1. Evan Longoria (24) – 60 HR and 198 RBI in first 2 seasons. Off to a great start in 2010 and should add an MVP to his collection soon.

2. Justin Upton (22) – 20 HR-20 SB guy last year. Arguably the best athlete in baseball who should reach 30 HR-30 SB in the near future.

3. Pablo Sandoval (23) – .300 hitter with 25-30 HR and 90-100 RBI ability. “Kung Fu Panda” is already a fan favorite and feared hitter.

4. Jason Heyward (20) – 2010 No. 1 prospect has gotten off to a .302, 3 HR, 15 RBI start in 43 big league at-bats at the age of 20. Looks to be the leader of the newest crop of talent from the minor leagues.

5. Matt Wieters (23) – The most-hyped prospect of 2009 has uncanny power and hitting ability from both sides of the plate. Look for Wieters to make huge strides this season and become one of the premier catchers in the near future.

6. Billy Butler (24) – .301 AVG, 21 HR, and 93 RBI in first full season. Set to become a premier slugger with 30 HR-100 RBI not out of the question.

7. Carlos Gonzalez (24) – 5-tool talent that started to showcase those tools last season. Should be a mainstay in the Rockies outfield and top of the order for years to come.

8. Adam Jones (24) – One of the best athletes on this list. Great arm and 20 HR-20 SB talent.

9. Andrew McCutchen (23) – Another 5-tool talent from the leadoff spot. Outstanding speed and developing power. Set to become premier leadoff hitter in the majors.

10. Gordon Beckham (23) – Future All-Star 2B. Made the leap from Double-A to the majors last season and displayed a good hitting prowess. The future of the White Sox.

11. Jay Bruce (23) – Has struggled to hit consistently at the big league level. The former No. 1 overall prospect has arguably the most upside of any hitter on this list and has the potential to become a big run-producer.

12. Delmon Young (24) – Like Bruce, has failed to hit consistently enough to live up to his enormous potential. Still a great talent with good upside who has hit a solid .289 for his career. Entering a make or break year in the big leagues.

13. Chris Coghlan (24) – 2009 NL Rookie of the Year is a scrappy top of the order hitter. Shows good plate discipline and should hit for a high average in his career.

14. Colby Rasmus (23) – Has above-average power and speed from the left side who hit 16 HR for the Cardinals in his rookie campaign last season. Solid defender who should be a premier center fielder within the next few years.

15. Elvis Andrus (21) – Biggest assets are his speed and defense. A future Gold Glover who projects as a leadoff hitter and threat on the basepaths.

16. Cameron Maybin (23) – One of the most talented players on this list. Currently hitting near the top of the Marlins lineup with his great speed, but has the ability to become a middle of the order hitter as he continues to grow into his frame. Looking to put it together in his first full season this year.

17. Dexter Fowler (24) – Had an up and down season at the plate last season with the Rockies as he needs to hit for a higher average. An elite defender and base-stealer (27 SB in ’09) who should be a top of the order threat with Gonzalez in the Rockies outfield.

18. Kyle Blanks (23) – After hitting 10 HR in only 148 AB last season for the Padres, the 6-6/285 lb big man projects as a huge power threat in the near future. Despite his large frame, reminiscent of the “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas, he is athletic enough to play in the outfield, though his natural position is at first base.

19. Austin Jackson (23) – The newest Tiger has gotten off to a solid start (.333 AVG, 5 RBI, 2 SB from the leadoff spot) in his first big league season. Jackson ironically projects similarly to the man he was traded for in Curtis Granderson. Look for him to rise up this list next season.

20. Alcides Escobar (23) – In his first season as the Brewers everyday shortstop. A potential game-changer with both his glove and speed.  Hit .304 in 125 AB with the Brewers last year.

21. Ike Davis (23) – The Mets top prospect made his major league debut last night against the Cubs and didn’t disappoint by going 2 for 4 with an RBI. The 18th overall selection in the 2008 draft hit 20 HR in the minors last year along with a .298 AVG. He projects as a middle of the order threat from the left side of the plate.

22. Ian Desmond (24) – The former 3rd round pick of the Nationals in 2004 is finally starting to put it together. Desmond is a late-bloomer who is starting to hit for contact consistently. He earned the starting nod at short over Cristian Guzman and looks to be the Nationals shortstop of the future.

23. Tyler Colvin (24) – After hitting .468 with 2 HR and 18 RBI in 25 Spring Training games this year, Colvin earned a spot on the Cubs 25 man roster. Currently a part of a 5 man outfield rotation in Chicago, Colvin doesn’t project to provide off the chart numbers this year. However, the former first round pick can swing the bat and also provides above average speed. Look for his name in the coming years.

24. Everth Cabrera (23) – A Rule 5 pick of the Padres last season, Cabrera took the shortstop position as his own by displaying great work with the glove and providing 25 SB in 103 games. Cabrera must hit for a higher average to become an even bigger threat on the basepaths.

