TOP 5 MLB NEWS ITEMS FROM THURSDAY 2/25/10 TO MONDAY 3/1/10

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. Melvin Mora IF COL is preparing to play 3B, 2B, SS, and OF

The declining vet won't set the world on fire, but Coors is a nice place to hit, and versatility like that never hurts. Consider him as a cheap option for versatility in NL-only leagues. 

4. Inge, Brandon 3B DET is recovering well from surgery on both knees

If his knees are healthier, perhaps he could avoid a second-half slump this season.

3. Jurrjens, Jair SP ATL is progressing well from his shoulder injury

If your league-mates are scared off, don't you be afraid to nab him at a discount. No, he won't match his gaudy numbers from last season, but he'll certainly be worth having on your roster.

2. Sizemore, Grady OF CLE will hit out of the #2 slot

We love Sizemore as a post-injury value in the second round this year, and this helps even more. Asdrubal Cabrera should lead off, enhancing his value as well. Unfortunately, except for Choo, there's not much behind them in the Indians line-up.

1. Lopez, Felipe UP (MIL) signed with STL

Lopez will likely get 300-450 AB as a super utility player. He could play fairly regularly, shifting among 2B, SS, 3B, and the OF.There's not much in his way at those positions, so consider throwing $5-10 his way in NL-only leagues for the joy of owning such a versatile player.

ALSO

Jeff Francis SP COL is progressing well in his throwing program. He's a sneaky pick in NL-only leagues, so don't forget about him on draft day... Scott Olsen SP WAS apparently has a "lock" on a rotation spot. He's simply a name to monitor during the spring and keep in mind for the end of NL-only drafts... Chris Tillman SP BAL, a good-looking prospect, is throwing well and seems recovered from last year's injury. He's a name to keep in mind in AL-only leagues... Ditto for Jonathon Niese SP NYM in NL-only leagues... Joel Hanrahan RP PIT was expected to miss time with elbow issues, but it looks like he's on track for opening day now. This is good news for closer Octavio Dotel, as he has a somewhat reliable arm to cover the eighth inning for him now... The Nationals are saying Ian Desmond will only play SS now, after previously declaring him a utility player. Thusly, expect him to play in AAA as long as Christian Guzman is manning SS for the Nats in the majors... Brett Tomko SP and Jason Jennings RP signed minor league contracts with OAK. Tomko could make for a decent AL-only fill-in in season, while Jennings' ceiling is that of a nondescript middle reliever... Omar Poveda SP TEX underwent Tommy John surgery, so forget about actually using him until 2012.

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