Nando Di Fino's 2013 Rankings Snapshot

Editor's Note: We will be providing owners three unique points of view by position this offseason. Our Scott White, Al Melchior and Nando Di Fino will each be sharing their initial views on the 2013 Fantasy Baseball season by position. Teams listed are either a player's current team or the team they ended 2012 on.

Catcher

All I keep seeing are 28 home runs in 396 at-bats for Wilin Rosario. He started just 24 games over the first two months. He's 23 years old, so I can't see him not being the starter for the Rockies. Plus, he snuck in three appearances at third and one at first last year, so there's a possibility he gets a few more at-bats in the field, as well ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia is a wild card here -- you can't argue with 25 home runs and his growth at a peak time, but with the Sox pursuing Mike Napoli and bringing in a new coaching staff, his role is a little uncertain ... Jesus Montero gets the fences moved in and a year under his belt. We could see big things from him in 2013.

Editor's note: Victor Martinez's eligibility in CBSSports.com Fantasy Baseball leagues in 2013 will be as a designated hitter and will not include catcher. However, if you're using our rankings to prepare for drafts where Martinez might be eligible at catcher, he would be the No. 7 catcher in my rankings.

Nando's 2013 Catcher Rankings
	2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank		2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank
1. Buster Posey, Giants	1	1	11. Yadier Molina, Cardinals	2	3
2. Carlos Santana, Indians	9	4	12. Ryan Doumit, Twins	10	9
3. Wilin Rosario, Rockies	5	10	13. Alex Avila, Tigers	21	20
4. Joe Mauer, Twins	3	2	14. Miguel Montero, Diamondbacks	7	6
5. Mike Napoli, Red Sox	12	17	15. Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers	11	16
6. Jesus Montero, Mariners	15	15	16. A.J. Ellis, Dodgers	18	14
7. Salvador Perez, Royals	20	21	17. J.P. Arencibia, Blue Jays	19	21
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Red Sox	13	19	18. Russell Martin, Pirates	16	13
9. Matt Wieters, Orioles	8	5	19. Carlos Ruiz, Phillies	6	8
10. Brian McCann, Braves	14	12	20. A.J. Pierzynski, Rangers	4	7

First Base

I see Albert Pujols doing what Adam Dunn did last year -- second year in the AL, adjusting to the new league -- and killing the ball... Allen Craig doesn't need to do much else to prove himself. I think 2013 is all about owners catching up to what he's been doing... I believe in Mark Trumbo -- lots of power and the ability to hit for average. Plus, he'll hopefully have a solid role heading into the season ... I want to put Freddie Freeman higher. He can take a major step forward this year with the injuries and weird eye ailment now behind him, but every time I put him up a notch, I end up sliding him back down, as I just like everyone above him a little more, for various reasons.

Nando's 2013 First Base Rankings
	2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank		2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank
1. Albert Pujols, Angels	4	4	11. Freddie Freeman, Braves	15	12
2. Prince Fielder, Tigers	3	3	12. Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks	7	11
3. Joey Votto, Reds	21	19	13. Ryan Howard, Phillies	52	68
4. Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays	2	2	14. Billy Butler, Royals	6	5
5. Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers	10	7	15. Carlos Santana, Indians	26	17
6. Mark Trumbo, Angels	13	18	16. Adam Dunn, White Sox	16	13
7. Buster Posey, Giants	5	6	17. Paul Konerko, White Sox	18	15
8. Allen Craig, Cardinals	11	16	18. Eric Hosmer, Royals	31	27
9. Mark Teixeira, Yankees	21	20	19. Chris Davis, Orioles	14	23
10. Joe Mauer, Twins	12	8	20. Ike Davis, Mets	22	21

Second Base

Jason Kipnis and Rickie Weeks, to me, are solid in the middle, offering steals, pop and the hope of some kind of average help. I see both of them improving on their 2012 numbers and I'm not scared off by Kipnis' second-half dip, especially with a shallow crop of second basemen this year... Jose Altuve's speed/power combo is underrated by Fantasy owners. He could make a nice leap in 2013 ... Ben Zobrist is better in points leagues, so bring him up a little in that format. In Roto, he just doesn't offer enough upside. He's solid, but relatively unexciting ... Dan Uggla has the ability to hit 30-35 home runs, I just hope that he figures out what dragged him down for most of the 2012 season. He seemed to show signs of life later in the season ... Dustin Ackley could put up some nice numbers as the fences move in and Seattle improves the lineup in the offseason, but not enough to elevate him into the top 10.