25. Asdrubal Cabrera (24) – Has proven to be a solid major league infielder as his bat as caught up to his great defense. In 2009, he hit .308 and provided 68 RBI and 17 SB for the Indians. While he might not reach star status, he should have a long and productive big league career.

Honorable Mention: Julio Borbon (24), Sean Rodriguez (24), Chris Davis (24), Reid Brignac (24)

Andrew Swanson (Evan Longoria) – Evan Longoria is one of the best third basemen around. In just two major league seasons Longoria has averaged 30 HR, .277 BA, and 99 RBI. Of the four guys we are comparing here, Longoria at 24-years-old is the youngest. He is also hitting in the heart of a lineup that will afford him a good deal of protection. There has been talk of shifting him to the clean-up spot and batting Ben Zobrist third but whether it is third or fourth in the lineup, he will have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. I would expect a .285 BA, 30 HR, and 100 RBI again this year. One word of caution though, Longoria did complain that the turf at Tropicana Field was an issue for his hamstrings causing him to miss six starts toward the beginning of the season in 2009. In other news, Yankee great Yogi Berra said that Longoria reminds him of Joe DiMaggio. How do you beat a comparison like that?

Jason Oleniczak (Mark Reynolds) – Mark Reynolds had an elite fantasy season last year. In fact, he was the best fantasy third basemen, just look at the numbers: 44 HR, 98 R, 102 RBI, 24 SB, and .260 BA. Naysayers will shout, “Look at the low batting average, and the ridiculously high strikeouts (223) that you failed to mention.” Fair enough, the only problem is that Reynolds still posted a .349 OBP and an amazing .338 BABIP. The BABIP was not an aberration either, as Reynolds produced a .323 BABIP in 2008 and a .378  in 2007. The biggest argument you could make against Reynolds being the 2nd best third basemen is the huge jump in production from 2008 to 2009 as he went from ”good to great” (thank Jim Collins). I say it was the 26-year-old Reynolds making the 3rd year jump to being a star and look for more of the same in 2010. Take advantage of Reynolds slipping in drafts due to people overly focusing on his high strikeouts, relatively low batting average, and worrying about his quick ascent into stardom. You may be able to get a bargain on the 2nd best fantasy third basemen.

Ryan Oleniczak (David Wright) – After ARod, your fantasy team could do no wrong with David Wright as your third basemen. As recently as last season, Wright was up for consideration as the possible No. 1 overall fantasy player in baseball as his averages from 2005-2008 will attest. During that period, Wright has averaged season totals of: .311 AVG, 29 HR, 112 RBI, 106 R, and 22 SB. However, last year was unkind to Wright as he posted the worst numbers of his career hitting in an injury-riddled Mets lineup in a new ballpark in Citi Field. Wright saw his HR and RBI totals drop dramatically last season as he failed to hit at least 25 HR and 100 RBI for the first time since 2005. However, potential fantasy owners should be encouraged by Wright’s 5th consecutive season of hitting over .300 in ’09 and expect his power numbers to return in a healthy and powerful Mets middle of the lineup with the addition of Jason Bay. Wright is an ideal bounceback candidate in the NL and his 2009 power numbers should be considered an aberration as Shea Stadium was considered a pitcher’s park much like Citi Field is and Wright’s numbers did not suffer. If your league takes into account defensive statistics, Wright will help you out in that department as well as he has won 2 Gold Glove Awards in his career in 2007 and 2008. Much like Derek Jeter, Wright will also bring the possibility of a cult-like following with the ladies as his former rumored relationship with ESPN reporter Erin Andrews will add a new dimension to your team. Who wouldn’t want the lovely Erin Andrews following their team? If I had my choice, Wright is the one for me.

Jon Heintzelman (Ryan Zimmerman) – If you’re looking at what direction to go early in your draft, shoring up third base is a good idea when you consider the position is top heavy this year. While ARod remains the consensus first pick, once he is gone you are left with some intriguing options. Longoria, Wright, Reynolds, and Zimmerman are all worthy for consideration (with Ramirez and Sandoval not far behind either), but I’ll take Zimmerman over the rest. While Wright is the biggest name, any player with declining power skills entering his prime years makes me wonder. Combine that with the cavernous Citi Field and I’ll pass. Reynolds had great numbers last year but .260 BA is a huge stretch for his 60% contact rate; think more right-handed Adam Dunn with some speed and expect a more realistic .240-.250 BA. I want better BA from my top picks. That leaves Zimmerman and Longoria as options 2 and 2A. Both are line drive power hitters with solid OPS (around .900), 10%+ walk rates, and are entering their prime years (26-27). I’ll give the overall edge to Zimmerman because his slightly higher contact rate and batting eye point toward a potential 10-20 point advantage in BA. Combine that with the potential for Carl Crawford’s pending free agency and contract situation to be a distraction for the Rays, and Zimmerman gets the slight edge.

