Fantasy Baseball Draft Strategy: 20 Multiple-Position Options You Must Draft

Versatile players are luxuries for any fantasy owner (as well as any real-life manager), because of their ability to plug multiple holes on the team. They save roster spots and give people options.

Here is a list of players who will be eligible at multiple positions for fantasy owners this season. They are organized by ESPN ranking, with those highest coming first and those lowest coming last.

Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera is listed as the top-ranked fantasy player, and his value only increases when one considers that he can play first base and third base.

With Prince Fielder joining the Detroit Tigers this year, Cabrera will move to third and earn position eligibility there quickly. If you're drafting No. 1 overall, take Cabrera and don't think twice about it.

Jose Bautista

Jose Bautista burst onto the fantasy scene two years ago. Before last season he was pegged as a one-hit wonder who shouldn't be worth a first-round pick.

After proving doubters wrong yet again, it's clear that Bautista is a great fantasy option. That is compounded by the fact that he is eligible as a third baseman and also as an outfielder.

Hanley Ramirez

Hanley Ramirez put together a shockingly disappointing 2011, and as a result he will be taken in the second round in most fantasy drafts.

The addition of Jose Reyes raised even more questions about Ramirez' commitment, but it appears that he will be moving over to third base and will deal with the situation professionally.

Fantasy owners will find that comforting, as now they can put a former top-five pick in the shortstop or third base slot. 

Mike Napoli

Mike Napoli hit a turning point in his career when he ended up in Texas after two trades. The Los Angeles Angels shipped him off to Toronto, where the Blue Jays promptly sent him to his former team's division rival, the Texas Rangers.

Combined with the opportunity to play more often, Napoli thrived in the hitter-friendly ballpark that the Rangers call home. He saw time at catcher and first base and will probably be the first catcher drafted in most leagues.

Power and versatility are a valuable combination in today's fantasy world.

Ben Zobrist

A guy who can play almost every position, Ben Zobrist is listed as a second baseman and outfielder, but has played at shortstop and third base in his career before.

He likely won't reach the minimum games played at those secondary positions to be eligible for them, but he is already a dual threat in the position game and would be a smart choice for fantasy owners.

Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana has struggled with strikeouts and a low batting average in the past, but he puts up good power numbers and has incredible potential.

Also, he is eligible at catcher and first base.

If you can't grab Mike Napoli, Santana is the next best thing and a must-have.

Lance Berkman

Lance Berkman has to answer more "getting older" questions every year, but after his comeback 2011, he is still a viable fantasy option.

The departure of Albert Pujols means he will likely fill in at first base, but he can also play outfield and will certainly be eligible there. For a guy who hit .301 with 33 home runs and 94 RBIs at age 35, one more year of experience won't do much to hurt him.

Definitely take a chance on Berkman if you are still in need of a first baseman or outfielders by the fifth or sixth round.

Michael Morse

Nationals first baseman/outfielder Michael Morse struggles with strikeouts and that could bring down his batting average in the future, but after last season's .303 effort, it appears that he is still on the good side of things.

Like Lance Berkman, Morse will be eligible as both a first baseman and as an outfielder.

The difference is, Morse is 28 (not 36) and can be grabbed a few rounds later for similar fantasy production.

Michael Cuddyer

After spending two years at the pitcher-friendly Target Field in Minnesota, Michael Cuddyer will move into the hitter haven that is Coors Field for 2012.

Listed as a first baseman and an outfielder, Cuddyer has also seen time at second base and almost became eligible at that position last year.

Whether he does in 2012 or not isn't anything fantasy owners can depend on, but Cuddyer's numbers will be expected to increase as a result of his new setting.

Michael Young

Michael Young has always been a bit inconsistent, but at the same time he has always been at least some form of good.

The Ranger is eligible at first base, third base and outfield and is extremely valuable because of that.

Whether or not he hits more home runs than the 11 he hit in 2011 will determine his value at the end of the season.

He's certainly capable of it, as he's hit 24 in the past, but fantasy owners need to be aware of both sides of the spectrum and not reach for him or let him slip too far.

