY 1/28/09 TO TUESDAY 2/2/09 

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. Below, we analyze the top fantasy baseball news items from the previous week.

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5. Winn, Randy OF (SF) signed with NYY

Winn's numbers dipped across the board last year. While he could experience a minor resurgence in 2010 on a better team in a better park, he could also slide into a platoon or bench role behind Brett Gardner. Roster him cheaply as a filler in AL-only leagues, but beyond that, I'd avoid him.

4. Garland, Jon SP (LAD) signed with SD

Garland is an innings-eater that should be fine to use at least in his PETCO starts in NL-only leagues. He excelled down the stretch for the Dodgers last year. Unfortunately, he won't get much run support in San Diego.

3. Sheets, Ben SP (MIL) signed with OAK

You have to believe that Sheets will find a way to land back on the DL at some point, but if he comes at a big discount, he's a risk worth taking. He apparently "wowed" the A's in his throwing session, and should at least give you a good April in AL-only leagues.

2. Nady, Xavier OF (NYY) signed with CHC

The Cubs have a crowded outfield, with Soriano, Fukudome, and Byrd, but they each have their issues, and Nady can play 1B too, to spell Lee, so he should get enough at bats to be worth nabbing late in NL-only leagues for his power potential. He could get off to a slow start, coming off Tommy John surgery, but he's a lottery ticket with decent power that could pay off, in the end.

1. Cabrera, Orlando SS (MIN) signed with CIN

The 35-year old had a rough start last season, but he finished strong and has been pretty consistent over the last several years. He's not great in any one aspect, but he won't hurt you anywhere, and playing in that ballpark will be good for him. He's a good one to target after the stud shortstops are gone.

Ronnie Belliard 2B re-signed with LAD. He always seems to work himself into playing time one way or another, so he's worth nabbing late for depth in NL-only leagues, especially if he officially locks up the 2B job to himself (Jamey Carroll could certainly steal at-bats)... Melvin Mora 3B/1B (BAL) signed with COL. He should take over where Garrett Atkins left off. That's not saying much. He could be a decent CI filler in deep NL-only leagues, but anything beyond that for this declining "old man" would be a surprise... Gabe Gross OF (TB) signed with OAK. He could be on the good side of a platoon in LF, but otherwise, he'll be their top lefty bat off the bench and a good injury fill-in if/when needed. He's a decent pick late in AL-only leagues... Willy Tavares OF (CIN) and Adam Rosales IF traded to OAK for Aaron Miles. Tavares was immediately designated for assignment, so we have to assume he'll latch on elsewhere. He'll offer maybe 25 SBs but hurt you everywhere else. Rosales is only 26 and needs to prove that he belongs in the majors. He'll get limited ABs as a back-up in OAK. Miles is a pretty worthless MI guy behind Phillips and Cabrera... Ryan Garko 1B (SF) signed with SEA. Expect the RHB to end up on the wrong side of a platoon with Casey Kotchman. Garko offers a little power late in AL-only leagues, nothing more... Frank Catalanotto OF/1B (MIL) signed with NYM. He'll be a good lefty bat off the bench. He's 35 now, but if injury strikes, he could be a capable fill-in vs. RHPs. If you don't know where to go with your last reserve pick in deep NL-only leagues, he's worth considering, as he won't hurt your BA... Jim Edmonds OF (CHC) signed with MIL. He'll get some at-bats off the bench and could even get in plenty of ABs vs. RHPs. He's 39, but he can possibly provide a little power late in NL-only drafts... Eric Byrnes OF (ARI) signed with SEA. It's the march of the declining outfielders. You have to wonder if Byrnes has anything to offer in a bench role -- a little speed at least, you would hope... Kevin Gregg RP (CHC) signed with TOR. He lost closer duties in Florida and Chicago over the past two seasons and should merely be a set-up man for Downs and Frasor in Toronto this year. Still, he's worth a late-round flier in AL-only leagues, given the fact that he has saved games in the past and neither Downs nor Frasor is exactly Mariano Rivera... Jim Thome DH/PH (LAD) signed with MIN. He'll mostly pinch hit, with Kubel already the LHB DH on the Twins, leaving Thome with virtually no fantasy value. If you want a guy that might bang out 10 HRs in limited ABs and only be eligible at UP, grab Thome with an end-game AL-only pick... Joe Inglett IF/OF (TOR) signed with MIL. At the end of an NL-only draft, he'll offer a decent BA plus position flexibility and maybe a handful of SBs if he wins the Brewers utility role... Miguel Cairo IF (PHI) signed with CIN. Unfortunately, Cairo doesn't hit for average, so position flexibility and maybe a handful of steals is the best you can hope for from him. He's just a last-ditch option in deep NL-only leagues... Brad Ausmus C re-signed with LAD. He's a NL-only C2 that won't hurt your BA... Chad Tracy 1B (ARI) and Kevin Millar (TOR) signed minor league contracts with CHC. The Cubs are loaded at the corners and outfield. Tracy and Millar are no longer a fantasy considerations... Tim Redding SP (NYM) signed with COL. He'll fill in the Rox rotation if injuries strike but not be worth using in fantasy... Rich Hill SP (BAL) signed with STL. He'll likely have no fantasy impact in 2010, but now working with pitching coach Dave Duncan, you could do worse with your very last NL-only reserve pick... Miguel Batista P (SEA) signed with WAS. He's 39. The Nats will see the mistake of signing him and cut him before heading north from spring training. They have plenty of lousy young pitchers -- they have no need for a lousy old one... Edgar Osuna SP (ATL) was a Rule 5 pick for KC. He pitched decently in the minors for the Braves last year and has a shot at a rotation spot, but is very unlikely to help any fantasy teams in 2010.

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