Nando's 2013 Second Base Rankings
	2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank		2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank
1. Robinson Cano, Yankees	1	1	11. Dan Uggla, Braves	16	13
2. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox	6	7	12. Danny Espinosa, Nationals	10	14
3. Ian Kinsler, Rangers	3	3	13. Dustin Ackley, Mariners	17	18
4. Rickie Weeks, Brewers	11	11	14. Neil Walker, Pirates	14	20
5. Jason Kipnis, Indians	4	6	15. Omar Infante, Tigers	12	15
6. Aaron Hill, Diamondbacks	2	2	16. Gordon Beckham, White Sox	19	22
7. Brandon Phillips, Reds	5	9	17. Marco Scutaro, Giants	8	8
8. Chase Utley, Phillies	22	27	18. Logan Forsythe, Padres	27	36
9. Jose Altuve, Astros	9	12	19. Howard Kendrick, Angels	13	19
10. Ben Zobrist, Rays	7	4	20. Daniel Murphy, Mets	15	17

Third Base

Third base is looking surprisingly deep right now for 2013. You can fill up your 3B and CI spots pretty late and still have the promise of some gaudy numbers. I don't think there are going to be a ton of fists slamming on the table during drafts when third basemen go off the board, just because the depth allows owners to shrug off a Brett Lawrie being picked, as players like Will Middlebrooks, Pablo Sandoval and Todd Frazier will still be available ... Pedro Alvarez at third and Mike Moustakas at corner could yield a total of 60 home runs, seven steals and a .260 average, which would be a solid pull from two mid-to-late round picks ... Freese is as steady as a player can be with average (between .293 and .297 the last three seasons) and is increasing his power numbers. He's 30 this year, which is a little older than most owners may realize, but there's no need to downgrade him for age just yet ... Sad fact on Alex Rodriguez: he hasn't played 140 games since 2007.

Nando's 2013 Third Base Rankings
	2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank		2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank
1. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers	1	1	11. Will Middlebrooks, Red Sox	29	41
2. Adrian Beltre, Rangers	4	4	12. Pedro Alvarez, Pirates	13	19
3. Evan Longoria, Rays	26	38	13. Pablo Sandoval, Giants	22	30
4. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals	7	8	14. Manny Machado, Orioles	50	78
5. David Wright, Mets	6	6	15. Aramis Ramirez, Brewers	5	5
6. Hanley Ramirez, Dodgers	8	9	16. Martin Prado, Braves	9	7
7. David Freese, Cardinals	10	13	17. Kevin Youkilis, Yankees	24	25
8. Mike Moustakas, Royals	16	18	18. Todd Frazier, Reds	18	26
9. Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays	14	22	19. Mark Reynolds, Indians	23	30
10. Chase Headley, Padres	3	3	20. Michael Young, Phillies	8	10

Shortstop

Ian Desmond had a season that deserves a little more attention: 25 home runs, 21 steals and a .292 average. I'd be happy with 28/20/.280 for 2013 -- anything above that is just frosting ... Stephen Drew has dropped to the bottom of the list, but a healthy Drew could be a decent sleeper pick, as he still has skill -- he just can't stay on the field long enough to display it. If he avoids injury, he has a chance to redeem himself, especially playing on a one-year contract, which should offer some extra motivation. ... J.J. Hardy had 30 doubles and 20 home runs for the third time in his career. He's done that every season in which he's played more than 145 games.

