Fantasy Baseball: Top 20 Multi-Positional Hitters for 2012

This listing of the top 20 multi-positional hitters for 2012 comes with a crucial caveat:

Since Miguel Cabrera (third base), Hanley Ramirez (3B), Mark Trumbo (3B/OF) and Marco Scutaro (second base) will be locked into new stations on Opening Day, this countdown should reflect the quartet's soon-to-be-adjusted impact within the fantasy realm. All four should earn full eligibility at their new positions sometime around May 1, barring injury.

Enjoy the show!

No. 20: Marco Scutaro, Colorado Rockies

Skinny: A primary shortstop for the Blue Jays and Red Sox (2008-11), Scutaro is slated to be the Rockies' everyday second baseman.

Targets: 11 HRs, 57 RBI, 81 runs and .276 batting average.

No. 19: Lucas Duda, New York Mets

Skinny: There's plenty to love about Duda, most notably his dual eligibility (1B/OF) and four-category tools. He should also be an everyday fixture in the Mets lineup—the unwitting perk of playing on a rebuilding club.

Targets: 16 HRs, 58 RBI, 59 runs and .284 batting.

No. 18: Emilio Bonifacio, Miami Marlins

Skinny: This three-position whirlwind (3B/2B/OF) can be a two-category stud (runs, steals). It'll be three categories if Bonifacio can prove that last year's .296 batting average wasn't a fluke.

No. 17: Martin Prado, Atlanta Braves

Skinny: A solid contributor in all five categories, Prado's 2012 outlook may yield 75 runs and a .300 average.

All told, Prado is an ideal back-up third baseman...and fifth outfielder in 12-team mixed leagues.

No. 16: Mark Trumbo, Los Angels Angels of Anaheim

Skinny: Trumbo will have greater value than most three-category factors around June 1 once he tacks on 3B/OF-eligibility (current 1B standing).

Thank goodness most fantasy leagues only care about Trumbo's 30-homer potential, not fielding percentage. Huh?

No. 15: Mark Reynolds, Baltimore Orioles

Skinny: Reynolds (1B/3B eligibility) may no longer be a clone of his 2009 self (44 homers, 102 RBI, 24 steals), but he's still a healthy bet for 35 HRs, 80 runs, 80 RBI and eight steals.

No. 14: Ryan Roberts, Arizona Diamondbacks

Skinny: The 31-year-old Roberts (19 HRs, 65 RBI, 18 steals, 86 runs in 2011) may need a prove-it-again season to get the full endorsement of fantasy owners in 2013. For this season, he's an invaluable asset at second and third base.

No. 13: Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants

Skinny: Forget last year's pedestrian stats (nine HRs, 18 RBI, 21 runs). This Texas tornado has the tools, positional versatility (1B/OF) and superb minor-league track record (.343 BA, .457 OBP, 1.052 OPS) to be a four-category dynamo in his second season.

Targets: 23 HRs, 70 runs and .314 batting average.

No. 12: Carlos Lee, Houston Astros

Skinny: Lee (1B/OF eligibility) posted better numbers in hits, triples, RBI, steals, walks and batting average last year compared to 2010.

Heading into his age-35 season, Lee is a top-40 outfielder and stealth Round 10/11 pick.

No. 11: Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Skinny: Factoring in Kendrick's two-position eligibility (2B/OF), three-year power surge (38 HRs) and four-category potential (excluding RBI), perhaps we'll need to rethink this ranking before the end of April.

Fingers crossed on Kendrick sliding to Round 8.

No. 10: Mike Morse, Washington Nationals

Skinny: Morse (1B/OF eligibility) would have garnered a higher ranking if fully healthy.

Assuming his strained lat injury heals soon, Morse remains a viable candidate for 25 homers, 85 RBI and .290 batting by season's end.

No. 9: Michael Cuddyer, Colorado Rockies

Skinny: It probably doesn't matter how the 7-8-9 guys stack up in this countdown. All three have 20-homer potential and serve as certifiable three-category factors.

For Cuddyer (1B-2B-OF), he's a reasonable target for 18 HRs, 73 RBI, 74 runs, nine steals and .282 average.

No. 8: Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays

Skinny: This triple-eligibilty wonder at second base, third base and outfield also has 20-HR/100-run/20-steal potential.

Bottom line: Don't let Zobrist slide past Round 6 in 12-team drafts.

No. 7: Lance Berkman, St. Louis Cardinals

Skinny: The days of Berkman (1B/OF eligibility) scoring 100-plus runs, notching 40-plus doubles and stealing 18 bases are likely gone, but there's still plenty of juice left on his fantasy profile.

Targets: 26 HRs, 84 RBI, 88 runs and .294 average.

No. 6: Mike Napoli, Texas Rangers

Skinny: Napoli (C/1B eligibility) deserves all the preseason hype after a big-time 2011 campaign. But it's unlikely that he'll replicate the .320 batting average or 1.046 OPS.

No. 5: Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians

Skinny: Santana, my top-ranked catcher heading into the preseason, also has first-base eligibility. At full strength, Santana is a 30-90-90 candidate and Round 6 pick this spring.

No. 4: Michael Young, Texas Rangers

Skinny: Young and his 1B-3B eligibility likely won't notch 213 hits or a .338 average in 2012, but he still looms large in four categories.

(He's no slouch in steals, either.)

No. 3: Hanley Ramirez, Miami Marlins

Skinny: Hanley's move to third base will hopefully spark a midpoint return to his superb numbers from the 2009-10 seasons: 23 HRs, 91 RBI, 97 runs, 28 steals and .312 average.

No. 2: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays

Skinny: Now that Brett Lawrie has commandeered the Toronto hot corner for the next 7-10 years, this will likely be Bautista's final season of 3B-OF eligibility.

Bautista is a virtual lock for 40 HRs, 100 runs and 100 RBI, and with ascending rates in walks and OPS, he may finally notch double-digit steals, too.

No. 1: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

Skinny: With the move to third base to accommodate Prince Fielder's arrival to Detroit, a 1B/3B-eligible Cabrera holds the most fantasy value of any player, including Albert Pujols, Matt Kemp and Ryan Braun.

Targets: 33 homers, 109 RBI, 112 runs and .327 average)