5. Rocco Baldelli    Tampa Bay Devil Rays

So many AL outfielders, so many injuries.  It only seems like he has been around forever.  He’s just 25.  Until his nickname becomes “Rock of Gibraltar”, I won’t waste a roster spot on this guy.  Every year I grab him, expecting a poor man’s Joe DiMaggio.  But he hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year (2003).  At this point I’d accept a poor man’s Dom DiMaggio.  If Baldelli is healthy in 2007 he will form (with Crawford and Young) one of the premier outfields in baseball. Baldelli was relatively healthy in the second half of ‘06 and smacked 11 dingers while scoring and driving in over 40 runs.  Modest numbers, yes, but he is a great bet to take the next step in ’07.  Expect 100 runs and between 20-25 homers, along with a great average- if he is healthy.

6. Ichiro Suzuki    Seattle Mariners

Answer: Ichiro. 

Question:  Who can steal 45 bases and amass 224 hits, yet have an “off season”. 

I know the answer to this one because I traded for this “Wade Boggs with legs” at the All Star break. It was the first time I have ever owned Ichiro in fantasy.  After lamenting the pedestrian 44 runs and the sub .300 average in the second half, I swore on a stack of Baseball Digests that I’d never own him again.  Keep in mind that Ichiro is 33 and this is likely his final “prime” year.  That said; if you can get over the fact that your number one outfielder will have +/- 10 homers, enjoy the ride.  Just make sure you supplement Ichiro with Tejada or Victor.

7. Chone Figgins    Los Angeles Angels

If Chone could bat 50 points higher and score 30 more runs he’d be…well, he’d be Ichiro.  But Chone is not a bad alternative if you can’t stomach (or afford) Ichiro –or want position flexibility.  Chone is not an instinctive base runner by any means, yet he swiped a whopping 52 last season.  He is to speedsters what Joe Nathan is to closers- a sure thing.  The Angels look ready to improve in 2007 and the runs scored may be the one category that will improve.  What you see is what you get for power, and that is pretty ugly.  If you grab Chone early, expect a bidding war for Tejeda with the owner who has Ichiro.

It seems like yesterday that Dye was a highly touted prospect in the Braves system.  I guess I’m getting old.  That was 1995.  And Dye will be 33 this season.  Dye exploded in 2006 and makes this one of the most difficult rankings on the list.  We know if he stays healthy he will hit.  And he has had three straight relatively healthy seasons (137 games or more each year).  So what can we expect in Chicago this summer?  Here it is:  .291 33 108.  Write it down.  Add in 80 runs and 5 SB’s, and enjoy Dye Pack.  Just don’t holler at me if he misses half the season with a calf injury.