Upton has a bright future ahead of him. At 22-years-old Upton has drawn comparisons with many Hall of Fame caliber players such as Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. He broke out last season with a .300 batting average, 26 home runs, 86 RBI and 20 stolen bases. While the offensive numbers are there, his defense needs to be refined but that is only because he was placed in right field with 8 minor league games under his belt at that position. He definitely has the speed to track the ball down and it is now a matter of getting comfortable at the position. All in all, this was an excellent move by the Diamondbacks. They save money in the long run by not having to go through the arbitration process with a very talented young player. When comparing this contract to other young players who have been bought out of free agency and arbitration years the Diamondbacks did well for themselves. Miguel Cabrera, will be paid around $74MM for the same number of years of his career.  Andruw Jones who had very similar number to Upton at such a young age made $57.4MM, and his extension was signed nine years ago.

• Brandon Webb (RHP) Arizona Diamondbacks – The former 2006 NL Cy Young winner made only one appearance last season after experiencing shoulder pain during his Opening Day start. After a few months of rest and rehab, Webb finally decided to undergo arthroscopic right shoulder surgery last August, which ended his season. In his last full season in 2008, Webb almost added his second NL Cy Young Award as he finished the season with a 22-7 record to go along with a 3.30 ERA in 226.2 IP. Webb is currently working his way back into form in camp and is feeling better with every throwing session as he expects to be ready for the start of the season. Fantasy owners should monitor his progress in camp and watch out for possible setbacks. However, in his career Webb has been a workhorse as he has logged at least 208 IP in 5 of his 7 seasons and has not had an ERA higher than 3.59. If  healthy, expect Webb to bounceback in a big way and form a potent 1-2 punch with Dan Haren at the top of the DBacks rotation. Fantasy owners could find an ace in the middle rounds with Webb this upcoming season.

Bill James Projection: 13-7, 3.40 ERA, 180 IP, 143 K (7.15 K/9), 1.24 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 15-6, 190 IP, 153 K (7.25 K/9), 1.27 WHIP

• Carlos Zambrano (RHP) Chicago Cubs – The colorful, enigmatic pitcher had his most disappointing season in the big leagues in 2009. Zambrano won only 9 games as the supposed ace of the Cubs staff and had some nagging injuries, mostly due to being in poor physical shape. Zambrano also had his yearly tantrum and outbursts that included a run-in with an umpire that led to a suspension last season. Zambrano spent his off season in Chicago where he dedicated himself to a new workout regime at the advice of the Cubs organization. Zambrano reported to Cubs camp 15 pounds lighter and has vowed to put his disappointing 2009 season behind him. He is also said to be ditching the cut fastball from his repertoire of pitches due to a lack of command of the pitch and is focused on keeping his composure on the mound, which often leads to a disappointing performance on the mound. Despite his poor win totals, Zambrano lowered his ERA in 2009 and had a rebound in his strikeout and home run totals. If this is truly a new and improved Carlos Zambrano, fantasy owners could have a real bargain on their hands in the middle of their rotation.

Bill James Projection: 12-8, 3.60 ERA, 180 IP, 151 K (7.55 K/9), 1.31 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 13-8, 4.17 ERA, 186 IP, 155 K (7.50 K/9), 1.34 WHIP

• Ricky Nolasco (RHP) Florida Marlins – A pick by many last year to be a breakout candidate, Nolasco got off to a horrific start in April and May of last season, which eventually led to a demotion to Triple-A in late May. Tristan Cockcroft of ESPN.com believes a pitchers wins and ERA are not enough to evaluate future performance and that Nolasco might have been the “unluckiest” pitcher in baseball last season. Nolasco helped Cockcroft’s notion by going 11-4 with a 3.82 ERA after his demotion, despite finishing with a 5.06 ERA. Nolasco was a sabermetrics anomaly with great ratios, but unable to get outs. Fantasy owners could find a great buy-low candidate in Nolasco as many fantasy owners will steer clear of Nolasco’s high ERA and negative press. Look for Nolasco to rebound and build off his second half numbers by providing solid win totals along with a good K/9.

Bill James Projections: 13-10, 3.86 ERA, 205 IP, 189 K (8.30 K/9), 1.26 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 15-8, 3.41 ERA, 209 IP, 212 K (9.13 K/9), 1.18 WHIP

• Corey Hart (OF) Milwaukee Brewers – After posting back-to-back 20 HR-20 SB seasons in 2007 and 2008, Hart was expected to post even bigger numbers last season for fantasy owners. However, Hart had a disappointing season as he finished with a .260 AVG, 12 HR, 48 RBI, and 11 SB in only 115 games due to missing the last two months of the season with appendicitis. Hart reportedly lost 22 pounds this off season and is hoping his weight loss will lead to a healthy season and more steals. Fantasy owners will be alarmed, as they should be, by Hart’s disappointing production when healthy last season. However, Hart is still only 27 years old and should regain close to his 20 HR-20 SB form this season. Hart is another buy-low candidate who should provide fantasy owners solid HR and SB numbers as a 3rd or 4th outfielder. 2010 could be the season fantasy owners were hoping to see from Hart last season and at a much lower cost.

