Fantasy Baseball 2012: Ranking the Top 15 First Basemen

Spring training is right around the corner. It's time to get your fantasy baseball team in order for the 2012 season. Today, we will be looking at the top 15 first basemen for your fantasy team.

First base has become a powerhouse position in baseball. Getting a high-quality first baseman can help solidify the championship for your team.

1. Albert Pujols

Pujols had the worst season of his career last season, but still put up great numbers.

Batting Average: .299

Home Runs: 37

RBI: 99

This was the first time in his career that he did not have over 100 RBI's and a .300 batting average. Most players would love to have this type of season as the best season of their career. Pujols hopes this remains his worst.

Pujols, now with the Anaheim Angels, will will thrive with his new team. The Angels ranked 16th in batting last season, which could cause problems for Pujols. Opponents still fear him and will not be afraid to intentionally walk Pujols.

However, this is said almost every year about Pujols, and he seems to be doing fine. Expect Pujols to improve on last year. His career is not in the decline yet.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .331

Home Runs: 36

RBI: 116

2. Miguel Cabrera

With the signing of Prince Fielder, Cabrera will most likely spend his time playing third base but will still be listed as a first base option.

Batting Average: .344

Home Runs: 30

RBI: 105

Cabrera seems to get better with every passing year. Last year was a great year for him, posting a career high in batting average. Cabrera will most likely hit third, with Fielder hitting in the clean-up spot. This one-two punch will be something to watch this season.

Cabrera is something rare. He is a deadly power hitter who hits for average. Now in the prime of his career, he should only be getting better. If you are a fantasy owner who is looking for a safe bet, look no further than Cabrera.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .337

Home Runs: 35

RBI: 109

3. Adrian Gonzalez

Last year, Gonzalez had a decline in power, but made up for it by posting a career high in batting.

Batting Average: .338

Home Runs: 27

RBI: 117

Another safe pick this year is Gonzalez. He will put up his numbers and give fantasy owners a reliable player in their lineup.

Another good quality about Gonzalez is that he is always healthy. Since his first full season in 2006, Gonzalez has never played less than 156 games. With the stats he puts up, along with his durability, Gonzalez is a can't-miss player.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .341 

Home Runs: 26

RBI: 111

4. Prince Fielder

Fielder moving to Detroit will be interesting to watch. Last year, Fielder contended for MVP and was a fantasy stud.

Batting Average: .299

Home Runs: 38

RBI: 120

Hitting behind someone like Miguel Cabrera will be a nice benefit for Fielder. Cabrera will be on base plenty of times to give Fielder opportunities.

Fielder is also like the previously mentioned Gonzalez; he is durable. He has played at least 157 games in each full season of his young career.

With his new contract, let's hope Fielder does not fall into a state of content. His production will be good this year, and he is another solid pick for fantasy owners.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .286 

Home Runs: 34

RBI: 126

5. Joey Votto

Votto had a decrease in his numbers last year. However, that was somewhat expected due to high numbers from 2010.

Batting Average: .309

Home Runs: 29

RBI: 103

Votto and the rest of the top five in this list are safe picks. These five are above the rest. What has been said for the other four can be put into this slide for Votto.

He is durable and will put up good numbers.

Votto will have another great year. Expect more of what we saw in 2010.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .314

Home Runs: 34

RBI: 107

6. Mark Teixeira

Last year, Teixeira's season was another good power year, but showed more decline in his batting average.

Batting Average: .248

Home Runs: 39

RBI: 111

Teixeira has been a solid fantasy player for years now. He has been known for getting off to slow starts, but tends to heat up late. However, during the past two seasons, Teixeira has started off slow, but has not heated up as much at the end of the season.

Since 2009, Teixeira's batting average has dropped over 40 points, plummeting to a career low last year. While he does play in Yankee Stadium, which will be a big benefit for him, his consistently falling average is a little concerning.

As for this year, Teixeira should not be too big of a concern. The Yankees have a powerful offense and will provide many opportunities for Teixeira to have success. Expect Teixeira to focus more on hitting the ball for contact than power. We will see if that will affect his stats for this year.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .264

Home Runs: 31

RBI's: 102

7. Paul Konerko

It was another good, yet quiet year for Paul Konerko last season.

Batting Average: .300

Home Runs: 31

RBI: 105

Konerko is entering is 17th year into the league and is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, he seems to be getting better with age.

He has hit for .300 only four times in his career, two of them coming in the past two seasons. Another good sign for fantasy owners is that not only has his average gone up for the past two seasons, but so has the power.

Konerko will be consistent. Don't expect flashy numbers, but he will get the job done for fantasy owners.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .297

Home Runs: 27

RBI: 108

8. Lance Berkman

Last year was a trip into a time machine for Lance Berkman. It was a season which included Berkman winning his first championship.

