Fantasy Baseball 2012: 50 Most Over/Undervalued Players in the Game

As fantasy baseball rosters throughout the Internet take shape for the 2012 season, owners all over are taking stock of their players in an effort to decide just where their biggest productivity will come from.

In some ways, it's easy to predict the successes of the game's biggest stars, but the players in between are where the real differences can come in.

Being able to decide which players are overvalued and which are undervalued in this league can mean big things for a roster, as some value picks are inevitably bound to thrive, while other picks may fail to live up to billing.

Overvalued: Ricky Romero

After starting his career with the Blue Jays earning at least 13 wins each season, Ricky Romero is off to a 1-0 start in 2012 and appears to be on his way to another strong campaign.

While there's no denying his abilities on the mound, it seems like some may be inclined to put him in a higher category than he belongs, possibly reaching for his services.

Overvalued: Ryan Zimmerman

With a new payday in hand, Ryan Zimmerman will look to lead the Washington Nationals to a postseason berth this season as he works to build on his career .287 batting average and .831 OPS.

He's only once hit more than 30 home runs and twice more than 100 RBI, and while he's definitely a high-level third baseman, it's too easy to put him in a category with elite players in this league.

Overvalued: Ian Kennedy

Coming off a 21-win season in 2011, it'd be easy to jump the gun on Ian Kennedy for your fantasy rotation.

He's off to a 2-0 start in 2012, though prior to 2011 he only boasted 10 wins in 41 starts.

Overvalued: Jacoby Ellsbury

With an MVP-worthy performance in 2011, Jacoby Ellsbury vaulted himself up many draft boards and became a popular pick once again in 2012.

He would've had to perform at a very high level to live up to top billing, and now a shoulder injury threatens to sideline him for the next couple of months.

Overvalued: J.J. Hardy

After a less-than-spectacular season with the Minnesota Twins in their first season playing at Target Field, J.J. Hardy made the move to the Baltimore Orioles, where he instantly clicked.

Hitting a career-high 30 home runs in 2011, Hardy has gone deep twice this season but has struggled to get his bat going at the level he did last year.

Overvalued: Freddie Freeman

Finishing as runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year last season, Freddie Freeman is certainly poised to be the first baseman of the future for the Atlanta Braves.

You always have to be weary of a sophomore slump with any emerging star, and while he could very well turn things around, Freeman has gotten off to a slow start in 2012.

Overvalued: Albert Pujols

When you're the best player in baseball, it's hard to think you could be overvalued, yet when it comes to auction drafts, the dollar amount allotted to certain stars can be mind-boggling.

There's no doubting Albert Pujols' talent, and though he's gotten off to a slow start in Los Angeles, he'll certainly turn it around shortly.

Still, it's still hard to justify what it can cost to put him on your roster.

Overvalued: Daniel Hudson

During his first season as a full-time starter in 2011, Daniel Hudson won 16 of his 33 starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He may be an attractive pick to fill out rotations, but given the lack of a track record for longevity, he may not be the best option for an early pitching slot.

Overvalued: Miguel Cabrera

Much like Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera is one of the best players in the league and certainly provides value for the Detroit Tigers on a nightly basis.

His cost in auction drafts tends to ride high, and though he's been good for around 33 home runs and 115 RBI per season, he may not be worth what you have to shell out.

Overvalued: Howie Kendrick

Howie Kendrick's strong start in 2012 was certainly helping the Los Angeles Angels, and while they're record was not reflecting the talent on the roster, none of that was Kendrick's fault.

Kendrick has since slipped into a mini-slump that has seen his average and OPS come back to his career averages, and it never seems like he will ever live up to the ceiling that was placed on him when he hit .322 back in 2007.

His speed may be somewhat underrated, but with a somewhat minimal on-base percentage Kendrick is not deserving of being valued at a round 6-7 grade--as his No. 70 preseason ranking would suggest.

Overvalued: Justin Upton

Justin Upton's 31-home run campaign in 2011 certainly marked the high point in his young career, and while he's definitely got great years in front of him, he may not yet be worthy of top outfield billing.

Through 10 games this season, Upton is batting only .212 and has yet to drive in a run.

