Fantasy Baseball: Second Base Rankings

The middle infield lacks depth when it comes to fantasy baseball picks and recommendations. Sure, there are some favorites that have emerged early in drafts. Dustin Pedroia, Chase Utley, and Ian Kinsler have been spotted in the first part of drafts, and their presence makes sense. 

Guys like Dan Uggla, Brian Roberts, and even Alexei Ramirez provide some solid upside to the position as well. There are even decent players that aren't quite getting the love they should on fantasy sites and draft boards. 

The issue is, there's also a lot of dead weight and lofty expectations that dot the position. Robinson Cano was projected as an offensive powerhouse, yet he can never seem to find his swing before June. Jeff Kent has retired. Others have lost eligibility at the position, including B.J. Upton. 

For certain, this is a tough one to decipher. Drafts I've been a part of early on have put a premium on the position strictly because of the scarcity aspect. Additionally, because of the scarcity and drop in talent, owners can get an edge by holding an elite middle infielder or two on their rosters. 

Now, that's not to say that you should drop everything to grab a Pedroia or a Kinsler or even an Utley, but doing so could give your team a boost. 

Here's how we rank them.

1. Chase Utley

2. Dustin Pedroia

3. Ian Kinsler

4. Brian Roberts

5. Brandon Phillips

6. Dan Uggla

7. Alexei Ramirez

8. Mark DeRosa

9. Jose Lopez

10. Robinson Cano

11. Mike Aviles

12. Placido Polanco

13. Orlando Hudson

14. Kelly Johnson

15. Freddy Sanchez

16. Rickie Weeks

17. Howie Kendrick

18. Akinori Iwamura

19. Kaz Matsui

20. Mark Ellis

Notes

* The first thing that might jump out to people is the value I placed on DeRosa. I think his versatility merits consideration pretty highly, as well as the fact he's in a division that's slightly more friendly to hitters in terms of ballparks. He could go .290/20/90 this season, and I wouldn't be surprised. I think his best value is at second base for owners.

* The top five on this list are certainly inside the top-50 in terms of drafting. You could flip around Uggla and Phillips. I put more of a premium on the steals I'll get from Phillips to go with 20-25 home runs as opposed to the 30 home runs from Uggla and lack of speed.

* I'll come out and say that I don't have any patience for the slow start I feel I'm going to get from Robinson Cano. There are other players that will produce just as well as Cano with a balance over the entire season.

* Mike Aviles is a victim of my man crush in this position. Aviles came on strong around June last season and helped many teams that were struggling in the middle infield. Can he do it for a full year? There is certainly a degree of risk, but I like what he brings to the table in a slightly improved Kansas City lineup.

* I can see people taking issue with my placement of Freddy Sanchez on this list as well. Fact is, Sanchez has gone from a .344 hitter in 2006 to a .271 hitter in 2008. He doesn't get on base as well as others in this category, and his power numbers have declined to boot. I'm skeptical.

* Kelly Johnson isn't a bad second baseman, but his numbers are sort of bland. He does things on average. He's the C-student of the position. You could do worse, but you could definitely do better. Look at him as a breaking point when it comes to how you look at filling an MI spot more than a second base starter.

* In contrast to Freddy Sanchez, Jose Lopez seems to get more confidence each year. With a potential move to first base in the cards, he could pick up extra eligibility as well. Lopez is being drafted very late, but this list is based on projections. If I told you he went .290/17/89 last season, it would likely shock you. Mirroring those numbers this year should put him in about this spot at the end of the season.

* From a category standpoint, as you look deeper, Rickie Weeks will give you steals, and Mark Ellis has moderate power and can provide steals. Ellis is coming off surgery and could kill your average based on the .233 number he put up last season.

* Blake Dewitt picks up second base eligibility, but that likely becomes moot based on the signing of Hudson. I like DeWitt, and you could do worse than being able to plug him into a hole at a shallow position.

* Howie Kendrick is suddenly en vogue again. There's no doubt he can hit, having posted back-to-back seasons of over .300. Whether he can stay healthy is the major question. Kendrick hasn't cracked 100 games in his three seasons to this point. He's like J.D. Drew, but no one wants to talk about it. Kendrick could wind up being a steal for some team, but this is very much a buyer beware selection.