Fantasy Baseball 2012: 10 Middle-Tier MLB Players Who Can Win You a Championship

Those owners who scooped up Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees during their 2011 MLB fantasy draft were rewarded.

He was a middle-tier player that exceeded expectations.

There is a fresh batch of overlooked assets set to produce at a similarly high level this coming spring.

How to define a middle-tier player?

First off, it must be someone already established in the majors—at least three MLB seasons under his belt, let's say. These individuals may have had extraordinary campaigns in the past so long as they have been significantly less draft-worthy over the past two years.

The following players are guys who can fuel your championship run without costing a early pick.

SP Clay Buchholz (Boston Red Sox)

Clay Buchholz was terrific in 2010...just not by fantasy standards.

That season, he was effective enough to garner American League Cy Young votes despite making only 28 starts. He posted a stellar ERA and WHIP while winning 17 games, but he ultimately finished 69th in ESPN's Player Rater.

A lingering back injury prevented him from progressing further in 2011; he'll take the next step forward in 2012.

Buchholz will never be a top-of-the-line strikeout pitcher—at least not in the AL East—but being with the Boston Red Sox surely helps his fantasy value. Offensive improvements are expected from outfielder Carl Crawford and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

A deeper lineup means more run support, which means more wins from Boston's starting pitchers.

Let Josh Beckett and Jon Lester pass by. Buchholz will be equally good for your team.

RF/1B/2B Michael Cuddyer (Colorado Rockies)

I figure Michael Cuddyer will be better than ever in his 12th MLB season.

Now that he is a Colorado Rockie, he can experience the benefits of spacious Coors Field (or rather, the benefits of Denver). The thin air there allows balls to be driven harder off the bat.

Even the ballpark's deep dimensions cannot stop home run totals from spiking upward. Instead, they force outfielders to cover more ground, so lots of would-be outs find the grass (batting average boost).

As a utility player eligible at right field, first base and second base—if not more positions—Cuddyer is easy to plug into a lineup.

He'll be surrounded by some productive players with his new franchise. Dexter Fowler, Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki will be there to knock in, while Todd Helton and Ramon Hernandez are expected to provide protection directly behind Cuddyer in the batting order.

SP Tommy Hanson (Atlanta Braves)

The Atlanta Braves have yet to sign starter Tommy Hanson to one of those team-friendly contract extensions that have become so common for young, talented players. Evidently, team management isn't quite convinced that Hanson can pitch atop the Braves starting rotation, but I am.

He nearly won National League Rookie of the Year in 2009 by ranking very highly in all fantasy categories over 21 starts.

Hanson is a fly-ball pitcher and I imagine that his ERA will drop from the 3.60 that it was in 2011 because defensive guru Michael Bourn will be manning center field behind him for an entire season.

His win total will rise so long as he gives his team more length. Atlanta has Eric O'Flaherty, Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel to hold leads in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but Hanson can't expect the trio to close out every one of his outings.

The run support should be better for him if Jose Constanza, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward continue to develop.

Expect 200-plus strikeouts if he stays healthy.

RF Nick Markakis (Baltimore Orioles)

Nick Markakis was not far off a Hall of Fame track early in his career, but then the Baltimore Orioles offense began to deteriorate around him.

He has missed only four regular-season games the last two seasons, yet his production numbers have appeared pedestrian.

Camden Yards in Baltimore is a bandbox and Markakis will thrive there in 2012. He was plagued by a suspiciously low BABIP this past summer.

Also keep in mind that at 28 years old, he is still an improving player! 

He recently cut down on his strikeout total despite a career high in plate appearances.

Even if great sluggers never find themselves situated behind Markakis in the lineup, he may just help himself. Don't forget that this guy steals bases.

CF Cameron Maybin (San Diego Padres)

Nobody in Southern California is happier with the winter transactions of the San Diego Padres than Cameron Maybin.

His club has consummated a pair of trades. One was with the Cincinnati Reds, where Mat Latos was dealt for Edinson Volquez and a trio of promising prospects. The second was practically a salary dump on the part of the Chicago White Sox, and the Padres came away with Carlos Quentin.