Overvalued: Wandy Rodriguez

The biggest question surrounding Wandy Rodriguez this season may not be how he'll perform, but where he'll be performing once the second half of the season gets underway.

He's constantly in trade talks, and while that could be plenty of motivation to perform well and get out of Houston, there are a number of value arms available that could provide just as much, if not more, value.

Overvalued: Tim Lincecum

Tim Lincecum has been one of the top pitchers in the league over the past few seasons, and with that comes a high price in the fantasy world.

Lincecum has gotten off to a rough start in 2012, posting an 0-2 record in three starts.

Overvalued: Joe Mauer

Joe Mauer is certainly the best hitting catcher in the league, though his 2009 MVP season that vaulted him into stardom may have been an anomaly.

After hitting 28 home runs during that spectacular season, Mauer has hit only 12 in the past two seasons combined while struggling to stay healthy.

Overvalued: Brett Lawrie

In limited action in 2011, Brett Lawrie showed signs that he may have what it takes to emerge as a top-end third baseman in this league.

While he's got a huge upside and could be a sleeper pick to emerge this season, taking Lawrie too early on could take with it some serious risk.

Overvalued: Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson is certainly one of the flashier closers in the game, with a Grizzly Adams beard to back it up.

After saving a career-high 48 games in 2010, Wilson took a small step backward in 2011, though he still saved 36 for the San Francisco Giants.

With injury concerns shelving him for the time being, using a valuable pick on him has to sting.

Overvalued: Jose Valverde

Jose Valverde threw his way to an elite level for closers in 2011, converting every save attempt he faced in very eccentric fashion.

The expectations for success from Valverde were no doubt high heading into 2012, though he's struggled early on, blowing his first two save attempts for the Tigers this season.

Overvalued: Melky Cabrera

Melky Cabrera will look to add some pop to the San Francisco Giants' lineup after they watched Carlos Beltran head to St. Louis during this past offseason.

He emerged as a real player in 2011 with the Kansas City Royals, hitting a career-high 18 home runs and batting over .300 for the first time in his seven-year career in the bigs.

Overvalued: Justin Morneau

With concussion symptoms lingering for the past couple of seasons, Justin Morneau went from a feared slugger to a somewhat sympathetic figure who couldn't seem to stay on the field.

He appears to be healthy in 2012, and while he spends most of his time on the bench as the Minnesota Twins' designated hitter, assuming he'll be back to his old self would be a stretch to say the least.

Overvalued: Eric Hosmer

The Kansas City Royals are a popular pick to surprise a lot of people around baseball in 2012, as their established farm system is starting to push out solid players with great upside.

Eric Hosmer is certainly one of those players, as the first baseman impressed many last season with a 19-home run, 78-RBI rookie campaign.

Overvalued: Elvis Andrus

2011 was a season of career highs for Elvis Andrus, as he reached his highest levels across the board in his young career.

Whether or not the season was an exception instead of the rule is yet to be seen, but so far he's gotten off to a relatively slow start, batting only .194 in nine games with the Texas Rangers.

Overvalued: Hanley Ramirez

Hanley Ramirez is no doubt one of the best young left-infielders in the league, and with a newly revamped team behind him, he may have the motivation to reach an elite level.

Despite his previous accolades, however, it's hard to ignore the fact that his past two seasons have fallen short of the high bar he set for himself after an impressive 2009 campaign.

Overvalued: Ryan Roberts

Ryan Roberts showed the ability to stay on the field in 2011 more than at any other point in his career, playing in 143 games and batting .249 along the way.

He fell just shy of the 20-home run mark, and while some may be quick to add him as an extra infielder, his lack of a track record for success could be a red flag.

Overvalued: Ryan Howard

With Ryan Howard missing the early part of this season, it's hard to say how he'd be treated in fantasy drafts this year, as he has yet to be cleared for baseball activities.

He's had his share of great successes over the years and will likely be back to slugging balls out of Citizens Bank Park once he takes the field—it's just a matter of whether or not owners will play the waiting game.