Bill James Projection: .272 AVG, 19 HR, 76 RBI, 78 Runs, 16 SB, .799 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .271 AVG, 20 HR, 80 RBI, 78 Runs, 17 SB, .816 OPS

• David Wright (3B) New York Mets – No one had quite a more peculiar drop off production in power last season than David Wright. Wright saw his HR totals drop from 33 to 10 and his RBI totals drop from 124 to 71 last season. However, Wright still provided fantasy owners with a high AVG (.307) and 27 SB in 2009. Wright reported to camp upbeat and positive about his chances and his team chances to rebound this season after a disappointing season for both parties. One possibility for Wright’s lack of production last season was due to having Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and Carlos Delgado hurt for most of the season, where Wright saw fewer good pitches and run producing opportunities. With Jose Reyes return and the signing of Jason Bay, look for Wright to have more opportunities to drive in runs and return to his 4 year averages of 29 HR and 112 RBI. While some fantasy owners might be skeptical of taking Wright in the first round this year, he shouldn’t last much longer as he is still an elite power-speed option. Fantasy owners should be confident in a return to form for Wright this season.

Bill James Projection: .302 AVG, 23 HR, 99 RBI, 100 Runs, 24 SB, .892 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .302 AVG, 21 HR, 98 RBI, 102 Runs, 23 SB, .877 OPS

• Jose Reyes (SS) New York Mets – Another Mets player finds his name on this list as he was a victim of the injury bug last season. Previously on the site, we took a look at Reyes fantasy value for this upcoming season, where the chances for a bounceback season are high. Reyes is reportedly running at full speed in camp after leg and hamstring injuries caused him to miss 126 games last season. No one is more important to the Mets offense than Reyes, as he is the catalyst at the top of the lineup with his speed and ability to get on base. While Reyes might not reach 78 SB again like he did in 2007, he is still only 26 with plenty of potential to become a 40-50 SB threat again. Fantasy owners could get a 1st round talent in the 2nd or 3rd round in fantasy drafts this year as Reyes value has dropped since last season. Monitor Reyes progression in camp, but don’t be afraid to take Reyes high this season as he is still an elite talent.

Bill James Projection: .285 AVG, 14 HR, 67 RBI, 113 Runs, 57 SB, .784 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .302 AVG, 15 HR, 65 RBI, 114 Runs, 52 SB, .830 OPS

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Up Next: AL Sleeper Candidates

• Joey Votto (1B) Cincinnati Reds – The player who has arguably had the most success of any player on this list is the most likely candidate to have a breakthrough performance this season. Despite missing a month on the DL last season and battling a bout with depression, Votto finished in the top 5 in the NL in AVG, OBP, and Slugging %. He had only one month last season where he didn’t hit at least .320. Votto also hits in a very hitter friendly ballpark in Cincinnati, which should help his power numbers increase with a full season of at-bats. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Votto’s name in the top 5 rankings of all first basemen next season, as a 30 HR-100 RBI season could be in his sights.

Bill James Projection: .311 AVG, 27 HR, 90 RBI, 80 Runs, .947 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .313 AVG, 28 HR, 102 RBI, 92 Runs, .936 OPS

• Jay Bruce (OF) Cincinnati Reds – Another Reds player has a great chance of breaking out this season. The former No. 1 overall prospect in all of baseball has struggled living up to the hype since entering the league during the 2008 season. Last season was a nightmare for Bruce as he struggled to a .223 AVG and missed two months on the DL with a broken wrist. However, after returning from the DL, Bruce had a .326 AVG, 4 HR, and 17 RBI in only 46 at-bats. The 22 year-old right fielder is still very raw at the plate, but it’s no secret that Bruce possesses a great ability to knock the ball out of the ballpark. The Reds are banking on Bruce being completely healed from his wrist injury and building off his improvement at the plate after his return from the DL. Could this be the year Bruce quiets the critics and lives up to his hype?

Bill James Projection: .274 AVG, 38 HR, 95 RBI, 92 Runs, .877 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .268 AVG, 29 HR, 88 RBI, 79 Runs, .844 OPS

• Carlos Gonzalez (OF) Colorado Rockies – Gonzalez was originally a highly-touted prospect in the Diamondbacks organization before being traded to the Oakland A’s in the Dan Haren trade. Gonzalez made it to the big leagues with the A’s in 2008, but didn’t overly impress during his time with the club. The 24 year-old outfielder entered his third organization last off season when he was traded to the Rockies in the Matt Holliday trade to the A’s. Gonzalez excelled in Triple-A before receiving a promotion to the big league club in June. Gonzalez started to show flashes of his ability as he had a .320 AVG, 12 HR, and 11 SB in the second-half last season. The Rockies are expected to plug Gonzalez at the top of their lineup this season, possibly as the leadoff hitter where he hit .300 in that role. He possesses a solid power-speed combination and with regular at-bats in Coors Field could be a good option for 20 HR-20 SB this season.

