Iwakuma 00740314

02/04/2008 12:00 PM ET
A-Rod leads Yanks' fantasy flock
Third baseman defends MVP season amid superstar talent
MLB.com







Many fantasy fans prefer to stock their rosters full of players from their favorite team, as opposed to players who make a living playing for a feared rival. Wouldn't you rather go through the season checking Alex Rodriguez's stats every night, instead of a player from another American League East team?
If competing for a title feels empty without having a bunch of Yankees on your team, here are 10 guys to focus on come draft day:

1. Alex Rodriguez | 3B | $41
Not content to simply put up MVP numbers or those typical of a first overall pick, A-Rod in 2007 instead compiled what should simply be described as the best fantasy season at his position in the history of the game. Can he do it again? It's not likely, but he's in his prime, can go deep in any part of any ballpark, displays admirable plate discipline, possesses proficient basestealing skills and hits in the middle of one of baseball's deepest lineups. He'll be a safe choice with the top pick again in 2008.

2. Mariano Rivera | RP | $24
Father Time has yet to catch up with the 38-year-old Rivera, who turned in another fine season for the Yankees in 2007. Showcasing his trademark cutter, he righted his early-season struggles in impressive fashion by converting 30 of his final 32 save opportunities to go with a 2.23 ERA over his last 59 appearances. Rivera's improved strikeout rate (9.34 K/9) shows that there is still plenty of gas left in his tank, so don't hesitate to target him as an elite closer.

3. Derek Jeter | SS | $23
Jeter turned in another fine campaign in 2007, topping 200 hits for the third straight year and finishing with a healthy .322 batting average. But the Yankees captain also started showing slight signs of decline. His stolen bases dropped from 34 in '06 to 15, and he recorded his lowest full-season totals in long balls and runs since 1997. Jeter remains a terrific all-around player capable of producing solid to plus numbers in all five major categories, but owners may want to think carefully before committing major bucks to the 33-year-old shortstop.

4. Bobby Abreu | OF | $23
After a disappointing first half in which he hit just .263 with five home runs, Abreu showed he can still shoulder a big load with a .305 average, 11 blasts, 60 RBIs and 13 steals after the All-Star break. Abreu will be 34 by Opening Day, so it's unlikely he'll regain the power that vanished after his tantalizing performance in the 2005 Home Run Derby. Still, owners will be able to count on him for a solid batting average and 20-plus steals, and his presence in the Yankees lineup all but ensures he'll top 100 runs and 100 RBIs.

5. Robinson Cano | 2B | $23
Cano caught fire after the All-Star break (.343 AVG, 13 HRs, 57 RBIs) for the second straight season in 2007, leaving him with numbers that seemed impossible after his rocky start. His impressive finish somewhat obscured his Achilles' heel, but Cano continues to exercise little discipline at the plate (39/85 BB/K), leaving him vulnerable to cold streaks. He also doesn't run anywhere nearly as often as most second basemen, but it's tough to look past a talented young hitter who should top .300, 20 jacks and 100 RBIs in a loaded Yankees lineup.

6. Hideki Matsui | OF | $19
Matsui bounced back from an injury-plagued 2006 to produce his fourth 100-RBI season in five years with the Yankees. Approaching his mid-30s, Godzilla is no longer the iron man who once played in 1,768 straight games in Japan and the Majors. There's also some question as to how much playing time he'll receive with all the outfield/DH types on the Yankees roster. Still, it's hard to imagine this consistent run producer being left out of the lineup too often. Look for him to flirt with a .300 average and finish with more than 20 jacks, 100 runs and 100 RBIs once again.

7. Jorge Posada | C | $17
Posada had an outstanding 2007 campaign, but the odds are stacked against him duplicating that performance in '08. For starters, there's his track record: Posada never hit higher than .287 in any of his previous big league seasons. He also finished with an astounding .386 batting average on balls in play last year, which indicates he enjoyed more than his share of good luck. Finally, he's 36, an age when most catchers are struggling to hang on. Posada remains one of the best offensively at his position, but it's probably safest to expect him to deliver something closer to his 2004-06 production.

8. Johnny Damon | OF | $16
A strong second half (.814 OPS) salvaged what was shaping up to be a disastrous 2007 season for Damon, but it may not have been enough to guarantee him a full-time job in '08. The big problem is that the 34-year-old doesn't cover center field as well as the younger Melky Cabrera, leaving him to fight for at-bats in left and at DH. Even if he manages to avoid the injury problems that plagued him early last year, Damon probably won't get the opportunity to prove that he's still capable of delivering five-category production.

9. Joba Chamberlain | SP | $13
After what Chamberlain did in his big league debut, the Yankees have to be tempted to leave him in the bullpen as the eventual successor to Rivera. Of course, that wouldn't be of much help to fantasy owners, since Rivera isn't going anywhere yet. Luckily, the Yankees are returning Chamberlain to the rotation, where he's a virtual lock for a starting spot. Keep in mind that he could be overpriced in your draft because of his outstanding rookie run -- and because he's from New York -- but also keep in mind that he could very well provide good bang for the buck.

10. Chien-Ming Wang | SP | $8
Wang records a frustratingly low strikeout rate for a pitcher capable of throwing 95 mph, but he makes up for it by getting ground-ball outs in bunches. It also helps that he keeps the ball in the park; the towering 27-year-old allowed just nine homers in almost 200 innings last year. There's not a lot of room for improvement here, but Wang is pretty durable, and he has the backing of one of the best lineups in the bigs. Expect more of the same numbers in '08.