Fantasy Baseball 2012: 15 Stars to Think Twice About Before Drafting Early

Less than two months after watching one of the most entertaining World Series ever, we're now only 104 days from 2012 Opening Day.

With free-agency signings in full swing and trades being made left and right, teams are finally starting to work towards finalizing their potential rosters.

As that side of things works itself out, fantasy owners can start to plot out their attack on next season.

While there are seemingly a number of locks atop the player rankings, some high-profile players raise red flags.

Be it due to injury, inconsistency or other less-than-ideal situations, here are some players to think twice about before snagging too early.

Andre Ethier

Since a 100 RBI season in 2009 in which he played in 160 games, Andre Ethier has averaged only 72 RBI per season and has played in fewer than 140 games per year.

Ethier has shown that he's a streaky hitter—he's seen long hit streaks, but also prolonged droughts that seem to last even longer.

Joe Nathan

During his prime with the Minnesota Twins, Joe Nathan was a solid closer who effectively shut the door on opposing teams on a nightly basis.

After Tommy John surgery kept him out of the 2010 season, he struggled in 2011. With a move away from such a pitcher-friendly ballpark in 2012, things won't get any easier.

Adam Dunn

Adam Dunn was supposed to be a home-run-hitting machine at U.S. Cellular Field in 2011. He went deep exactly 11 times and batted a dismal .159, a far cry from the 38 home run/104 RBI effort he put forth in 2010.

It's almost impossible for him not to improve in 2012, but if Dunn isn't able to regain confidence in his swing, he may be in for some of the same struggles.

Josh Johnson

There's no doubt that Josh Johnson is one of the best young pitchers in the league, but seeing injury limit his 2011 season to nine starts may be enough to put a number of other pitchers ahead of him.

Chase Utley

After batting .298 and playing in an average of 145 games a season from 2005 to 2010, Chase Utley saw a drop in production across the board.

His average dropped to .259, while his slugging and on-base percentage were also near career lows.

It's certainly possible he'll improve in 2012, but with a number of better options out there at second base, he likely won't be at the top of most peoples' lists.

Justin Morneau

When at his best, Justin Morneau is an extremely talented power hitter who can torment opposing pitchers.

Unfortunately for Morneau, he hasn't been at his best for quite some time. Concussions and neck problems have limited him to 150 games over the past two seasons, and the lingering nature of the injuries could very well cause problems in 2012 as well.

Adam Wainwright

Adam Wainwright will be an important part of the St. Louis Cardinals' 2012 season if they plan on once again making postseason play.

Having not pitched since 2010 after undergoing Tommy John surgery this past season, his production could suffer next season, despite all indications pointing towards him having full action in spring training.

Delmon Young

Delmon Young experienced a rebirth of sorts in 2011 after coming over from Minnesota, as he was an important part of the Detroit Tigers' push towards the postseason.

His three ALDS home runs certainly turned some heads, but having only once hit more than 13 home runs in a season, it shouldn't be expected that he continues to excel in 2012.

Ubaldo Jimenez

You'd think Ubaldo Jimenez would have experienced a statistical boost after being traded out of the most hitter-friendly park in baseball.

That wasn't the case, as Jimenez would go 4-4 with an ERA over 5.00. He'll still be an effective pitcher in 2012, but it's looking like his superb 2010 season may have been the exception rather than the rule.

Joe Mauer

After an impressive 2009 campaign in which Joe Mauer batted .365 and hit 28 home runs despite missing the first month of the season, he cashed in with a record payday for a catcher.

Since then, Mauer has failed to impress, as his slugging percentage dropped more than 40 points in 2010. He has since had problems staying on the field as a number of injuries have derailed his time at Target Field.

Hanley Ramirez

Hanley Ramirez came into 2011 with another year of high expectations after another solid 2010 season.

The season was an across-the-board disappointment, as he played in only 92 games due to injury and went deep only 10 times.

His displeasure with the current situation surrounding his position switch further puts his 2012 status into question.

Jayson Werth

With 2009 and 2010 (.282 BA, 64 HR, 184 RBI) as Werth's most significantly successful seasons, the Washington Nationals caused many to scratch their heads in signing Werth to a seven-year, $126 million contract.

Werth's 2011 was a season to forget as he batted .232, drove in only 58 runs and struck out a career-high 160 times.

Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez is certainly a dominant offensive player and will no doubt prove to be a valuable part of the New York Yankees in 2012.

He isn't what he once was however, with his slugging and OPS each declining every season since 2007.

Grady Sizemore

Once the staple of consistency in Cleveland, three-time All-Star Grady Sizemore has only played in 104 games since 2009 and has seen his offensive production decline dramatically as quickly as his playing time.

He's set to come back healthy in 2012 playing under a contract loaded with incentives, but having not batted over .250 in four seasons, it's hard to count on him living up to expectations.

Yu Darvish

Already considered a top-30 starting pitcher for next season, it seems like the Yu Darvish hype may be moving too quickly.

A number of pitchers have had great successes after coming over from the Pacific League, but it's not always immediate.

Darvish may very well pan out, but it seems like using an early pick on someone we've never seen play could be a risky proposition.