The following top 40 players are ranked on how I would believe they would perform in 2009 in a Rotisserie format (taking into consideration positional scarcity). I assume a standard 5X5 Roto format (runs, rbi, hrs, steals, BA, wins, saves, k’s, ERA, WHIP). If you’re in a H2H (Head to Head) format that has weekly roster deadlines or that have a low maximum transaction limit I would use both Roto and H2H rankings and take the pitching rankings with more weight from the roto side. However some players such as base stealing specialists and hitters with lower averages are weighted differently in roto and H2H. I would not use these rankings if you are in a H2H format, with daily roster changes. These ranks may change and I will adjust them based on FA signings, drafts, trades, and injuries. I will try to update these rankings once a month during the fantasy baseball off-season and once every 2 weeks during spring training and baseball season.

1. Hanley Ramirez
2. Grady Sizemore, OF, Cleveland Indians – I understand that he’s an OF, but if he can lift back up that .268 BA, then he could be the #1 player in fantasy baseball by the numbers.
3. Alex Rodriguez
4. Albert Pujols
5. David Wright
6. Ryan Braun
7. Miguel Cabrera
8. Jose Reyes, SS, New York Mets – Could be higher but coming off an off-season which saw a sharp decrease in SB’s of 22 and a drop in runs scored. If he can swipe 70 bases this year then he will advance to the top 3.
9. Ian Kinsler
10. BJ Upton
11. Johan Santana
12. Tim Lincecum, SP, San Francisco Giants – Would be the #1 SP if he had an offense behind him that could provide some run support. 18 wins again is no guarantee.
13. Josh Hamilton
14. Ryan Howard
15. Prince Fielder
16. Mark Teixiera
17. CC Sabathia, SP, New York Yankees – More run support in New York than Milwaukee but expect a bit lower splits in Yankee stadium and against AL hitting. The Yankees also had one of the worst infields defensively last season.
18. Lance Berkman
19. Evan Longoria
20. Alfonso Soriano
21. Brandon Webb, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks – Tough to rank a SP any lower that just came off a 22 win season with nice splits and 183 K’s.
22. Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies – May not be fully recovered from off-season hip surgery by the start of the season.
23. Carlos Beltran
24. Carlos Lee
25. Manny Ramirez
26. Cole Hamels
27. Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia Phillies – Tough to ignore how bad Jimmy Rollins was last regular season.
28. Nick Markakis
29. Jason Bay
30. Jake Peavy, SP, San Diego Padres – Will be ranked much higher if he somehow still ends up with the Cubs or another contender.
31. Dustin Pedroia
32. Kevin Youkilis
33. Justin Morneau
34. Matt Kemp, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers – One year away from putting up Grady Sizemore like numbers. 18 Hrs and 35 SB’s of last year ’should’ both see an increase with a locked in starting spot in right field.
35. Dan Haren
36. Curtis Granderson, OF, Detroit Tigers – 112 runs last year despite missing the first month of the season.
37. Shane Victorino
38. Matt Holiday
39. Alexei Ramirez
40. Carl Crawford, OF, Tampa Bay Rays – If you drafted Crawford in previous seasons, then you’ve probably been horribly disappointed. This is the last year I even sort of buy into his upside.

Players on tap: Alex Rios, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon, Adrian Gonzalez, Aramis Ramirez, Russell Martin, Geovany Soto, Joe Mauer, Brian Roberts, Ichiro Suzuki, David Ortiz, Carlos Quentin, Chris B Young, Brandon Phillips, Vladimir Guerrero, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, Rafael Furcal, Yovani Gallardo, Magglio Ordonez, Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, James Shields, Nate McLouth, Joe Nathan, Garrett Atkins, Adam Dunn, Dan Uggla, Francisco Liriano, John Lackey, Scott Kazmir, Ryan Theriot, Aubrey Huff, Chris Davis.