For a closer who finished 2011 by converting 17 out of 19 save situations, while carrying a 1.02 WHIP and 2.30 ERA, Guerra isn't feeling the love. 

A respectable sample size of fantasy pundits are overlooking the incumbent and craving Kenley Jansen. The justification for this lies in the sabermetric weeds. Jansen finished with 3.69 K/BB and 16.10 K/9 rate in 2011. Chicks dig the long ball; stat guys love those numbers from a relief pitcher. Still, I believe Guerra’s job security is strong as long as he doesn’t struggle early.  - Ryan Fowler

 

Here’s a guy who hung with names like Verlander, Kershaw, Kennedy and Holland as the league leaders in wins after the 2011 All-Star Break. Bumgarner finished the second half with nine wins along with a low WHIP and ERA. He could emerge as a solid SP2 this season. - Ryan Fowler
 

It may be for only one year, but Gordon is signed and sealed as a member of the Royals. Now the only question is can he deliver again?

Gordon set career highs for batting average, homers, RBIs, runs scored (101) and stolen bases (17) last season. He finished 10th in the American League in hitting and tied for sixth in the majors in doubles and extra-base hits (72).

The only other players with at least a .300 average, 45 doubles and 20 homers were Miguel Cabrera, Jacoby Ellsbury, Adrian Gonzalez and Robinson Cano.

From Detroit to Florida to San Diego, the first few years of Maybin’s career were filled with promise, but few results. Perhaps the second half of the 2011 season was a sign of positive production from the Padres’ 24-year-old centerfielder. 

He led all of baseball with 28 steals after the All-Star break (CS – 6) and boosted his batting average nearly ten points. Granted, he plays half a season in the vast PETCO Park, but with Carlos Quentin, a solid gap hitter, behind him, Maybin could cross home a few more times in 2012. - Ryan Fowler
 

Despite limited power numbers (23 doubles / six HR / 46 RBI), the Angels third baseman was second in on-base percentage among qualified third baseman (.361) and finished with a .288 batting average (he hit .299 after the All-Star break last season). 

In 2009, his best season, Callaspo hit .300 with 11 home runs, 73 RBI and 79 runs with the Royals. So, the 28-year-old’s (turns 29 in mid-April) ceiling is a tad higher than his 2011 production would indicate.  - Ryan Fowler

 

Gordon finished with a .304 batting average, 34 runs and 24 stolen bases for the Dodgers. Prior to his June call-up, he hit .333 with 51 runs and 30 stolen bases in 70 games at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Gordon enjoyed a strong September to wrap up last season with a .372 BA, 21 runs and 12 SBs. - Ryan Fowler

 

You have Robinson Cano, Dustin Pedroia and, depending on your point of view, Ian Kinsler at the top. After that trio, second base fantasy assets fall off a Wiley E. Coyote-approved cliff. No need to panic, rush and reach for one. Weeks will be there.

The A’s speedster led all second basemen in steals the second half of last season (15, CS 8) and carried a .310 batting average mid-July through the end of September. - Ryan Fowler

He actually skipped playing ball at the Triple-A level before his big league call up in 2011. At Double-A Mobile he pounded the crud out of the ball to the tune of .306 with 30 home runs, 84 runs, 94 RBI and an OPS of 1.061.

For those concerned about his .250 BA in 156 regular season at-bats, fear not. He also finished with eight home runs, 28 runs and 26 RBI.  - Ryan Fowler

After spending time in the Texas and Pacific Coast Leagues, Perez was called up in August and performed well for owners who snatched him off the waiver wire. He hit .331 with 20 runs, 21 RBI and three home runs in 148 at bats. For those ready to sacrifice home runs for batting average, owners should take a look at Perez in 2012.  Update 3/16: knee surgery - out 3 months - Ryan Fowler
 

The following nine baseball players are not yet first round locks or household names and could easily fall to the middle and later rounds of your fantasy baseball draft, but they still possess potential value. In the ever-evolving, educated guessing-game that is fantasy baseball, right now is when you peek behind the curtain and gain an advantage with my 2012 sleeper list or as I like to refer to them, my Defined 9. – Ryan Fowler