Today's Fantasy Rx

AL Designated Hitters

Quick Key to the tables:
AB = At-bats.  H = Hits.  BA = Batting Average.  HR= Home Runs.
RBI = Runs Batted In.  SB = Stolen Bases.  R = Runs.  B = Bats.  T = Throws.
Pos = Position qualification based on 20 appearances or max. # of games in 2003.
2003 Age = Player's Age as of October 1, 2003.
4x4 = BA, HR, RBI, and SB in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
5x5 = BA, HR, RBI, SB, and R in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
DV = Draft Value (The price a player earned under a 70/30 hitting/pitching split).
AV = Actual Value (The price a player earned under a 50/50 hitting/pitching split).
Rotohelp = 2003 Rotohelp Predicted Draft Value.
LABR/Tout = 2003 Expert League prices; LABR for 4x4. Tout Wars for 5x5.

Average league worst BA, ERA, and WHIP based on data compiled from TQ Stats.

Players are ranked in order from the highest draft value in a 4x4 league to the lowest. As the majority of fantasy leagues allow you to keep anyone traded to the other league, all players are listed in the league where they began the season.

1.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Edgar Martinez		497	146	.294	24	98	0	72	D
SEA Mariners		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:R    T:R	4x4:	19		14		14		12
2003 Age: 40	5x5:	19		14		14		14

Edgar remains one of the unqualified offensive stars of the game as he continues to demonstrate power and plate discipline. Thankfully he'll return for another season despite turning 41 last Friday, and with essentially no erosion in his contact or walk rates, only a mild decrease in his power potential, and a career-best 4.32 #P/PA, he will produce when in the lineup. Now his perpetual health problems suggest he won't see more than 450 at-bats at best, but even though you should stop bidding in the mid-teens thanks to his falling power and unimpressive second half, only injury should keep him from approaching $20.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Very few solid offensive players qualified solely at DH for the 2004 season. Ignoring the youngsters who should qualify elsewhere almost as soon as they return to the majors, the four key players here are Edgar, Phelps, Fullmer, and Grieve. Edgar should post similar numbers if he remains healthy, however both Phelps and Fullmer should step forward significantly if they also avoid injury. Either player could reach $30 given their respective team's solid lineups and hitter-friendly home parks.

Grieve looks like an obvious sleeper as he should spend the first four months of the year starting for Milwaukee before they deal him for prospects in July. Don't gamble more than a few bucks on him since you only can draft him at UT in standard NL-only leagues and he easily could bomb, thereby wrecking your BA. However, he still owns sufficient skills to warrant the attention of every owner on draft day, and a rebound to near $20 is not out of the question.