Fantasy Baseball Projections: 7 Veteran Hitters You Can Count on

On draft day, fantasy owners often have to decide between a player who is safe and a player who has tremendous upside.

While I agree with taking young players with upside late, I want reliable players in early rounds, whose numbers I can essentially pencil in when I add them to my squad.

Let's take a look at some of those players that are not only safe, but produce well and can help lead to a fantasy championship.

Robinson Cano: 2B, Yankees

If you're picking in the second half of the first round, it doesn't get much better than Robinson Cano.

He not only puts up excellent numbers, but he does so at second base, one of the scarcer positions this year in fantasy.

Cano is a safe bet to stay healthy and amass 600 plus at-bats, something he's done four of the past five years. And in 2008, the only time he had fewer than 600 at-bats, he had 597. Point being, you don't have to worry about having to stash Cano on your DL slot during the season.

Just like he's not a risk to get injured, he's not a risk to underperform. He is one of the most consistent players in all of baseball. 

Cano will no doubt give you at least 95 runs, 20 home runs, 95 RBI, and a .300 average. And that's the low end. Given what he's done the past few years, I'd project him for 100 runs, 27 home runs, 108 RBI, and a .309 average.

Don't get cute, take Cano.

Adrian Gonzalez: 1B, Red Sox

Any draft that I've had a late first round pick in, I have targeted Gonzalez, for many reasons. 

First base isn't nearly as deep as we like to believe. Aside from the top guys like Gonzalez, who you're going to have to spend a 1st or 2nd round pick on, there are a lot of question marks at the position. 

I want to address first base quickly, and I love what I can get out of A-Gon. 

His power numbers dipped a little last year, but that's alright, I mean, he did hit .338.

He's a career .293 hitter, but given his performance last year, I'd be willing to say he's a lock to hit .300. On top of that, you know based on his track record and the offense he plays on that he's a lock for 100 RBI, as he's had 99 or above for the past five seasons. 100 runs and 25 home runs are essentially a lock at this point as well. 

Plus, even though he's safe, he does have upside. Gonzo more than has the capability to crank 35 home runs, and if he does, your league mates better watch out.

I predict a .315 BA, 106 runs, 30 home runs, and 117 RBI. 

Can't get much better than that.

Paul Konerko: 1B, White Sox

36-year-old Paul Konerko may be the only "money in the bank" type first baseman that you don't have to grab in the first two rounds.

And if I miss out on those guys and have to decide between the tantalizing prospects of Eric Hosmer or Konerko, I'll take Konerko.

Left for dead by fantasy owners a few years back, Konerko has continued to mash and return value.

It's safe to say Konerko will hit 30 home runs with potential for 40, bat .280 with the potential to hit .300, as he has done the past two seasons, have 75 runs, and knock in at least 95. 

And while his age may lead some to shy away from him, thinking he is an injury risk, he really isn't. He's only once seen fewer than 548 at bats since 2004. 

I'd have no problem taking Konerko in the fourth round. 

Dan Uggla: 2B, Braves

Dan Uggla is almost too consistent. You almost never hear anybody talk about the guy from a fantasy perspective, because it's so clear what he is going to give you. 

There's sometimes a spike in his batting average, such as in 2010 when he hit .287, but that's not Uggla.

Simply put, Uggla is a guy who swings freely, hits a lot of home runs and strikes out a lot. Of course, if you're in roto league, you don't care about the K's.

Uggla will bat around .250, hit at least 30 home runs, score around 90 runs, and have around 90 RBI. 

There's little room for deviation there, and that's just fine. 

Shane Victorino: Of, Phillies

Shane Victorino seems to often get overlooked during drafts, and I don't understand why. 

Maybe it's because he doesn't excel in one particular category, which is ironic because that's why he is so valuable—he produces pretty well across the board. 

Like Uggla, Victorino posts basically the same numbers every year, and they're very fine numbers.

When you draft the Flyin' Hawaiian you are adding to your team a .270-.280 BA, 10-15 home runs, around 60 RBI, 90 or so runs, and around 20 steals. 

Those are great numbers to get out of a player you can take in the 7th or so round.

David Ortiz: DH, Red Sox

Every year we seem to predict the downfall of Big Papi. But like Konerko, every year he continues to produce and will do so again this year.

Hitting in the heart of the best lineup in baseball, Papi is still a fantasy commodity, even though his DH eligibility does lessen his value. 

Papi doesn't have very much upside at this point, but that's fine.

He still will deliver likely a BA in the .270-.280 range, 28 home runs, 80 runs, and 95 or so RBI's. 

Until Papi has a season where we he doesn't come near these numbers, he should continue to be trusted.

Billy Butler: DH, Royals

Like Ortiz, Butler's value does take a slight hit because of his eligibility only at DH. But many believe he actually will acquire first base eligibility spelling Eric Hosmer time to time. That would be a great boost to his value, but regardless, Butler is proven production.

Because of his tendency to always be near the top of the leader board in doubles, fantasy owners have long awaited the Billy Butler home run breakout, and while it could happen this year, the safe money's on no.  

Maybe the frustration of owners with the lack of home runs causes Butler to slip through the crack, but whatever the reason, please keep ignoring him. I'll gladly take him. 

A .290 average, 15 home runs, 75 runs, and 80-85 RBI is perfectly fine for me from my 10th or 11th round pick.