The RotoWire 200: Final Spring Training Update

This is our final update of the top 200 list. If you want to see the previous player comments, please see the previous article. For an expanded list, please see our Top 350 Rankings. Once again, this list presumes a 5x5, 12-team mixed league that starts two catchers and does not have an innings-cap. There is a positional scarcity component applied for catchers and a lesser boost for shortstops.

1. Albert Pujols, 1B
2. Hanley Ramirez, SS
3. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B - Going with Miggy over Votto because he has a longer track record, and because Votto's HR/FB was unusually high (though his FB-rate was unusually low).
5. Joey Votto, 1B
6. Carlos Gonzalez, OF
7. Ryan Braun, OF
8. Carl Crawford, OF
9. Evan Longoria, 3B
10. Robinson Cano, 2B
11. David Wright, 3B
12. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
13. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
14. Roy Halladay, P
15. Mark Teixeira, 1B
16. Matt Holliday, OF
17. Josh Hamilton, OF
18. Jose Reyes, SS
19. Prince Fielder, 1B
20. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
21. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B - Zimmerman's groin injury has kept him out longer than expected. He is expected back in the lineup Friday. I'm getting more comfortable with the idea of waiting some on third basemen if I don't get Longoria, Wright or A-Rod.
22. Ryan Howard, 1B - If Chase Utley is out for an extended period and/or is a fundamentally different player, Howard will have fewer RBI chances.
23. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
24. Nelson Cruz, OF
25. Matt Kemp, OF
26. Tim Lincecum, P
27. Andrew McCutchen, OF
28. Shin-Soo Choo, OF
29. Justin Upton, OF
30. Ian Kinsler, 2B
31. Jon Lester, P - I'm finding myself passing up the opportunities to take Lester here when I've had them, in small part because of how far Halladay has dropped. So I'm moving him down a few pegs.
32. Felix Hernandez, P
33. Jose Bautista, 3B/OF
34. Buster Posey, C
35. Clayton Kershaw, P
36. Victor Martinez, C
37. Adam Dunn, 1B
38. Cliff Lee, P
39. Adrian Beltre, 3B - No problems with the calf since returning to action.
40. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF
41. Jay Bruce, OF
42. Brian McCann, C
43. Rickie Weeks, 2B - Groin strain no longer a problem.
44. Joe Mauer, C - (Knee) Mauer is seeing game action at catcher now - he should be ready for the start of spring training.
45. Derek Jeter, SS
46. Carlos Santana, C
47. Josh Johnson, P
48. Ubaldo Jimenez, P
49. Jimmy Rollins, SS
50. Cole Hamels, P
51. Justin Morneau, 1B - No setbacks since he started playing again.
52. Jason Heyward, OF
53. Hunter Pence, OF - Needed a tetanus shot after getting a gash to his shin, but he's already back in action.
54. Michael Stanton, OF - (Quad) Returned to action with a bang this week.
55. CC Sabathia, P
56. Dan Uggla, 2B
57. Justin Verlander, P - I've acquired Verlander twice in the last week, first at AL Tout Wars, the second in the Yahoo Friends & Family mixed league draft. He seems to be the last to go among my set of rotation anchors.
58. Brandon Phillips, 2B
59. David Price, P
60. Drew Stubbs, OF
61. Chris Young, OF
62. B.J. Upton, OF
63. Alexei Ramirez, SS
64. Jayson Werth, OF
65. Stephen Drew, SS - Drew has missed much of this week with an abdomen injury.
66. Billy Butler, 1B
67. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
68. Dan Haren, P
69. Zack Greinke, P - Greinke still hasn't started throwing, so it appears he'll miss more than three starts to begin the season.
70. Alexis Rios, OF
71. Andre Ethier, OF
72. Shane Victorino, OF
73. Jered Weaver, P
74. Colby Rasmus, OF
75. Geovany Soto, C
76. Ichiro Suzuki, OF
77. Mariano Rivera, P
78. Joakim Soria, P
79. Aramis Ramirez, 3B
80. Nick Markakis, OF
81. Elvis Andrus, SS
82. Heath Bell, P
83. Neftali Feliz, P - Officially the closer this year.
84. Jason Bay, OF - Tweaking his batting stance this spring, but now dealing with a back injury. You won't have to leap this early to get him.
85. Max Scherzer, P
86. Carlos Pena, 1B
87. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
88. Matt Cain, P - Back on course after an early scare with his elbow.
89. Francisco Liriano, P
90. Yovani Gallardo, P - Opening Day starter with Greinke now hurt.
91. Delmon Young, OF
92. Mat Latos, P - Inflamed bursa sac in his pitching shoulder - length of absence, if any, hasn't yet been determined.
93. Carlos Marmol, P
94. Brian Wilson, P - Oblique injury - status for Opening day uncertain.
95. Paul Konerko, 1B
96. Tommy Hanson, P - Dealing with what appears to be a minor back injury.
97. Nick Swisher, OF
