In preparation for our early mock draft, we go position-by-position with some preliminary rankings for Draft Day 2009. Our rankings are based on position eligibility for next season, which requires 20 games at a position to be eligible. If a player has not played 20 games, his primary position will be defined as what position he has played the most games at -- unless it is a current AL player that will be classified as DH-only.
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| RK | Player | TM | The thinking is as follows … |
| 1 | David Ortiz | BOS | Wrist and age slowed him down some, so you can't consider in Round 1 or 2. |
| 2 | Jim Thome | CHW | Power remains useful in Fantasy, but he is nothing more than a latter-rounder. |
| 3 | Travis Hafner | CLE | Big-time injury-risk sleeper could be valuable if he showed more down stretch. |
| 4 | Rocco Baldelli | TB | They didn't really unleash him, but he could prove to be a great sleeper in '09. |
| 5 | Gary Sheffield | DET | Old man can still mash in spurts, but he likely has worn out his welcome. |
| 6 | Kila Ka'aihue | KC | Had Ryan Shealy not gotten hot, we might have gotten a better look at Kila. |
| 7 | Frank Thomas | OAK | Age makes it likely you can only consider him in AL formats next spring. |
| 8 | Cliff Floyd | TB | He is nothing more than a platoon DH at this point in his career. |
| 9 | Jeff Larish | DET | There is power potential here, but lack of position yet makes him a bit low end. |
| 10 | Randy Ruiz | MIN | Late-bloomer has a decent bat, but won't get enough at-bats at this point. |
| 11 | Matt Stairs | PHI | It's likely he slots as a DH, but he needs one outfield game for eligibility. |
| 12 | Oscar Salazar | BAL | Has a great bat and should be a spring slugging star, but he is a roster long shot. |
| 13 | Jose Vidro | SEA | He looks like he is done being a trustworthy major leaguer. Ignore him at this point. |
| 14 | Tug Hulett | SEA | There is pop in his bat, but he is blocked in Seattle at second behind Jose Lopez. |
| 15 | Jason Bourgeois | CHW | Reserve infielder could get eligibility other than DH in the final days of the season. |
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