Overvalued: Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran certainly faces some pressure in St. Louis this season, as he looks to make up for some of the offense that went to Los Angeles when Albert Pujols signed with the Angels.

He's gotten off to a good start in 2012, going deep three times in nine games while batting .324, but he will need to keep it up all season long if he hopes to live up to what the team has lost.

Undervalued: R.A. Dickey

It can be hard to take on a knuckle-ball pitcher sometimes, as it's very hard to discern exactly what you might get.

R.A. Dickey has had some success during his years in a Mets uniform and has gotten off to a 2-0 start this year, giving up only three total earned runs during the two starts.

Undervalued: Aramis Ramirez

Aramis Ramirez is another player who will hope to pick up some offensive slack, as the Milwaukee Brewers find themselves without Prince Fielder for the first time in nearly a decade.

He's off to a slow start in 2012, batting only .114 in nine games this season, but he's shown an ability to consistently perform and will likely rebound as he acclimates himself to life with the Brewers.

Undervalued: Justin Masterson

In a league that places a premium on strong starting pitching, Justin Masterson has shown an ability to get batters out, even though his win-loss record may not reflect it.

He won a career-high 12 games in 2011 and has a sub-4.00 career ERA during four-plus years of action.

Undervalued: Adam Lind

Though he isn't always the top name mentioned when considering value players in a fantasy draft, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind has been a productive player in recent years.

He's averaged 28 home runs and more than 90 RBI over his last three seasons in Toronto, and the 28-year-old is a great under-the-radar target to notch strong home run totals over the course of the season.

Undervalued: J.P. Arencibia

Another member of the Toronto Blue Jays who can get lost in the fold with Jose Bautista slugging balls over the fence on a nightly basis is J.P. Arencibia.

He saw his first consistent action last season, playing in 129 games for the Blue Jays and hitting 23 home runs while driving in 78 runs.

Undervalued: Carlos Lee

It's easy to get lost in the shuffle when you're playing for a cellar dweller like the Houston Astros, but Carlos Lee has managed to remain a consistent performer throughout his tenure.

His 18 home runs in 2011 were the lowest he's hit since 2006, when he only played in 62 games, though he's batting .268 this season and should provide solid numbers once again, even if he's traded midseason.

Undervalued: Mitch Moreland

After playing in limited action for the Texas Rangers in 2010, Mitch Moreland appeared in 134 games for the Rangers in 2011, batting .259 while hitting 16 home runs and driving in 51 runs.

He's gotten off to a slow start in 2012 but should be able to build off his 2011 successes and put together a strong season for the Rangers once again.

Undervalued: Mark Reynolds

Baltimore Orioles infielder Mark Reynolds will never be mistaken for a hitter that has a high average, but his power numbers speak for themselves.

In his first five seasons in the league, Reynolds has averaged 32 home runs and better than 85 RBI per season, something that he'll likely keep up once again in 2012.

Undervalued: Francisco Liriano

Francisco Liriano is certainly one of the more infuriating figures the Minnesota Twins have seen on their roster in recent years.

He's shown signs of brilliance, though his mind always seems to get in the way, as he often appears rattled and unable to handle high-pressure situations.

Should he take a contract year for what it is, you'd have to think Liriano could put together a strong season and prove just what he's made of.

Undervalued: Mark Trumbo

In an offense that boasts Albert Pujols, it's easy to get overlooked, but Mark Trumbo has proven that he has plenty of pop in his bat and shouldn't be forgotten.

He went deep 29 times in 2011, finishing second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting and should once again be a threat throughout the 2012 season in Los Angeles.

Undervalued: Dexter Fowler

In three seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Dexter Fowler has shown relative amounts of consistency but hasn't quite gotten over the hump that would lead him to a higher level.

He's a multi-threat player, and at just 26 certainly has his best days ahead of him—2012 could very well be a breakout season for Fowler.

Undervalued: Jayson Werth

Jayson Werth was disappointing by many standards in 2011 after signing a huge contract coming away from some successful years with the Philadelphia Phillies.

While last season may be a red flag for some fantasy owners, a renewed sense of confidence in Washington could go a long way to returning Werth to his previous form.