Bill James Projection: .280 AVG, 19 HR, 73 RBI, 18 SB, 78 Runs, .819 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .277 AVG, 22 HR, 83 RBI, 20 SB, 80 Runs, .820 OPS

• Andrew McCutchen (OF) Pittsburgh Pirates – While not much has gone right on the field for the Pirates in over 15 years, the team has to be excited about McCutchen and the possibility that they have found a cornerstone player to build around. Between Triple-A and the majors, McCutchen hit 16 HR and stole 32 bases from the leadoff spot last season. In 108 games in the majors, he led all rookies in extra-base hits with 47 and improved his OBP and run totals every month. McCutchen displayed a great knack for getting on base and has impressive speed from the leadoff spot. While he possesses 20 HR-40 SB potential don’t expect that from McCutchen yet. However, McCutchen displays a skill set similar to Grady Sizemore and has the chance to become one of the premier leadoff hitters in the game this season.

Bill James Projection: .281 AVG, 13 HR, 61 RBI, 31 SB, 90 Runs, .783 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .288 AVG, 16 HR, 69 RBI, 29 SB, 93 Runs, .827 OPS

• Clayton Kershaw (LHP) Los Angeles Dodgers – The 21 year-old southpaw had a pretty impressive 2009 despite finishing with .500 record (8-8). In 171 IP, Kershaw finished in the Top 5 in ERA (2.79) , K/9 (9.74), and H/9 (6.3). He also posted an impressive 2.27 ERA after the All-Star break last season. While it didn’t translate to many wins last season, Kershaw’s numbers show his ability to dominate on any given night. Expect his win total to nearly double this season as he establishes himself as a legit ace in this league. A few Cy Young votes could be in the offering as well. All of this coming from a 21 year-old pitcher is quite encouraging to potential fantasy owners.

Bill James Projection: 13-7, 3.25 ERA, 180 IP, 188 K (9.40 K/9), 1.28 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 14-8, 3.22 ERA, 192 IP, 201 K (9.42 K/9), 1.23 WHIP

• Yovani Gallardo (RHP) Milwaukee Brewers – Another young arm has the chance to establish himself as an elite ace in this league. After missing most of the 2008 season with a torn ACL, Gallardo came back last season and posted 13 wins along with a sub-4.00 ERA and the second-best K/9 in the NL at 9.89. Despite having an awful 4.6 BB/9 ratio last season, his previous track record in the minors and majors has shown this should not be a trend. The Brewers have been envisioning Gallardo as their ace of the future and 2010 might be the year he reaches that potential. If Gallardo cuts down on his walks, a 15 win season, sub 4.00 ERA, and high K/9 should make him a solid fantasy option as your No. 2 starter.

Bill James Projection: 12-8, 3.53 ERA, 186 IP, 205 K (9.92 K/9), 1.30 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 16-8, 3.37 ERA, 197 IP, 213 K (9.73 K/9), 1.22 WHIP

• Tommy Hanson (RHP) Atlanta Braves – The third pitcher under the age of 24 to find their name on this list might have the most upside of any of the pitchers. Hanson came to the majors last June as the top pitching prospect in baseball and he failed to disappoint. In 127.2 IP, Hanson went 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA and started posting dominating strikeout numbers as he had over a 10 K/9 in August and September. Hanson is a legit future ace who comes from an organization known for developing quality arms. The future is bright for Hanson as he will be an enticing mid-round pickup for fantasy owners.

Bill James Projection: 14-7, 3.30 ERA, 191 IP, 206 K (9.71 K/9), 1.15 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 15-7, 3.39 ERA, 190 IP, 201 K (9.52 K/9), 1.24 WHIP

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Up Next: AL Bounceback Candidates

Ben Sheets – The former Milwaukee Brewers right-hander signed a one-year deal worth $10 million plus incentives with the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. Sheets is looking to prove to the A’s that he is fully recovered from elbow surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2009 season. The A’s were in attendance for Sheets throwing session last week and came away impressed enough to offer a large base salary for this season. Sheets is expected to be the Opening Day starter for the A’s and is a great mid-season trade candidate for a contender, if healthy, as he could net some quality prospects that A’s GM Billy Beane is notorious for looking to find.

Miguel Tejada – The former 2002 AL MVP recently signed a one-year deal worth $6 million with the Baltimore Orioles, a team in which he previously played for from 2004-2007. During his first stint with the Orioles, Tejada was one of the premier hitting shortstops in the game, but now is expected to shift over to third base in his second go-round with the team. While not the power hitter he once was, Tejada is still an above average hitter as his 2009 season of 14 HR, 83 RBI, and a .313 AVG with the Houston Astros shows. The Orioles hope Tejada can provide veteran leadership and play to a lineup filled with some exciting young hitters in Matt Wieters (C), Adam Jones (CF), Nick Markakis (RF), and Nolan Reimold (LF).

Jason Giambi – Another former AL MVP found a one-year deal to his liking, as Jason Giambi (1B) will return to the Colorado Rockies this season as a power bat off the bench. Giambi struggled last season as a member of the Oakland A’s as he hit only .193 in 83 games as he battled knee injuries before eventually being released. However, Giambi had success in limited duty with the Rockies as he was a solid contributor in the Rockies playoff run last season. In 19 games with the team, he hit .292 with 2 HR and 11 RBI. In 2010, Giambi will be regulated mostly to pinch-hitting duties and part-time work at first base as his days of being an everyday player are done.