Maybin's batting average and runs scored total will be higher than ever with the protection of Quentin and Yonder Alonso, who I assume will start at first base.

He will surely see more strikes in 2012. That will lead to more home runs—even in vast PETCO Park—if Maybin makes it a priority to put on some weight with what he has left of the offseason.

SP Ervin Santana (Los Angels Angels of Anaheim)

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have an impressively deep starting rotation.

Ervin Santana is No. 4 on the depth chart; the three ahead of him—Dan Haren, Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson—are all in the top tier.

Santana will be an excellent pick-up in the middle rounds because he has the potential to be nearly as valuable as them in fantasy leagues.

He will surely dwarf his 2011 win total of 11 with an increase in run support. Remember the free-agent signing of Albert Pujols?

Bigger contributions from Peter Bourjos and Mike Trout will arm Santana with leads heading into the later innings. Their speed facilitates the offense and both have awesome range in the outfield.

I don't trust the Angels bullpen, but Santana doesn't mind finishing what he starts (eight complete games since 2010).

RF Nick Swisher (New York Yankees)

Nick Swisher has established himself as a solid hitter over seven full big league seasons, but he's finally in line to break out.

The New York Yankees will have an extraordinary lineup around him in 2012. Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez are examples of above-average players who will be on base for Swisher to drive home.

Meanwhile, the end of the order is set to improve. Brett Gardner produced more extra-base hits than ever in 2011. Catcher Russell Martin was inconsistent at the plate. However, with Jesus Montero to relieve him from squatting for too many innings—while providing his own offense as designated hitter when Martin is behind the plate—there will be more runs scored for Swisher.

Also note that Swisher had an abysmal April and May. A smoother start to the campaign may allow him to bat .300.

CF Shane Victorino (Philadelphia Phillies)

First baseman Ryan Howard is expected to miss significant time recovering from a ruptured Achilles, which might not be so bad for Shane Victorino's fantasy value. It will give the Flyin' Hawaiian opportunities to drive in runs that Howard may have otherwise brought home himself or stranded after striking out.

The NL East promises to be a very mediocre defensive division in 2012, at least in terms of infielders. That is great for Victorino, who makes a lot of contact and isn't opposed to putting the ball on the ground.

Some might be concerned about his base-stealing ability. After all, Victorino swiped only 19 bags last season, his lowest total since 2006.

The reason that number was unusually low, however, is because he was hardly ever on first base!

Victorino missed 30 games due to injury and slugged a career-best .491 when healthy.

Even if he retains that power, he'll steal more bases. The Philadelphia Phillies don't have homer threats behind him, so Victorino will take run-scoring into his own hands.

2B Rickie Weeks (Milwaukee Brewers)

Rickie Weeks ranked 52nd in ESPN's 2010 Player Rater in his only full season. He was destined for higher placement on the 2011 list before a ankle injury shut him down for a chunk of the summer.

Many fantasy owners may avoid drafting him because of his injury history, the departure of Prince Fielder or the possible 50-game suspension of Ryan Braun, or some combination of the three.

Don't follow their example.

Aside from his ankle, Weeks has been disabled from separate injuries to his left and right wrists during his career. No singular body part has consistently bugged him and there's no reason to anticipate another fracture.

And, as was the case with Shane Victorino, the absence of power to drive him in will tempt Weeks to be more aggressive on the bases.

LF Delmon Young (Detroit Tigers)

Delmon Young is barely a middle-tier player, but I feel he falls short of a more prestigious classification.

Even in his banner year of 2010, he was a disappointing contributor in the runs scored and stolen bases categories. At least one of those will be helped by a full regular season with the Detroit Tigers.

Young will cross home plate as many times as he pleases if kept in the No. 3 spot in the batting order. Outstanding run-producers Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez will provide the ultimate protection.

To avoid dealing with them, opponents will be pressured to throw Young more strikes. Although it is known that he lacks plate discipline, I doubt fearful pitchers will risk having him lay off their wild offerings and reaching base via walk.

The steals may come later in the season.

Young has for a while looked heavier than his listed weight of 200 pounds. Circling the bases on a daily basis could be the cardio exercise he needs to get lean.