Whether you were a fantasy baseball champ, a serious contender or a nonfactor like the real-life Pirates this year, you should already be thinking about next season. That's why I went ahead and did some extra-early fantasy rankings for '08 mixed leagues and keeper leagues.
Remember, a lot can change between now and then - injuries, free-agent signings, massive steroids scandals, the melting of the polar ice caps and so on. Don't start filling up my inbox with angry e-mails next April if Alex Rodriguez slips on a banana peel and tears his ACL or signs a $300 million contract with the Yomiuri Giants. This is just a helpful guide to get you started, and it's not etched in stone.
1. 3B A-Rod: Whether he stays in New York or uses that opt-out clause to go somewhere else for big money, he's still the most valuable fantasy commodity.
2. 3B Miguel Cabrera: He's already working on a Hall of Fame
resume at age 24. A move to first base is coming if his waistline keepsexpanding - but I like him for who he is inside.
3. 1B Albert Pujols: I fully expect him to revert to his incredible old self in '08. He's too gifted not to, right?
4. SS Hanley Ramirez: Anybody who's capable of 30 homers AND 50 steals can play on my team anytime.
5. 3B David Wright: Just pencil him in for a .300 average, 40 doubles, 20 steals, 100 RBIs ... and about a million marriage proposals.
6. SP Johan Santana: There are few sure things among pitchers, but he's one. And there's a good chance he'll be pitching for a new team at some point in '08 - an enticing thought should he end up on a big-budget contender.
7. SS Jose Reyes: This year's drop-offs in average, homers and RBIs are cause for concern, but his wheels (78 steals through Tuesday) still look fine to me.
8. 2B Chase Utley: The Philadelphia Phillies were smart to lock him up early. He's capable of MVP numbers at a relatively thin position.
9. OF Matt Holliday: He's an offensive force, and as far as I know he'll still be playing his home games in Coors Field next season.
10. 1B Ryan Howard: His skyrocketing strikeout totals are the only thing keeping him from astronomical offensive numbers. He's still pretty good though.
11. OF Alfonso Soriano: A quad injury robbed him of a decent chunk of his '07 season - and he still managed 31 homers, 18 steals (and counting) for Lou Piniella's crew.
12. SS Jimmy Rollins: He's improved his power numbers without sacrificing any of his speed, and you can't pick up 30/30 men at Wal-Mart.
13. 1B Prince Fielder: Write this one down: Cecil's son will hit more career homers than his old man.
14. OF Carl Crawford: He's in his prime, there's talent around him for a change, and he contributes across the board statistically.
15. SP Jake Peavy: It's rare that I'll spend a top pick on a pitcher; it's also rare that a guy will contend for a pitching triple crown (wins, strikeouts, ERA).
The next 10: Ryan Braun, Grady Sizemore, Carlos Beltran, Vladimir Guerrero, David Ortiz, Justin Morneau, B.J. Upton, Ichiro Suzuki, Brandon Phillips, Mark Teixeira
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