Fantasy Baseball 2012: 10 Must-Have Fantasy Baseball Stars of the NL Central

Pitchers and catchers have arrived at spring training, and baseball season is officially underway. The arrival of a new baseball season means the arrival of a new fantasy baseball season as well.

Baseball season may still be a ways away, but fantasy baseball drafts will be here before you know it.

The NL Central has a solid crop of players who would contribute to any fantasy team on a consistent basis.

Here are 10 players from the NL Central you must have on your fantasy team, in no particular order:

Starlin Castro

Starlin Castro hit .307 with 10 home runs and 66 RBI in 2011.

Castro has unbelievable talent at the plate, and the size to grow into even more production as he gets older.

He is the backbone of a Cubs rebuilding movement, and with good reason. He struggles with consistency on defense at times, but he has the raw hitting ability to start for any team in baseball.

Expect Castro's average to stay around .300, and his power numbers to jump. He has 20-HR ability, and could realize that this season.

Shortstops with raw ability at the plate are hard to come by. Jump on Castro if you get the chance. He is due for a breakout season.

Rickie Weeks

Rickie Weeks hit .249 with 20 home runs and 49 RBI in 2011. As long as he is healthy, Weeks should be better in 2012.

Weeks is one of the better, hitting, second basemen in baseball. Some may consider him the best hitting second baseman in baseball.

Either way, he is capable of starting for any fantasy team, in any league.

The Brewers would like to see Weeks' average climb somewhere between .260 and .270, or higher, next season. He has the ability to hit another 20 home runs, or more, next season.

He also has the ability to swipe a few bases.

Brandon Phillips

Brandon Phillips hit .300 with 18 home runs and 82 RBI last season. He also had a .353 on-base percentage.

In terms of offensive production at second base, Phillips is right up there with anyone in baseball. He can knock the ball out of the park, or slap balls into the gap.

Phillips will hit .280 to .300 and has consistent 15- to 20-HR power. He is surrounded by a lot of talent in the Cincinnati lineup, and that will provide him with many RBI opportunities.

He is a guy you want to get in your lineup somehow.

Jay Bruce

Jay Bruce hit .256 with 32 home runs and 97 RBI in 2011.

Bruce provides big-time power potential from his right field position. He is a middle-of-the-order bat for an excellent Reds lineup.

He doesn't provide consistent average at the plate, but Bruce has the ability to pop up to 40 home runs any given year. The talent surrounding him in Cincinnati assures that many of these home runs will not be solo shots.

Bruce is a can't-miss player if you need power production in your lineup.

Matt Holliday

Matt Holliday hit .296 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 2011. He also had a .388 on-base percentage.

Holliday will be relied upon even more in 2011 for St. Louis. With Albert Pujols moving west, the Cardinals will desperately need Holliday to be a consistent presence in the middle of the lineup.

He could benefit from the addition of Carlos Beltran.

He is a proven power hitter at the major league level. As long as he stays healthy, Holliday is worthy of an early round pick.

Solid power numbers and a .270 to .280 average are typical of Holliday.

Yovani Gallardo

Yovani Gallardo was 17-10 with a 3.52 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 2011.

Last season added to the quiet career Gallardo has had in Milwaukee. He has been a reliable option for the Brewers and possesses a ton of raw ability.

Gallardo will be relied upon to carry the Brewers, along with the rest of the Brewer pitching rotation. Expect his numbers to stay on point next season, and for many more to come.

If Gallardo is there, take him. You won't be disappointed. He is an underrated power pitcher.

Joey Votto

Joey Votto hit. 309 with with 29 home runs and 103 RBI in 2011. He also had an on-base percentage over .400.

Votto is as good as it gets at the plate. He is an NL MVP candidate, and is still getting better as his approach at the plate continues to mature.

He is surrounded by a ton of talent in Cincinnati. This gives him the chance to knock runners in on a consistent basis.

Votto is a great fantasy choice, and worthy of a top pick in the first round. He is arguably the best hitter in the NL Central, and one of the best hitters in baseball.

Andrew McCutchen

Andrew McCutchen hit .259 with 23 home runs and 89 RBI last season. Those numbers should improve as McCutchen fine-tunes his plate approach.

McCutchen has established himself as one of the game's youngest stars, and one of the best center fielders around.

He is a consistent 30-30 candidate, and his average should spike as he learns to hit for power, without sacrificing contact.

If McCutchen can find the balance between his 2010 season and his 2011 season, he is worthy of a first-round selection.

Zach Greinke

Zach Greinke was 16-6 with a 3.13 ERA for Milwaukee in 2011. He got off to a slow start and could improve in 2012.

When Greinke is healthy and receives run support, he is one of the best pitchers in the game today. He has great stuff, and understands how to approach any type of batter.

Greinke has ace potential for your fantasy team next season.

As he settles into Milwaukee and the Brewer lineup starts to come together, Greinke should continue to get better as the season rolls along.

Adam Wainwright

Adam Wainwright missed all of 2011 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. In 2010, he was 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA.

When he is healthy, Wainwright is one of the best starters in all of baseball.

Assuming there are no residual effects from his elbow surgery, there is no reason Wainwright won't bounce back in 2012.

Wainwright will be the St. Louis ace from day one. He is extremely consistent, and strikes out his fair share without walking a tremendous amount of batters.

If you trust his arm, take Wainwright with your first or second pick. If you don't trust his arm, take him anyway.