Batting Average: .301

Home Runs: 31

RBI: 94

Berkman looked as if his career was over. Before he joined the Cardinals, injuries plagued his last two seasons. Fantasy owners did not even have Berkman on their fantasy radar. He re-emerged as a top player in the league and was a nice steal for fantasy owners.

Last season may have been a flash in the pan for Berkman, who is in his twilight years in the MLB. However, don't be surprised to see Berkman make another strong fantasy run. He is a great player who went through injuries and had trouble getting back to form.

Berkman will have a fine year if he stays healthy. If you are planning to have Berkman for your team, just be prepared with another first baseman. At this point in Berkman's career, injuries can hit him at any time.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .313

Home Runs: 23

RBI: 95

9. Ike Davis

Ike Davis was having a breakout year for the Mets last year when a collision with David Wright ended his season.

Batting Average: .302

Home Runs: Seven

RBI: 25

In just 36 games, Davis was showing signs of becoming a fantasy stud. Davis has plenty of power and knows how to use it to all sides of the field.

This year, the Mets have also moved their walls closer and cut the right field wall in half, from 16 to eight feet tall.

Davis will have a breakout year in fantasy. Grab Davis if he is available in later rounds. He will be worth picking up earlier than he is projected. The only down side on Davis is his ankle injury from last year. He is planned to comeback for the full season, but will have to see how his ankle will hold up throughout.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .317

Home Runs: 25

RBI: 88

10. Freddie Freeman

Last year was a good first full season for the Braves' first baseman.

Batting Average: .282

Home Runs: 21

RBI: 76

The Braves are a good franchise. They have a good young core coming up through their farm system. Freeman is one of those players. Freeman had a solid season with the Braves last year and is someone fantasy owners will have to keep an eye on this season. Freeman has the potential to become a top score in fantasy, but needs a little more time to develop his game.

Going into this year, expect more of the same from Freeman. If he is your first baseman going into the season, it's nothing to hang your head about. Freeman will be a good fantasy player this year.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .288

Home Runs: 19

RBI's: 85

11. Eric Hosmer

Hosmer had a great rookie year for the Royals last year and will be a fantasy sleeper this year.

Batting Average: .293

Home Runs: 19 

RBI: 78

It's hard to pick anything from the Royals over the last decade. However, Hosmer will be different. A promising first baseman, Hosmer showed his team and fantasy owners why he is going to be a future All-Star.

Hosmer has a good eye at the plate and has good power to both sides of the field. Along with all of this, Hosmer can steal a base for you. Unlike most first basemen, Hosmer can easily steal 20 bases a year for your fantasy a team.

Expect Hosmer to get better each time he steps out onto the field.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .291

Home Runs: 26

RBI: 90

12. Todd Helton

After a down year in 2010, Helton seemed to find some of his magic in 2011.

Batting Average: .302

Home Runs: 14

RBI: 69

A nice choice to fill out your roster or to use as your bench first baseman. Either way works with Helton. Clearly, he is not what he use to be, but he can still get the job done.

A good contact hitter, Helton will improve your team's average. Plus, playing in the high altitudes of Colorado has never hurt any hitter. Helton will be useful this year and should not be written off by any means.

Expect Helton to provide good fantasy points when needed.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .309

Home Runs: 17

RBI's: 64

13. Ryan Howard

Another excellent season by Howard, until the last play of the season.

Batting Average: .253

Home Runs: 33

RBI: 116

Howard is always a top-five candidate for fantasy first baseman. This year will be different due to the injury to his foot.

Howard will miss some time this season. The time frame that he will be out is still unclear, but he is expected to miss at least the month of April.

When to pick up a player who will miss the first part of the season is always tough. If you are planning on picking up Howard, just be sure you have a back-up plan in place before he comes back.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .258

Home Runs: 20

RBI: 74

14. Gaby Sanchez

Gaby Sanchez will look to capitalize on the Marlins' new signings this offseason.

Batting Average: .266

Home Runs: 19

RBI: 78

The new-look Miami Marlins made splashes this offseason that Sanchez will try to take advantage of. The signing of shortstop Jose Reyes will provide a spark at the top of the order and more opportunities for Sanchez to make some noise.

With Hanley Ramirez hitting third, Sanchez should see many plate appearances with men on base. This is a chance for Sanchez to show us what he has and if he can be a fantasy player to trust in the future.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .275

Home Runs: 17

RBI: 74

15. Justin Morneau

Last year was another injury-plagued year for Morneau.

Batting Average: .227

Home runs: Four

RBI: 30

This would be a risky pick. Don't expect to use him as a starter unless you are in a deep league.

Morneau has what it takes to be a top fantasy player. However, he can't stay on the field. When he is on the field, he is something to watch. He has great power and a good eye at the plate.

If he can stay healthy, then expect Morneau to have a good year for your fantasy team.

Projected stats:

Batting Average: .273

Home Runs: 13

RBI: 65