2012 Fantasy Baseball: Top Ten Keepers

There are several months before the start of the 2012 Fantasy Baseball season, there is no reason why you should not think about which are the best players to hold onto in keeper leagues. These are the top ten keepers for the 2012 fantasy baseball season.

1. Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers)

If you though the 28 year-old was impressive with the Florida Marlins, you should take a look at his numbers since joining Detroit in 2008. He has maintained a .322 batting average with 139 homeruns and 461 runs driven in. He won the batting title in 2010 and with the now proper protection in the lineup, he is only going to get better.

2. Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals)

Perhaps it was the final year of his contract that provided Pujols the extra stress in 2010 and caused his numbers to dip slightly, He still was one of the best hitters in the game with a .29 batting average, 37 homeruns and 99 runs driven in. While some may be concerned about his age, 31 years-old, he has shown little sign of slowing down at this point in his career. The bigger question is where he will end up in 2012.

3. Jose Bautista (Toronto Blue Jays)

Prior to 2010, there is not one fantasy baseball owner who would have thought to add Bautista to their keeper league, yet alone draft in the upper rounds. Up until then he had not hit more than 16 homeruns in a season. Now in the last two seasons he has hit 97 homeruns with 232 runs driven in. The thirty-year old has found his place in the Blue Jays lineup and has shown he is solid selection to hold onto for a few more years.

4. Robinson Cano (New York Yankees)

It took Cano a few years but he final came into his own in 2009 and has not looked back. Based on his current trend, Cano has leaped to the top of the pack for second baseman in fantasy baseball leagues. Last year he scored 104 times while hitting .302 with 28 homeruns and 118 runs driven in. Cano is the perfect player to build you team around at a position that has seen past stars derailed by injuries.

5. Ryan Braun (Milwaukee Brewers)

While the Brewers may be losing Prince Fielder over the summer, there is a player in Milwaukee who needs to be added to your fantasy baseball keeper team. Braun has become a force in baseball and has become one of the more feared hitters at the age of 27. He capped off a great 2011 with a .332 batting average to go along with 109 runs scored, 33 homeruns, 111 runs driven in, and 33 stolen bases. This 30/30 man should be held onto for at least another four to five years.

6. Adrian Gonzalez (Boston Red Sox)

Gonzalez finally broke free of the hitter's graveyard in San Diego and had a chance to show fantasy baseball owners what he could do in a real park. By the end of the 2011 season he had a .338 batting average with 108 runs scored, 27 homeruns and 117 runs driven in. He even had his first 200 hit season when he recorded 213 of them. At 29 years-old, he is primed to have a few more solid seasons in Boston.

7. Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado Rockies)

When it comes to the shortstop position, fantasy baseball owners can be hard pressed to find a player who can give you four solid categories every year. This one can. While there was a slight dip in the runs scored, Tulowitzki hit 30 homeruns while driving in 105 runs to go with the .302 batting average. The Rockies are going to continue to put talent around him and he will be top tier shortstop for years to come.

8. Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Though there are problems with the Dodgers, the one bright spot for them and any fantasy baseball owner is Kemp. He hit himself into MVP consideration in 2011 thanks to his legitimate shot at a Triple Crown. His 39 homeruns and 126 runs driven in lead the NL, only to find the .324 batting average not enough to get him over the hump. At 26 years0old, Kemp is going to be one of the top picks in the 2012 drafts.

9. Justin Upton (Tampa Bay Rays)

The Rays made another run this year and found themselves in the playoffs thanks to the performance of their stars, like Upton. In his 2011 campaign, he hit .289 with 31 homeruns, 105 runs scored, 88 runs driven in and 21 stolen bases. The number are okay but what makes Upton a must as a fantasy baseball keeper is that he is only 23 years-old.

10. Hanley Ramirez (Florida Marlins)

Yes Ramirez had an off year, only playing in 92 games before he had to end his season due to an injury. Fantasy baseball owners can forget about the .243 batting average and other meager numbers. Instead remember what he brought to you in previous seasons. Ramirez is only 27 years-old and has plenty of baseball ahead of him. It would be wise to keep him now for when he bounces back to top tier form in 2012.