Jim Thome – After his brief flirtation with a return to the South Side of Chicago for 2010 fell through, the future Hall-of-Famer signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Sox’ division rival, the Minnesota Twins, on Tuesday. Like many other sluggers on the market, Thome had a hard time finding a deal to his liking before finding the Twins to be his best option for 2010. Thome is expected to get roughly 250-300 at-bats this season as a part-time DH and occasional first base option for the Twins. The Twins potential lineup against right-handed pitchers is arguably the most dangerous in all of baseball with reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer (C), Justin Morneau (1B), Jason Kubel (DH/OF), Michael Cuddyer (RF), Thome, and Denard Span (CF).

Xavier Nady - The Chicago Cubs have added some much-needed power and depth to their outfield with the signing of Xavier Nady to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Nady only played in seven games with the New York Yankees last season as he had to undergo the second Tommy John surgery of his career last July. The surgery is typically done on pitchers and has an estimated recovery time of anywhere from 10-12 months. However, Nady is reportedly ahead of schedule and is looking to make a big contribution in 2010. In 2008, Nady had the best season of his career as he had a .305 AVG, 25 HR, and 97 RBI, all career highs. The Cubs are hoping Nady is healthy as they expect him to be the right-handed form of a platoon in right field with current outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. If healthy, Nady should provided solid numbers as a fourth outfielder.

Jon Garland – The San Diego Padres added another arm to their rotation with the signing of Jon Garland to a one-year deal worth $4.75 million with a mutual option worth $6.75 million for 2011. While not a top-of-the-rotation starter, Garland is a reliable work-horse who has pitched at least 191 innings a season since 2002. Last season, Garland was 11-13 with a 4.01 ERA with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres are ecstatic to add a pitcher of Garland’s caliber to their host of young arms as he is expected to ease some of the load off of the young pitchers and give them some more seasoning. If nothing else, the Padres are getting a guy that will provide quality starts and eat up some innings.

Jason Bay to the Mets – The former Pittsburgh Pirate and Boston Red Sox takes his game back to the NL with his recent signing with the New York Mets. Bay will anchor left field at Citi Field for at least the next four seasons and is expected to provide some much needed pop in the middle of the Mets lineup. The Mets lineup should be pretty good next season barring injury with Jose Reyes, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, and Bay as the main contributors. Last season, Bay hit .267 and hit a career-high 36 HR and 119 RBI with the Red Sox. The Mets are hoping that Bay continues his success in spacious Citi Field, where the new park proved to be pitcher friendly. It is a good signing by the Mets as they needed some power in their lineup. Bay has been a consistent performer in his career and has proved he can play in a big market as his success in Boston will attest to that.

Adrian Beltre to Boston – To combat the loss of Bay, the Red Sox signed free agent 3B Adrian Beltre to a one-year deal with a player option for 2011. The deal is worth $9 million for next season with a $5 million player option for 2011. This is a good deal for Beltre as he looks to have a bounce back year at the plate which would give him the option to get a long-term deal in next season’s free agent market. Beltre is already a premier defensive 3B as he won Gold Gloves in 2007 and 2008. However, he hit only 8 HR and 44 RBI with the Seattle Mariners last season. The hitter friendly Fenway Park should be good for Beltre as the Green Monster can be very forgiving at times. The question for the Red Sox is what to do with Mike Lowell after his trade to Texas was called off earlier in the off season. While I feel $9 million is a lot to pay Beltre for next season, he is a great candidate to have a bounce back season and will provide excellent defense from the hot corner.

Marlon Byrd to the Cubs – The Cubs have filled their hole in center field with the recent signing of Marlon Byrd to a 3-year deal worth $15 million. The deal is light on the Cubs’ tight budget for next season as the deal is back loaded. Byrd is set to make $3 million next season, $5.5 million in 2011, and $6.5 million in 2012. The Cubs are hoping that Byrd builds off his career year last season with the Texas Rangers, where he was an everyday player for the first time in his career. New Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo was the biggest factor in Byrd coming to Chicago as he attributes his new found success as a hitter because of Jaramillo’s tutelage in Texas. This is the second consecutive off season the Cubs have signed a former Texas Rangers outfielder to a 3 year deal and the Cubs are hoping Byrd has a better time in Chicago then the recently traded Milton Bradley did. As a Cubs fan, I am not a fan of the signing, but Byrd if nothing else will provide a much better clubhouse atmosphere for the team. If he can provide anything close to his numbers from last season, he will definately live up to the terms of his contract.

