Opinion

Few positions in fantasy baseball can compete with the overall depth of talent you can find at first base. Sluggers. Guys who hit for average. Early-round fantasy studs that you can anchor your squad around.

My early 2011 fantasy first baseman rankings include:

1. Albert Pujols, STL

No surprise here. Pujols has been the cream of the crop for quite some time and there’s no reason to doubt he’ll continue in this role, despite the contract negotiations that seem to be going nowhere.

Jim Thome came to an agreement to return to the Minnesota Twins for another season, Friday. The slugger agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract which is double what he made in his first season with Minnesota.

The Kansas City Royals made some surprising news earlier today as they announced the signing of free agent and former Colorado Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis.

On one side, the move makes sense because KC needs immediate help in their starting rotation, after losing former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke via trade and not resigning veteran Brian Bannister for next season.

With Chris Coghlan and his repaired knee heading into new territory in center field, the Florida Marlins have made their move in assuring they will have a backup plan in case it doesn't pan out.

The Marlins have signed outfielder DeWayne Wise to a minor league contract.

There has been very little to complain about during a monumental offseason for the Boston Red Sox. A team starving for interesting personalities and, more importantly, improved talent went out and landed a coveted slugger in Adrian Gonzalez and perhaps the best positional player on the free agent market in Carl Crawford. They are uniquely positioned for a major bounce-back season.

Now that the Yankees have finally made a big move this offseason, adding reliever Rafael Soriano as the main setup man for closer Mariano Rivera with a three-year, $35 million deal, it takes some of the focus off of the weak starting rotation.

The Yankees made their first "big splash" in the free agent market yesterday, signing former Rays' closer Rafael Soriano to a three year deal worth $35 million, which does include an opt out clause after each of the first two seasons.

The New York Yankees, asleep for much of baseball's offseason, have finally made a big move, signing closer Rafael Soriano to a three-year, $35 million deal. Soriano, 31, will serve as the setup man to current Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, and could also replace Rivera should he retire at the end of his current two-year contract.

The 8th and 9th innings are once again in good hands at Yankee Stadium. While the starting rotation may still be a question mark, the bullpen is taking shape.

New York has agreed to sign reliever Rafael Soriano to a three year deal worth $35 million. Soriano was the best relief pitcher on the market this offseason. Last year, the 31-year-old righty led the American League with 45 saves. He finished the year with a 1.73 ERA and .802 WHIP. Soriano struck out 57 batters in 62 1/3 innings as the closer for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Eric Chavez is nowhere near the player he was in his heyday with the Oakland Athletics, but this former Gold Glover from Cali could add the “intangibles” to a young Toronto Blue Jays infield. 

Reports are surfacing that Chavez has been working out in Arizona and his health appears to be as good as it has been in years.