Fantasy Baseball 2010 Preview: Rangers

With fantasy baseball season on the horizon, it's time to preview each individual team.

Expected to hit a ton in 2009, only the Bronx Bombers had more home runs last season than the Texas Rangers. And I'm here to tell you that it's only going to get better in 2010.

Hank Blalock (25) and Marlon Byrd (20) are the only two 20-plus home run hitters -- the Rangers had six -- who departed the Ballpark in Arlington, but they brought in free agent Vladimir Guerrero. There is also a good possibility that one or both of Josh Hamilton -- who only hit ten dingers last year -- or David Murphy -- who hit 17 -- will blossom on the tree of home run hitters.

Speaking of free agents, the Rangers made a splash by bringing in Rich Harden to lead the pitching staff. Harden is capable of more than a strikeout per inning and a sub-four ERA, but he'll have to stay healthy to reach those milestones. Only once in his career has he made more than 30 starts in a season and the Rangers are hoping 2010 will be his second.

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The Breakout

It may be a day late -- actually one entire season -- but when he's through no one will complain about being a dollar short. Following a 17 home run performance in only 295 at-bats in 2008, Davis flopped and flailed in 2009, batting .238 and even being sent to the minors. Sure, Davis hit 21 home runs last season, but he struck out more than Larry from Three's Company -- 150 times in 419 plate appearances - and looked downright foolish at times. However, upon his return from the minors, Davis figured a few things out. In August and September, Davis hit .308 and struck out 25 percent of the time, a marked improvement from earlier in the season. He also hit six home runs in those 142 plate appearances to finish the season, which begs a question. Which hitter is real? Davis will not hit above .300, his hit rate in September was too high to maintain that. But, he seemed to have solved some issues in the minors and .265, maybe .270, isn't out of the question. Most important, the power is real. With 600 plate appearances, I'm expecting 30 home runs.

The Bust

I mentioned in the introduction that I felt that one or both outfielders between David Murphy and Josh Hamilton will hit 20 home runs in 2010. For Murphy that would be a superb growth year. For Hamilton, it would be another disappointment. Hamilton is proving to have troubles staying healthy, playing only 89 games in 2009 after a breakout 2008 season. The injury bug has already popped up this spring as well with Hamilton bruising his shoulder catching a pop fly and missing two weeks of spring training. I'm not saying that the ability to hit isn't there. But, I don't think Hamilton can stay healthy long enough to produce massive fantasy numbers. Especially since you have to draft him in the fifth round to secure his services. Pass on Hamilton and let another owner curse his nagging injuries.

The Lineup

1. Julio Borbon, CF
2. Michael Young, 3B
3. Josh Hamilton, LF
4. Vladimir Guerrero, DH
5. Ian Kinsler, 2B
6. Nelson Cruz, RF
7. Chris Davis, 1B
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Elvis Andrus, SS

The Rangers planned on beginning the season with Hamilton in left field, Borbon in center and Cruz in right. But early injuries to Hamilton this spring and the fact that David Murphy performed so admirably in 2009 could force Texas to rest Hamilton a lot this season. When Murphy plays, he'll be a nice source of power numbers, but his lack of full-time at-bats keep him as an AL-only option for the time being.

The Rotation

1. Scott Feldman
2. Rich Harden
3. Colby Lewis
4. Tommy Hunter
5. Matt Harrison / Derek Holland / C.J. Wilson / Neftali Feliz / Brandon McCarthy

Every one of these pitchers is still in the hunt for that fifth rotation spot, but it is believed that the team wants a left-handed pitcher to win the battle. That gives Harrison and Holland the upper hand. If a right-handed pitcher were to come away with the spot, it might be McCarthy who has been one of the more impressive of these pitchers early in camp.

The Bullpen

CL - Frank Francisco
SU - C.J. Wilson

Wilson is fighting for the final spot in the rotation. If he does not win the battle he will end up back as the set-up man for Francisco.

Scout's Honor

Julio Borbon looks poised to become a steady big league regular in 2010. One of the questions is whether he will hit left-handed pitching. That will be something to keep tabs on early this spring. If he can do that, he has the ability to be a very valuable leadoff man that can take pitches, cause problems on the bases, and score a lot of runs in the powerful Rangers' lineup.

-- Frankie Piliere, FanHouse's National Baseball Analyst

The Skinny

• Not only is Borbon going to be the starting center fielder for the Rangers, but he will bat leadoff as well. The fact that his contact rate improved as he saw more major league pitches as did his walk rate, he'll be on base a lot to score runs in this powerful Texas lineup. You can also expect a huge rise in stolen bases, but that's pretty obvious since he only registered 179 plate appearances last season. If Borbon isn't climbing your draft board, you're not paying attention.

• With Borbon moving to the leadoff spot, Kinsler will drop to the middle of the batting order. This may help to increase his RBI total, but his power numbers have never been the issue. Kinsler has health issues, and until those issues are completely put to rest, he won't become an elite fantasy option. Still, a 10-percent rise in RBI numbers sure would look nice, and he did play in more games last season than any other season in his major league career. I'd use a second-round draft pick on Kinsler if given the opportunity.

• Jarrod Saltalamacchia has only logged five spring at-bats, but is scheduled to return to action March 13. He's competing with Taylor Teagarden for the starting catcher's job after missing time last season recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome and arm fatigue. Saltalamacchia has a boat-load of talent, but until he proves healthy, shouldn't be drafted in any but the deepest of two-catcher, mixed-leagues.

• I know that you want to draft Justin Smoak. So do I. I'm anxiously awaiting the day his home run launching bat reaches the big leagues. He's rated among the best prospects in baseball and has power for days, but is still multiple days away from major league action. I'm thinking we'll only see Smoak for a cup of coffee late in the season, before bursting onto the scene in 2011. Those of you in keeper leagues with minor league systems have had Smoak on your roster since he was drafted out of South Carolina. Those of you in one year leagues should avoid the temptation -- until next year.

• With the Rangers playing in such a hitter's park, it's no wonder that only Rich Harden is being drafted in 26-round mixed leagues. Wait! Scratch that, because Neftali Feliz is being selected in the 15th round, the earliest of any Texas starter. Funny thing is, Feliz doesn't have a starting job yet. It's more likely he'll start the season as a set-up man in the bullpen. That said, stop drafting Feliz in one-year leagues. It's foolish and a waste of a pick -- unless you want to finish in eighth place.