Who are your "Must Have" Players for 2008?

[Yoda]

Miguel Cabrera: he's going to be phenomenal now that he has a real lineup behind him.

I think moving to AL might off set the lineup but since he is much more mature now, he may finally take off.

[Ender]

Dana Eveland, my sleeper for the year.

Dana Eveland is my eater of the year! Maybe if he came to spring training having lost 40 lbs I could agree.

[moochman]

Miguel Cabrera: he's going to be phenomenal now that he has a real lineup behind him.

I think moving to AL might off set the lineup but since he is much more mature now, he may finally take off.

The trouble with MCab as a must have is that you have to be in the right slot to be able to take him. I am seriously thinking of him as a 4-7th pick so drafting him will be out of my hands in all likelyhood. I don't see how he couldn't be a lock for 320, 30+HRs, 110 Runs, and 130 RBIs.

[Ender]

I'm not sure I'd say a lock for .320. Florida seems to be a pretty good average hitters park and the AL is tougher in general. If any of his stats are going to slip a little bit it is going to be AVG. AVG is also a stat that doesn't generally age well, most players peak in it at younger ages.

I like Cabrera in the mid to late first round myself. He is an extremely safe pick with even more upside given the lineup and his age, especially if he shows up to spring training in better shape. He could easily be a stud in 4 stats with that lineup and a small power breakout which could still be coming.

[fantasybaseballfan1]

I don't have any must have guys early in the draft because there isn't a guaranteed way to get most of them without reaching. Personally, looking at the rankings up on ESPN I'd be glad to get a few guys every round but the guys who will 95% be on my team are; Josh Fields, Zach Grienke, Tad Iguchi, Wandy Rodriguez, and one or two deep speed sleepers.

[Matthias]

Miguel Cabrera: he's going to be phenomenal now that he has a real lineup behind him.

I think moving to AL might off set the lineup but since he is much more mature now, he may finally take off.

The trouble with MCab as a must have is that you have to be in the right slot to be able to take him. I am seriously thinking of him as a 4-7th pick so drafting him will be out of my hands in all likelyhood. I don't see how he couldn't be a lock for 320, 30+HRs, 110 Runs, and 130 RBIs.

I would probably take Cabrera at 4 or 5. My main league is auction, though, so you can control getting him if you want him. At anything less than $40, I'll be buying.

As far as AVG being a youth stat... he's still only 24, turning 25 in April. How young were you thinking is the peak age?

[J.C.Fighter]

My must haves so far are

Victor Martinez
Corey Hart
James Loney
Chad Billingsley
Yovani Gallardo
Chase Utley ( if I can't snag him ,i 'll get Cano Later)

Too many "must haves". To get all these guys, you'd probably have to reach on a few hurting the overall value of your team.

Well, if it comes down to reaching for these players, that's what I'll do.

[NZ Eff]

Last season I actively targeted Fielder at 1B in the 4th or 5th round. I was positive he'd put up stronger value than that and with my conservative projections had him as a late 2nd round, early 3rd round value. I went so far as skipping on other 1B because I was banking on Fielder and I got him in most of my leagues. To me he was a 'must have' but I wasn't going to go pick him in the 3rd round because that isn't a value pick anymore.

You conservatively projected Fielder as a late 2nd / early 3rd round value and he was a "must have" but you weren't going to pick him in the 3rd round. WTF

[rookies and cream]

My must haves so far are

Victor Martinez
Corey Hart
James Loney
Chad Billingsley
Yovani Gallardo
Chase Utley ( if I can't snag him ,i 'll get Cano Later)

Too many "must haves". To get all these guys, you'd probably have to reach on a few hurting the overall value of your team.

Well, if it comes down to reaching for these players, that's what I'll do.

Well then, depending on your league format, be prepared to reach for:

VMart in the early 3rd
Hart in the 4th
Loney in the 10th
Billingsley in the 9th
Gallardo in the 7th/8th

These are the earliest I've seen these guys go...

[colt4523]

I like the mention of Billingsley and Wainright...I think both will outpitch their draft slots.

Weeks also is someone I'm hoping to end up with in the middle rounds.

Another guy that I'm certain to get in all my leagues is Nate McLouth. .270-.350.-.440 with 18+ homers and 35+ SBs.

What's McLouth playing time going to be like this year. I thought he did great last year but was platooned way too much.