Vladimir Guerrero

Guerrero gave Texas everything they could have reasonably expected, as Vlad managed to remain healthy and eclipsed the 150-game and 100-RBI barrier for the first time since 2007. It's his poor numbers (.278/.322/.426 and just nine home runs) after the All-Star break that had the Rangers balking at offseason demands for a two-year contract. Both sides will likely have come to an agreement on a one-year deal by the time you read this, particularly with Hideki Matsui heading to Oakland, but Guerrero will need to flash more of his first-half form to earn an inflated price tag at the draft table for 2011.

It has become painful to watch Guerrero, whose back and knees no longer allow him to display the speed and agility that once made him a superstar. He's restricted to DH now. It's very hard to roster a right-handed DH on the downside of his career who's going to hurt you on the bases. However, a move to Texas' home ballpark should help his numbers.

Guerrero topped the .300 mark for the 12th time in his career, and contributed 27 home runs and 91 RBI to the Angels' offense in 2008. The RBI total was his lowest of his career for any season in which he played at least 143 games. He's still one of the most feared hitters in the league, but injuries are starting to take their toll on the 33-year-old Guerrero -- he was bothered by a shoulder injury in 2007 and a sore knee for much of this past season, one that required offseason surgery. Guerrero has the talent to bounce back in 2009, but fantasy owners should make sure he's completely healthy before committing to him on draft day.

Simply put, Guerrero is one of the best offensive players in the business. He hit .324 with 27 home runs and 125 RBI in 150 games last season. Unfortunately, Guerrero only stole two bases last season, partly due to a shoulder injury, and his value to fantasy owners as a five-tool threat has fallen as result. Though Guerrero won't provide the speed aspect as much as he used to, he will still hit enough home runs and knock in enough runs to justify an early-round selection.

Mystery: how Vlad Guerrero runs like he does, yet still steals 15 bases at a 75% clip. Those steals, which he's good for every year, elevate him into a first-round pick in AL leagues and a No. 2 in mixed leagues. Few players are as consistent as Guerrero.

Vlad's power numbers took a bit of a hit due to the left shoulder injury that forced him to the DL at the start of interleague play. Despite that, he still put up numbers worthy of finishing third in the 2005 AL MVP race. Slumps by his teammates also hurt his counting stats - once the next wave of prospects establish themselves in the lineup, that'll cease to be an issue.

When healthy, Guerrero has been as strong a hitter as anyone in the game over the last five seasons and there are no signs of decline. In 2004, Guerrero was the same as he ever was, posting his seventh straight .950+ OPS season. He'll probably attempt fewer stolen bases in 2005, but expect the rest of his numbers to be along the lines of the last few years. He's in his prime, so there's no reason to expect him to slip.

A herniated disc -- the first serious injury of his career -- limited him to 112 games, but otherwise it was business as usual for Vlad. Signed by Anaheim in January, he leaves the Expos as the all-time franchise leader in home runs, but once again Montreal fans will be left wondering what might have been.

Whatever else you could say about Montreal over the last few years, no matter how bad things got even under Loria, every critical indictment of the franchise on the field had to end with "...but at least they have Vlad." He's just now turning 27, and set a career high for walks in 2002. So, frightening as is it to think, the best may be yet to come, even if it is in a Washington Anything-But-The-Senators uniform.