Mark DeRosa to the Giants – The San Francisco Giants added a great piece to their team with the signing of super-utilityman Mark DeRosa to a two-year deal worth $12 million. DeRosa can play anywhere in the infield and both corner outfield spots, but is expected to become the primary 3B in San Francisco, which allows the team to move Pablo Sandoval to 1B. DeRosa has become a solid contributor at the plate since his last season in Texas in 2006. His versatility is a plus as he can play numerous positions well and help the team in case of injury at other positions. DeRosa has been both a fan and player favorite over his career as he is a true professional who understands how to play the game the right way. His career took off as a member of the Chicago Cubs as he became a team leader and provided plenty of clutch hits. I know if I was building a team I would do all I could to have a player like DeRosa on my team as his versatility and leadership are vital to a teams success.

Kelly Johnson to the D-Backs - One of best under the radar signings of the off season goes to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-Backs signed 2B Kelly Johnson to a one-year deal worth $2.35 million. Johnson was not offered arbitration earlier in the off season by the Atlanta Braves, which made him a free agent. Last season, Johnson struggled at the plate after a wrist injury in July and lost his everyday spot in the lineup towards the end of the year. However, Johnson was a solid contributor for the Braves the previous two years and is a good candidate for a bounce back season. I like this signing for the D-Backs as Johnson should provide solid numbers for the team and is an upgrade to their other options at 2B. Sometimes it’s the under the radar signings that benefit a team rather than a big name signing and this could be one of those cases.

It will be interesting to see where the market goes in the next month. There are still plenty of quality names on the market as we are starting to see a new trend with teams waiting it out until later in the off season to fill some holes.

9. Javier Vazquez – Vazquez is a surprising choice for the No. 9 spot on the list. Over the decade, he went 128-116 with a 4.01 ERA for 5 different teams. Vazquez led the majors in “quality starts” for the decade and finished second to only Randy Johnson for the most strikeouts with 2,001 in 2,163 IP. He was selected to the All-Star Game in 2004 and enjoyed most of his success pitching in the NL with the now defunct Montreal Expos and is currently with the Atlanta Braves.

8. C.C. Sabathia – Sabathia burst onto the scene with the Cleveland Indians in 2001 where he won 17 games his rookie season. He completed the decade with a record of 136-81 to go along with a 3.62 ERA. His best season was in 2007 where he won the AL Cy Young award and established himself as a premier pitcher in the game. The most defining moment of his career was this past season where he won his first World Series title with the New York Yankees as the ace of their staff.

7. Roy Oswalt – Like Sabathia, Oswalt also had a very successful rookie season in 2001 with the Houston Astros by going 14-3 with a 2.73 ERA in only 28 appearances (20 of them starts). Oswalt produced back to back 20 win seasons in 2004 and 2005 and was named the NLCS MVP in 2005 as well. He was a 3-time All-Star this decade and finished with a record of 137-70 with an impressive 3.23 ERA.

6. Roy Halladay – The recently acquired pitcher of the Philadelphia Phillies finds his name next on the list. Halladay finished with a record of 139-69 with a 3.40 ERA all with the Toronto Blue Jays. In the day and age of pitch counts, the man they call “Doc”  led the majors with an outstanding 47 complete games this decade. He also appeared in 6 All-Star games and won an AL Cy Young in 2003 where he posted the first of his two 20 win seasons. Halladay is a throwback pitcher and is one of the most feared pitchers in all of baseball with his bulldog mentality.

5. Andy Pettitte – Pettitte was the winningest pitcher in the majors this decade with 148 wins for the Yankees and Astros. In this decade, Pettitte has been known as a big game pitcher as his 2 World Series rings and 2001 ALCS MVP award will attest to that. He produced one 20 win season with the Yankees in 2003 and had arguably his most dominating season in 2005 with the Astros where he won 17 games to go along with a 2.39 ERA in 222.1 IP. In my opinion, his placement on this list, especially in this spot, is up for debate.

4. Roger Clemens – The illustrious career of arguably the best pitcher of the modern era came to a halt in 2007 amid well documented steroid allegations. In 8 seasons this decade, Clemens went 107-50 and added 2 more Cy Young awards to his credit, including becoming one of only 4 pitchers all time to win the award in both leagues. Like his good friend Pettitte, Clemens pitched for both the Yankees and Astros this decade and appeared in 4 All-Star games. In the future, it will be interesting to see how the Hall of Fame voters view Clemens when it is time for his name to be on the ballot amid the above mentioned steroid allegations.

3. Johan Santana – Santana started his career in 2000 with the Minnesota Twins where he didn’t truly establish himself as an elite pitcher until he won the first of 2 Cy Young awards this decade with a 20 win season in 2004. He also was a 3-time ERA leader and even won the pitching Triple Crown in 2006 by leading the AL in wins (19), ERA (2.77), and strikeouts (245).  He finished the decade with a record of 122-60 with an ERA of 3.12 and 1,733 strikeouts (9.12 K/9). Santana is also known for his defense and even won a AL Gold Glove in 2007.

