Sleepers

Toward the end of the last season I highlighted some 2nd half studs to keep an eye on for 2009 so you can make your own sleeper list. We'll here we are on the eve of the 2009 season and it's time to review the list and see who's still worthy of sleeper status. I'll go position by position and highlight one or two guys to move up your draft board.

C - Dioner Navarro TBY, Pablo Sandavol SF - Both are still sleepers in my book and I love gambling on sleepers at the catcher position. I like Sandavol's upside a bit more, plus he could have multi-position eligibility.

1b/3b/CI - Chris Davis TEX, Ian Stewart COL, Billy Butler KC - Davis is probably one of the hottest names on this list, so he might cost you more than he's worth. I wouldn't hesitate to reach for him though. Just look what another young slugger (Josh Hamilton) did in TEX last year. Stewart and Butler are both solid sleepers that can be had later in the draft. I like Stewart over Butler if you're looking for a late round flyer.

2b/SS/MI - Alexei Ramirez CWS, Mike Aviles KC, Jed Lowrie BOS - Ramirez is another hot name this spring who might come at a high cost. He's been compared to a young Soriano at 2b and could have SS eligibility soon. I wouldn't hesitate to make him your starting MI. Aviles and Lowrie have pretty good upside and are both worthy MIs as well.

OF - Fred Lewis SF, Adam Lind TOR, Adam Jones BAL, Elijah Dukes WAS, Chris Dickerson CIN - Quite a few options in the OF and I'm sure there are many more. These are the guys who showed me something last year and have the potential to take the next step ala Nate McLouth this season. Of these guys, I like Adam Jones the most. He's going to be the starter and have every opportunity to play. Lind and Dukes come in next on potential, while Lewis and Dickerson flashed some skills last summer, but the jury is still out on them.

SP - Manny Parra MIL, Jonathan Sanchez SF, Max Scherzer ARI - Again, I'm sure there are a ton more names that could go on this list, but these guys again showed enough last year to warrant sleeper status. Scherzer has the pedigree, but may not have the opportunity or be healthy enough to produce right away. Parra could be worth a spot, but my vote goes to Sanchez. I love his strike out potential and as Tim Lincecum has shown, you can win in SF.

RP - Jonathan Broxton LAD, Chris Perez STL, Jensen Lewis CLE - It seems like this year there are more potential closers to choose from than ever. These three youngsters got their shot last year and for the most part performed well. Lewis will most likely be setting up Kerry Wood this year, but he still holds some value because of his ratios and K's. Perez is still young and it doesn't sound like LaRussa has complete confidence in him as the main man. Broxton is hands down the best option of this bunch. He's been an excellent set up man for a few years and now he gets his chance to shine. Grab him with confidence as your #2 closer.

Not all of these guys will pan out this year, but I'm betting on more than a few to break out in a major way, just like the McLouths, Hamiltons and Kinslers of last year. Good luck.