Projected lineup
1. RF: Ichiro Suzuki
2. 3B: Chone Figgins
3. CF: Franklin Gutierrez
4. DH: Jack Cust
5. 1B: Justin Smoak
6. C: Miguel Olivo
7. LF: Michael Saunders
8. SS: Jack Wilson
9. 2B: Brendan Ryan
Projected rotation
1. SP: Felix Hernandez
2. SP: Jason Vargas
3. SP: Doug Fister
4. SP: Erik Bedard
5. SP: Michael Pineda
CL: Brandon League/David Aardsma
Five tips
• Smoak has a very good eye, solid power, and a batting average that is almost certain to improve after some bad BABIP luck last season. Even while playing home games in Seattle, he should hit 20 home runs in 2011.
• Gutierrez’s 12 homers and 25 steals in 2010 looked great from a fantasy perspective, but his low walks and high strikeouts mean that his batting average will always be risky. His career mark of .261 isn’t a killer, but it isn’t helpful, either. Gutierrez is a fourth outfielder in standard leagues.
• Olivo takes his double-digit home-run power from Colorado to ... Seattle? Uh-oh. Look for another batting average dip, and don’t draft him as anything more than a low-end No. 2 catcher in standard leagues.
• Roy Halladay is the only starter ranked ahead of Hernandez. I’ve got "The King" ranked 28th overall, since I don’t like drafting pitchers early. In most drafts, he’ll probably be gone by then.
• Aardsma (hip) hasn’t thrown off a mound and is expected to miss at least a month. Don’t count on him.
Plus:
• Odd man out: Newcomer Adam Kennedy could start at second base with Ryan moving to shortstop and Wilson to the bench. But none of those three options should matter to standard leaguers. Designated hitter/outfielder Milton Bradley’s role is uncertain. But if healthy, he could eat into Saunders’ playing time.
• Top prospects: Pineda appears likely to earn a rotation slot, and he’s got a big future. Second baseman Dustin Ackley has been tabbed by some as a future batting champ, and he should be ready by midseason. Problem is, he projects as a better real player than fantasy player. Not much power, OK speed ... eh.
• Backup closer: Until Aardsma is ready, League should get the save chances. After Aardsma returns (if he returns), League will be the obvious Plan B in the Mariners’ bullpen. The M’s reportedly explored trading Aardsma during the offseason. Since they should be pretty bad again, that situation could resurface at some point. If you’re in a league deep enough to call for saves speculation, League is very interesting.