2. Pedro Martinez – The charismatic pitcher is making a case for Cooperstown with his numbers this decade. Pedro had the best winning percentage of any pitcher this decade as he won 69 % of his starts (112-50). He also led all pitchers with an ERA of 3.01. Pedro produced one 20 win season in 2002 with the Boston Red Sox and won the AL Cy Young in 2000 with a record of 18-6 along with a dominating 1.74 ERA and 284 K in 217 IP. The best moment of the decade for Pedro was being a vital key in ending the curse in Boston by winning a World Series title. He was arguably the most dominating pitcher of the decade when healthy.

1. Randy Johnson – The “Big Unit” has been the most feared pitcher in the game over his career and especially in this decade. The man with the 6-10 presence and long flowing hair often used intimidation and intensity to become the No. 1 starting pitcher on this list. The Big Unit started off the decade with a bang by winning  3 consecutive NL Cy Young awards from 2000-2002 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. His biggest feat in those 3 seasons was being the Co-MVP of the 2001 World Series where he won his first ring. Like Santana, the Big Unit won the Triple Crown in 2002 with 24 W, 2.32 ERA, and 334 K. He finished the decade with an amazing 2,182 K’s and in 2004 became the oldest pitcher to pitch a perfect game. Even more impressive, the Big Unit joined the exclusive 300 win club last season with the San Francisco Giants at the age of 45. His path to Cooperstown has been paved.

In my opinion, the most glaring omission on this list is Curt Schilling. Schilling went 117-63 with a 3.54 ERA this decade. He was a runner-up for the Cy Young 3 times and who could forget his domination with the Big Unit where they almost single-handedly won the Diamondbacks their first and only World Series. Also, who can forget the bloody sock? He definitely deserves to be on this list instead of Vazquez, who was a very average pitcher in the AL.

Another name who deserves some consideration for this list is Greg Maddux. Maddux seems to get lost in the discussion at times despite being one of the top 10 best pitchers of all time, in my opinion. Despite not pitching in 2 years this decade, “Mad Dog” was 134-101 with a 3.70 ERA along with winning his 300th game, 3,000th K, and 18th Gold Glove. I find it hard to believe Maddux didn’t have as big of an impact on the league than Vazquez or even Sabathia.

Up Next: Top 9 Closers of the Decade

3 Team Blockbuster Completed – The rumored 3 team deal between the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, and Arizona Diamondbacks is all but completed pending physicals. The Tigers have dangled the names of Curtis Granderson (CF) and Edwin Jackson (SP) this offseason and have now traded away their services in the same deal. This is a good deal for all three teams, however, I really like the return the Tigers received back in the form of Max Scherzer (SP) and Austin Jackson (CF). This was the biggest news to come from today’s meetings.

Milton Bradley Update - According to the Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan, the Cubs are close to completing a deal for Milton Bradley (OF) possibly as soon as Wednesday. The Chicago Sun Times’ Gordon Wittenmeyer agrees with Sullivan and even brings up the possibility of Bradley going to a “mystery team” in the AL. It’s anybody’s guess as to who the “mystery team” could be. The Cubs seemed to be making progress on Tuesday in their attempts to rid themselves of Bradley. My guess is Bradley ends up with the Tampa Bay Rays for Pat Burrell (OF).

Rangers Interested in Josh Johnson - T.R. Sullivan reported that the Texas Rangers offered top prospects Justin Smoak (1B) and Neftali Feliz (RP) for Florida Marlins ace Josh Johnson (SP) on Tuesday. Surprisingly, the Marlins were not interested in the Rangers’ package and are intent on keeping Johnson next season. That would have been quite an impressive return for the Marlins. FOXSports.com also reported the Rangers interest in Florida Marlins infielder Jorge Cantu.

Teahen Signs a New Deal with the White Sox – Utilityman Mark Teahen signed a new 3 year deal worth $14 million with the Chicago White Sox. Teahen was acquired by the Sox in exchange for Chris Getz (2B) and Josh Fields (3B) earlier this off season. The Sox are hoping they found a diamond in the rough in Teahen as he struggled to fulfill his potential in the majors after coming up through the Kansas City Royals system.  Teahen is projected to play third base.

Bobby Crosby to the Pirates – Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates are on the verge of signing former 2004 AL Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby (SS). Crosby is expected to sign a 1-year deal worth $1.5 million. The Pirates hope Crosby is a viable alternative to current shortstop, Ronny Cedeno, next season.

Ross Gload to the Phillies – The defending NL Champions have signed the versatile Ross Gload to a two-year deal to shore up their bench, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. Gload led the league in pinch hits last season and is able to play first base and both corner outfield positions. The deal is expected to be for two years.

Gammons Leaving ESPN – On Tuesday, the news hit off the field as well with the announcement that ESPN’s own Peter Gammons has decided to join MLB.com and the MLB Network at the completion of the Winter Meetings. This is a huge loss for the ESPN baseball community as Gammons has moved to their biggest rival with his knowledge and expertise. It will definately be odd to see Gammons on MLB Network next season instead of ESPN.

Day two of the Winter Meetings was a step up from Monday as teams started to make some progress and increased discussions with other teams. I am sure activity will pick up as we enter into the final stages of the meetings. Stay tuned!

The trade is pending physicals.