Howie Kendrick

Howie Kendrick hasn't broken out to be the star everybody expected him to be yet, but with Albert Pujols hitting behind him now, this could be the year he starts to put up some top-tier numbers.

Primarily a second baseman, Kendrick is also eligible as an outfielder. He accumulated All-Star-worthy numbers last season and is starting to see steady improvement, so his floor is high and his ceiling is higher.

He's an all-around great fantasy option if you need somebody to fill a hole at second base.

Carlos Lee

Carlos Lee is hardly the first-round fantasy player he used to be, but he is certainly still worth taking a chance on.

Lee has improved upon his walk and strikeout totals in recent years, and his eligibility at first base and outfield makes him a solid plan B if you missed out on Lance Berkman.

Playing for the Houston Astros won't do him any favors, but he's still a cleanup-spot guy who just needs runners on base.

Mark Reynolds

The red flags with Mark Reynolds have always been his astronomically high strikeout totals and disappointing batting averages.

But he can still be counted on for a lot of home runs, and he has always gotten good fantasy production from his power numbers.

Reynolds is hardly a must-draft and roto league owners should probably just avoid him altogether, but as a late-round pick Reynolds would be a good option because of his dual-position eligibility at first and third.

Ryan Roberts

Ryan Roberts is a guy who never really broke into any major league starting lineups until 2011, and when he did, he put up an acceptable .249 average but balanced it out with 19 home runs.

Those are hardly numbers to be excited about, but remember, we're starting to get into some of the later rounds here.

Roberts is eligible at third base and second base, which will make him a good grab for your bench.

Martin Prado

Martin Prado lost eligibility at second base in part due to a stint on the DL, but he will still work as a third baseman or outfielder.

Prado has always been slowed down by injuries, but he is capable of good numbers, as shown by a 2010 campaign in which he hit .307 with 15 home runs as 66 RBIs.

Dan Uggla's stronghold at second will prevent Prado for regaining eligibility there, but he is still worth one of your late-round picks.

Marco Scutaro

Marco Scutaro only has elibility at shortstop right now, but he will likely move over to second base in Colorado and gain eligibility there as well.

Scutaro's only highlight-worthy seasons were 2009 and 2010, but moving into Coors Field could help him recapture some of what allowed him to hit 23 home runs over those two years.

Once again, here's a guy whose versatility makes him a good option for your bench.

Edwin Encarnacion

Alright, now we're getting to some guys that you could probably pick up as free agents post-draft.

Edwin Encarnacion can hit for power and acceptable average, but the problem is, he may have trouble getting at-bats.

While he is eligible at first base and third base, however he will be spending most of his time in the real lineup at designated hitter.

Emilio Bonafacio

Emilio Bonafacio's main fantasy value comes from his on-base percentage and speed once he's on them. 40-steal guys are hard to come by in the later rounds.

In addition to that, Bonafacio is eligible at shortstop, third base and outfield. The addition of Jose Reyes will make it hard for him to get at-bats though, which is essentially why he will be found in the later rounds.

If it were between Bonafacio, Edwin Encarnacion and Marco Scutaro, Bonafacio would be the easy choice though.

Mark Trumbo

The AL Rookie of the Year runner-up is another Los Angeles Angel likely to benefit from the addition of Albert Pujols.

Mark Trumbo led the Angels in home runs and RBIs in 2011, but had a lot of trouble layoff off pitches outside the strike zone.

Pujols will be able to help him with that and will also force him over to third base, which will give the former first baseman duel eligibility.

Daniel Murphy

Daniel Murphy would be a reliable late-round pick if not for his proneness for injury.

He can fill in slots at first base, second base and third base and has tools that make him good for accumulating fantasy points.

His strength is a batting average over .300, but he doesn't have much in terms of power or speed. Murphy is definitely less of a risk than Encarnacion, who will struggle to get at-bats, but he doesn't have the upside of, say, Trumbo or Bonafacio.

He's essentially a safe pick that can fill in when one of your main guys is hurt.