Fantasy Baseball Rankings 2012: Brandon McCarthy and Best Draft-Day Steals

When you think of a steal in fantasy baseball, you are looking for the players who will give you the most bang for your buck. 

There is no secret formula to landing these players—you just have to hope that your opponents don't jump on the bandwagon before you get to them. 

Here are the players who won't be taken early but will give you great production for where they are drafted. Make sure that you keep them on your radar when making picks. 

No. 5 Logan Morrison, OF, Miami Marlins

Morrison had an unusual season in 2011, with a stint in the minors in August, presumably because he speaks honestly and candidly about everything on Twitter. 

Regardless of what LoMo is doing on the Internet, the baseball field is where he really shines. He has power and a disciplined approach at the plate that will help him hit for a high average.

A low batting average on balls in play last season dragged his overall average down, so expect him to get back up near .270-.280 this year with 20-25 home runs and close to 100 RBI. 

No. 4 Colby Rasmus, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

For whatever reasons, Rasmus wasn't able to translate his raw skills into consistent performance for the St. Louis Cardinals. He struggled after being traded to the Blue Jays last July, but he is just 25 years old and has time to turn his career around. 

Knowing that he is going to be in the lineup every day, and not having to hear Tony La Russa talk about him, will have a profound impact on his confidence. 

Don't be shocked to see him hit over 20 home runs and steal double-digit bases. The average might not be what you are looking for, but the rest of the numbers will be terrific. 

No. 3 Devin Mesoraco, C, Cincinnati Reds

Catching has never been a great fantasy position. There is not enough depth to go around, which means that you have to reach for one earlier than you would like. With Buster Posey, Carlos Santana, Joe Mauer, Mike Napoli, Brian McCann, Alex Avila and Miguel Montero, there is a lot more talent at the catching position. 

It won't be long before Mesoraco, the Reds' top prospect, joins that list. He has the hitting and power stroke that you rarely see from a catcher. There will be a period of adjustment while he gets acclimated, but he is going to be a star soon. 

In that ball park, at least 20 homers and 75-80 RBI is perfectly reasonable for Mesoraco. 

No. 2 Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco Giants

Now that Belt is going to get his chance to play every day (presumably), he should be able to show some of that potential that everyone was talking about when Bruce Bochy kept him on the bench last year. 

As long as Belt plays in 140 games, he should be one of the Giants' best offensive players. Granted, that's not saying much, but he is not going to be a slouch. 

With his athleticism and natural hitting stroke, he should be able to hit .280 with 20-25 home runs and 10-15 stolen bases. The RBI total might be a little low, just because the lineup isn't good, but the other numbers will offset that. 

No. 1 Brandon McCarthy. SP, Oakland A's

With starting pitching being as deep as it has been in years, fantasy players can afford to wait for the later rounds to get a quality arm in order to upgrade their offense. 

McCarthy emerged as a star last season after years of being labeled a bust. He is not the strikeout pitcher most assumed he would be, instead relying on movement and control to get hitters out. 

The one big drawback to McCarthy this season is the team he plays on. The A's are clearly in rebuilding mode, which is going to keep his win total lower than you would like. But an ERA in the low-3.00 range with a WHIP of 1.10 in 200 innings should be good enough for most players. 

Follow @adamwells1985