First of all, they are going to have to get even better pitching than last year. The Rays are in the same division with the retooled and powerful New York Yankees, as well as the Boston Red Sox. Additionally, the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are no pushovers anymore as both have strengthened their chances. The competition is the one thing that has changed for the Rays, and they must improve with it.

The Rays are largely the same team that took the field last year, with one important addition of note. They now have slugger Pat Burrell to take over the DH duties and his power and presence should pay dividends. The one catch with Burrell is that he strikes out far too often, and he does not hit for any average at all to speak of. What Burrell does do, however, is hit Home Runs and drive home runners. The slugger will be a potent force for the Rays in the 2009 season.

Carl Crawford is another key ingredient for the Rays. He has just not been the same the last couple of years, and the Rays could really use him getting back to the player he was a couple years ago. He still has the speed, and gets the stolen bases, but he has the talent to be so much more. You have to know that Crawford is due to break out soon. He is just too talented not to.

Evan Longoria provided one of the more memorable rookie seasons in MLB history last year, and this year he will need to avoid the sophomore slump. This year will be the year that he might struggle if he is going to. With the natural ability he possesses, this is highly unlikely. I expect that Longoria will be even better with Burrell in the lineup. Also the loss of Rocco Baldelli will demand that Longoria produce even more. Baldelli was hurt a lot, but when he was in he was a force to be sure.

The Rays are in prime position to repeat last seasons World Series run, and if the cards fall right, they could even improve and win it. The keys are going to be pitching, and the continued growth of their young players. If these things come together, the Rays might find themselves back in the Fall Classic and continuing their rise to the top of the baseball world.

Many do not realize the types of numbers that Ibanez has put up over the last several years. Consider that last season he hit .293 with 23 homers, and 110 RBIs even in an offense that struggled to score. Additionally, he has hit over 100 RBIs in three straight seasons. He has also topped 20 homers in four straight seasons. Not bad for a guy that the baseball world has largely ignored. Especially when you consider his power numbers should increase after leaving huge Safeco Field for the tiny Citizens Bank Park in Philly.

Though Ibanez is about to turn 37 this season, the Phillies do not expect that Ibanez will miss a beat in reaching these numbers. History would be on their side of the argument as well, as Ibanez is the picture of production over his career. The 6-2 Ibanez is in fantastic shape, and still gets to all the balls in the outfield that he should. With the adventure that was Pat Burrell in left field being the standard that he will be held to, Ibanez should be a huge upgrade defensively.

Offensively, Burrell was pretty much a one trick pony. He would knock the cover off the ball, and was a clutch player at times, but he was not exactly a good at bat the majority of the time. Ibanez should provide even better protection for Utley and Howard in the middle of the lineup. He is the perfect compliment to an offense that many might consider….perfect.

Regardless of how the Burrell loss plays out, Ibanez will be an asset to this Philly ball club. He is not only a fantastic fielder and batter, but a wonderful influence in the club house. In all the years he has been in the league, Ibanez has never been a problem. Philly could use a few of these types in the dugout, and it should only enhance a team that is ready to defend the Title.

Griffey Jr. leads the Mariners franchise in a ton of offensive categories, and should be a sure fire first ballot Hall of Famer. The boost that this signing gives both the Mariners and Griffey Jr. is without measure as it revitalizes both. Griffey Jr. has been largely injured over the past decade, and even had off season knee surgery this past year. Griffey did pass a physical to cement the deal however, and seems to be healthier than he has been in years.

Griffey left Seattle under very tense circumstances when he pushed to leave. Though their were hard feelings back then, they are not seen in the happy faces around Seattle today. The fans never stopped their love affair with the exciting ball player, and now they are sure to flock to the stadium to see their hero close out the twilight of his fantastic career.

Griffey Jr. has always been close to the Mariners President Chuck Armstrong, and that was surely a key component to his resigning with Seattle over Atlanta. Also, he spent his best years in Seattle and got his MLB start there. Having his career come full circle in this way is a dream situation for any ballplayer.

The Mariners are a team that was in severe need of saving. They were the first 100+million payroll ball club to lose 100 games and the atmosphere of losing has been thick for several years now. The return of Griffey should energize not only the ball club, but the ticket sales. The Mariners needed some good news.

They got it in the return of their hero….Ken Griffey Jr.

Even with hot young talents starting to work their way into the big leagues, the upper echelon of the fantasy baseball world for catchers has not changed very much. There is still a clear line between the haves and the have nots, and the names are pretty much a familiar bunch.
Here are the top five catchers to draft in fantasy baseball and why they are among the best:

1. Joe Mauer – 2008 saw a return to the upper echelon among catchers for Mauer due in large part to the left handed stroke that he is known for. Mauer scorched his way through the season with a sweet .328 average in a year when he stayed healthy all season. His 80+ RBI total marked a return to the 2006 year that put him on the map in the first place as well. As a bonus, Mauer contributed 98 runs scored as well. When healthy, Mauer is the best hitting catcher in the game, bar none. Mauer is healthy going into 2009 and should be near the top of most draft lists at the catcher position.

2. Geovany Soto – Soto is a bonafide superstar in the making in the windy city, and his NL Rookie of the Year Award proves it. He burst onto the scene and never really let up in 2008. The final tally is impressive to be sure. He hit 23 homers and knocked home 86 RBIs for the Cubs, and did so while hitting a respectable .285. The most impressive part of these numbers is the fact that they were produced by a rookie player. Expect nothing but improvements across the board for Soto in 2009.

3. Russell Martin – Martin brings what very few catchers actually can. Speed. That is the big calling card for Martin, but he is also quite beneficial in other categories as well. 2008 saw him steal 18 bases, score 87 runs, hit 13 homers, and drive in 69 runners. Not bad numbers across the board though his homer total was a bit lower than some fantasy owners had hoped. Martin also hit only .280 last season which might bring his value down a bit. Take advantage of that fact and try to steal him at your draft.

4. Brian McCann – McCann is the wildcard in the bunch as he could very well end up near the top of the bunch. Many people do not realize just how good his numbers were in 2008. Not only did he hit .300, but he also hit 23 long balls, drove in 89 runs, and even threw in 5 steals for good measure. He does not score a ton of runs, but that may change with an improved lineup this year. As he continues his steady growth, McCann may just end up as the fantasy catcher everybody wants to have on their team. As it is now, he is among those potential catchers.

5. Victor Martinez – 2008 was a complete abberation for the Indians and Martinez. This guy is a machine at the plate that is capable of huge numbers as shown in 2007. 2008 was spent recovering from injuries and Martinez never even got started. This makes Martinez the most likely candidate to rebound huge this season as he is still in his prime. The end of last season saw his skills coming back, and he should be quite a bargain on most draft boards this year.