98. Ben Zobrist, 2B/OF
99. Matt Wieters, C
100. Chase Utley, 2B - While the Phillies have acknowledged that Utley will probably begin the year on the DL, we still haven't gotten a firm prognosis on when he'll return.
101. Michael Young, 3B
102. Chris Carpenter, P - (Hamstring) On schedule to be the Opening Day starter again.
103. Roy Oswalt, P - Some swelling in his neck after getting hit by a line drive, but should be ready for his next spring training start, let alone the regular season.
104. Shaun Marcum, P - Stiff shoulder this spring, but should be ready for the start of the season. Nonetheless, it's worth a minor downgrade.
105. Bobby Abreu, OF
106. John Danks, P
107. Kelly Johnson, 2B
108. Adam Jones, OF
109. Vladimir Guerrero, DH
110. Huston Street, P
111. Aaron Hill, 2B - Hill has been slowed a little bit by a quad injury this spring, but he's played quite a bit this week.
112. Chad Billingsley, P
113. Aubrey Huff, 1B
114. Ricky Romero, P
115. Vernon Wells, OF - Currently dealing with a tight left hamstring.
116. Curtis Granderson, OF - Oblique strain, doubtful for Opening Day.
117. Corey Hart, OF - Oblique strain - taking swings now, but Opening Day seems unlikely.
118. David Ortiz, DH
119. Michael Napoli, C
120. Carlos Lee, OF
121. Brett Anderson, P
122. Clay Buchholz, P
123. Kendry Morales, 1B - (Foot/Ankle) Officially beginning the year on the DL and currently shut down from all baseball-related activities.
124. Casey McGehee, 3B - (Knee) Carted off the field Thursday after getting hit by a pitch, but x-rays were negative and he appears close to returning to the lineup.
125. Carlos Quentin, OF
126. Mark Reynolds, 3B
127. Adam Lind, DH
128. Tim Hudson, P
129. Austin Jackson, OF
130. Torii Hunter, OF - Currently dealing with a tight right quad.
131. Ted Lilly, P
132. Rafael Furcal, SS
133. Colby Lewis, P
134. Starlin Castro, SS
135. Brian Roberts, 2B - (Back) Roberts has gotten an extended run and it appears he'll be ready for Opening Day.
136. Jorge Posada, C
137. Dan Hudson, P
138. Francisco Rodriguez, P
139. Jonathan Papelbon, P
140. Jonathan Broxton, P
141. Michael Bourn, OF
142. Juan Pierre, OF - Shin injury - doesn't appear to be a big deal.
143. Carlos Beltran, OF - The Mets are hoping that Beltran can play in major league exhibition games next week to avoid a season-opening trip to the DL.
144. Trevor Cahill, P
145. John Axford, P
146. Kurt Suzuki, C
147. Ike Davis, 1B
148. Gaby Sanchez, 1B
149. Miguel Montero, C
150. Grady Sizemore, OF - Sizemore is playing in spring training games now, but still will begin the year on the DL.
151. Martin Prado, 2B/3B
152. Ryan Dempster, P
153. Angel Pagan, OF
154. Denard Span, OF
155. Josh Beckett, P
156. Brandon Morrow, P - Beginning the year on the DL with a right forearm strain, but the DL stint will be backdated and he'll only miss one start.
157. Philip Hughes, P
158. Brett Gardner, OF - Could get a few games at leadoff.
159. Michael Cuddyer, OF/1B - Delayed start to spring training after having a wart removed from his foot.
160. Gio Gonzalez, P
161. J.J. Putz, P - Dealing with back problems.
162. Madison Bumgarner, P
163. Jose Valverde, P
164. Matt Garza, P
165. Jose Tabata, OF
166. Alfonso Soriano, OF
167. Howie Kendrick, 2B
168. John Buck, C
169. Ian Desmond, SS
170. Coco Crisp, OF
171. Chris Perez, P
172. Jonathan Sanchez, P
173. Raul Ibanez, OF
174. Neil Walker, 2B
175. J.J. Hardy, SS
176. Andres Torres, OF
177. Gordon Beckham, 2B
178. Matt Thornton (Late Add) - Officially named the closer for the White Sox over Chris Sale.
179. Jeremy Hellickson, P - Blister issue no longer appears to be a problem.
180. Joe Nathan
181. Dexter Fowler, OF - Good reports on him this spring add him to the list.
182. Wandy Rodriguez, P - Shoulder tendinitis.
183. Chris Iannetta, C
184. Mitch Moreland, 1B
185. Ryan Raburn, OF
186. Chone Figgins, 2B
187. Miguel Tejada, SS
188. Ryan Franklin, P
189. Jordan Zimmermann, P - Having a fantastic spring.
190. Anibal Sanchez, P
191. Ervin Santana, P
192. Ricky Nolasco, P - Minor downgrade due to fear of Florida outfield defense.
193. Brandon Lyon, P
194. Adam LaRoche, 1B - Pinched nerve in his shoulder - iffy for Opening Day.
195. Ian Stewart, 3B
196. Jason Kubel, OF
197. Travis Snider, OF
198. Brian Matusz, P
199. Jorge De La Rosa, P
200. Hiroki Kuroda, P

Dropping Out:

- Andrew Bailey (163) - Forearm strain, and it now appears that he'll begin the year on the DL after some early thoughts that he'd return quickly.
- Javier Vazquez, P (183) - Sore elbow and shaky results this spring.
- Brad Lidge, P (198) - Beginning the year on the DL with a shoulder strain that was originally a case of biceps tendinits.