Undervalued: Delmon Young

Delmon Young struggled to live up to expectations in Minnesota after being traded to the Twins from the Tampa Bay Rays, where he was a top overall pick.

He found a renewed sense of confidence after being traded to the Detroit Tigers last season, performing admirably during the postseason.

With this being a big year for Young as he prepares to enter free agency, he has every reason to perform up to the highest level.

Undervalued: Jeff Francouer

Playing in his first season in Kansas City last year, Jeff Francouer managed to put together a strong campaign throughout the year, batting .285 in more than 150 games and driving in nearly 90 runs.

Undervalued: Chris Sale

After a virtually non-existent minor league career, Chris Sale was fast-tracked to the majors and immediately showed signs that he'll be a great pitcher.

He didn't make any starts last season but appears to have things figured out this season, with a 1-1 record and 3.09 ERA through his first two starts.

Undervalued: Lance Berkman

Lance Berkman surpassed many expectations in St. Louis in 2011, notching his highest home-run total since 2007, as he went deep 31 times in 145 games.

With Albert Pujols out of the picture in St. Louis, he'll be counted on for much of the same in 2012.

Undervalued: Frank Francisco

Though he's only once saved more than 20 games in a season, Frank Francisco has always been a reliable late-inning option for the teams he's played for, and he's shown much of the same early on with the New York Mets in 2012.

In four innings this season, Francisco has saved three games, allowing only three total hits and striking out seven batters.

Undervalued: Marco Scutaro

The Colorado Rockies are hoping that Marco Scutaro can continue his track record of consistency in an effort to help the team get over the hump in the NL West.

Scutaro is coming off a career-high .299 batting season in 2011 in which he notched 118 hits and 54 RBI while drawing 38 walks.

Undervalued: Jemile Weeks

Jemile may not be the most well known of the Weeks brothers, but he could very well provide just as much value to a fantasy owner.

In nearly 100 games in 2011, Weeks batted .303, stealing 23 bases in 33 attempts and garnering a .340 on-base percentage.

Undervalued: Marlon Byrd

Playing in what could be his final season with the Chicago Cubs, Marlon Byrd will set out to build on the .279 batting average he's garnered in his two seasons with the Cubs, averaging more than 40 extra-base hits each season.

With the possibility of being moved before this year's trade deadline, Byrd could be taking every at-bat as a bit of an audition for his next home.

Undervalued: Ryan Doumit

The Minnesota Twins have a very well-paid catcher on their roster in Joe Mauer, but with his recent health concerns, you would have to believe the newly signed Ryan Doumit will be seeing plenty of action in 2012.

He's provided much-needed stability in the backup catcher role, and with the ability to play at first base and in the outfield, he shouldn't be spending many days on the bench.

Undervalued: Brandon Morrow

With the Toronto Blue Jays continually looking to upgrade their starting rotation, Brandon Morrow could do himself many favors in establishing himself as a reliable starter for the team's rotation.

He's won 10 games in each of the past two seasons and has pitched well in his first two outings this year, though he doesn't yet have a decision.

Undervalued: Emilio Bonafacio

Emilio Bonifacio saw his most consistent action in 2011, as he played in more than 150 games for the Miami Marlins, batting a career-high .296 and stealing 40 bases in 51 attempts.

He's off to a strong start in 2012 and will play a big role in helping the Miami Marlins live up to the lofty expectations in their new confines.

Undervalued: Corey Hart

As mentioned earlier, the Milwaukee Brewers will be counting on their existing players even more in 2012 as they move past the Prince Fielder era and look to once again reach the postseason.

Corey Hart will be a major player in that success, as he's hit at least 25 home runs in each of the past two seasons and has seen his batting average climb each of the past few seasons.

Undervalued: Colby Lewis

The Texas Rangers did replace the void C.J. Wilson left behind with Yu Darvish, but Colby Lewis is still in a Rangers uniform and will still need to contribute if the team expects to make another World Series appearance.

In his past two seasons with the Rangers, Lewis has won 26 games in 64 starts, striking out better than eight batters per nine innings.

He's made two starts thus far this season, posting a 1-0 record while allowing only two earned runs in 13 innings.