Pujols

[Ender]

His peripheral stats took a complete nose dive the past 2 years so I really don't expect him to return to top 5 pick territory. Still a viable 1st round guy.

They are also starting to test for HGH and if I had to pick one player in all of baseball that I'd be worried about from that, it is him.

[lastingsgriller]

Pujols has been so good since his first MLB at-bat that I doubt he is a substance user. Just too consistent for too long. While that is good news, there is bad news to go with it. No substance use means he should have a traditional end of career decline, which appears to have started over the past few years.

Albert is on the decline. But, I suppose that, in itself, doesn't mean he can't crank out one more monster year.

[Kimbos Beard]

Here is another vote for Pujols being on the decline. There are a couple of other threads which really have some good discussion on pujols declining.

[oscar15]

There are some warning signs that his best years are behind him, but tough to argue with the logic.

I'm taking Cabrera and Braun over him ...maybe Cano.

[Slayer Rules]

There are some warning signs that his best years are behind him, but tough to argue with the logic.

I'm taking Cabrera and Braun over him ...maybe Cano.

What about Trout

[oscar15]

There are some warning signs that his best years are behind him, but tough to argue with the logic.

I'm taking Cabrera and Braun over him ...maybe Cano.

What about Trout

Trout is a special talent, no doubt about it; but I need more than one year to take him in the top five. He is late first round in a 12 team league for me. Which means, I will not own him this year.

[Ender]

Pujols is #11 on my draft sheet but I wouldn't pick Posey over him so he is really #10 and there are a couple other names I'm not sure I would go by the sheet over the upside with him. At 1B I'd much rather have Votto and I'd just slightly rather have Fielder who is safer imo.

[GiantsFan14]

I've got him ranked 5th. He bounced back pretty well after that horrendous start last year. I think he's still got another big year in him.

[ayebatter]

I've got him ranked 5th. He bounced back pretty well after that horrendous start last year. I think he's still got another big year in him.

This ..........but maybe 6th

[Slayer Rules]

Pujols is #11 on my draft sheet but I wouldn't pick Posey over him so he is really #10 and there are a couple other names I'm not sure I would go by the sheet over the upside with him. At 1B I'd much rather have Votto and I'd just slightly rather have Fielder who is safer imo.

Yeah this is my sense on Pujols - he's a bit of a conundrum for those of us drafting with a #4/#5 slot in a 12-teamer. I've seen ranks in the top 5 and also the bottom 5 of that first rd.

When you look at the stats Trout brings to the table, even factoring in some amount of regression, my gut says he's the pick at #4 over Pujols or Votto. I'd rather have either Pujols or Votto over Cano, so it's that trio of players from which I'll have to decide .

Pujols vs Votto is an interesting breakdown. You'd have to take a leap of faith with Pujols that he'll post a better season than last year and ignore what appears to be inevitable career decline with age. Still - he switched leagues, so his slow start wasn't shocking. The depth of his slow start was the shocking part.

Both of them are in potent lineups - not sure yet how I'd call that.