Nando's 2013 Shortstop Rankings
	2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank		2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank
1. Jose Reyes, Blue Jays	1	1	11. Josh Rutledge, Rockies	27	31
2. Elvis Andrus, Rangers	10	9	12. Ben Zobrist, Rays	7	3
3. Starlin Castro, Cubs	5	7	13. Alcides Escobar, Royals	8	11
4. Ian Desmond, Nationals	3	10	14. Derek Jeter, Yankees	6	5
5. Hanley Ramirez, Dodgers	4	6	15. Zack Cozart, Reds	20	20
6. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies	37	51	16. Danny Espinosa, Nationals	11	14
7. Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians	12	13	17. Stephen Drew, Red Sox	46	41
8. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies	2	2	18. Alexei Ramirez, White Sox	13	15
9. J.J. Hardy, Orioles	15	12	19. Marco Scutaro, Giants	9	8
10. Jed Lowrie, Astros	25	24	20. Yunel Escobar, Rays	22	21

Outfield

Three players are primed to make a big leap in 2013: Giancarlo Stanton, who hit 37 home runs in 449 at-bats with a .290 batting average; Yoenis Cespedes, who hit 23 home runs, stole 16 bases and hit .292 in 487 at-bats in his first season of professional baseball while battling injuries and Bryce Harper, who will follow the footsteps of Ken Griffey, Jr., Mickey Mantle, Mike Trout and Alex Rodriguez and take off into the stratosphere in his 20- year-old season after his 19-year-old debut ... I'm struggling with Carlos Gomez. I love his potential in power and speed categories, but not 100 percent certain he can keep it up over a full season without seeing a dip in average ... Martin Prado is an interesting player to rank because he's a nice source of doubles in points leagues, but is somewhat pedestrian with his homers and steals for Roto formats. Move him up in points, move him down in Roto.

Nando's 2013 Outfield Rankings
	2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank		2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank
1. Ryan Braun, Brewers	2	1	21. Alex Rios, White Sox	5	6
2. Mike Trout, Angels	1	2	22. Jason Heyward, Braves	10	15
3. Matt Kemp, Dodgers	38	51	23. Shin-Soo Choo, Reds	24	29
4. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates	3	3	24. Desmond Jennings, Rays	48	48
5. Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins	15	35	25. B.J. Upton, Braves	13	31
6. Curtis Granderson, Yankees	8	8	26. Carlos Gomez, Brewers	27	51
7. Matt Holliday, Cardinals	9	7	27. Carlos Beltran, Cardinals	11	18
8. Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics	20	34	28. Josh Willingham, Twins	14	10
9. Josh Hamilton, Angels	4	4	29. Hunter Pence, Giants	33	22
10. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox	95	111	30. Andre Ethier, Dodgers	41	36
11. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays	57	62	31. Alex Gordon, Royals	30	12
12. Justin Upton, Diamondbacks	17	23	32. Martin Prado, Braves	31	13
13. Bryce Harper, Nationals	26	29	33. Ben Zobrist, Rays	34	9
14. Adam Jones, Orioles	6	5	34. Jayson Werth, Nationals	92	91
15. Mark Trumbo, Angels	32	40	35. Nick Markakis, Orioles	70	68
16. Allen Craig, Cardinals	28	39	36. David Murphy, Rangers	50	45
17. Jay Bruce, Reds	16	11	37. Chris Davis, Orioles	36	52
18. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies	7	16	38. Austin Jackson, Tigers	19	26
19. Michael Bourn, Braves	12	20	39. Tyler Colvin, Rockies	52	63
20. Carl Crawford, Dodgers	131	146	40. Shane Victorino, Red Sox	40	25

Starting Pitcher

Justin Verlander and David Price are close enough to justify a flip if you really want to do that in your own drafts ... Stephen Strasburg, even at 190 innings, is just too good to drop out of the top five. He has another year of distance from Tommy John surgery and could really cut loose in 2013 with a dangerous combination of knowing he won't be shut down and feeling like he has something to prove after his 2012 season was cut short by the front office ... Jon Lester gets his old pitching coach back (as the manager) and the Bobby Valentine cloud is lifted from Boston's clubhouse. I sunk on the Lester ship last year -- I think 2013 will be a return to what we got accustomed to in the four previous seasons: a lower ERA and WHIP, a higher K rate and fewer home runs ... after Max Scherzer made some adjustments with his hand placement in early May, he put up a 3.14 ERA and struck out 204 batters in 163 1/3 innings. At one point, he went through a stretch of games where he struck out eight or more batters in 10 consecutive starts ... Lance Lynn is kind of hidden in the middle of the rankings here, but he has the skill -- and a full season of innings now behind him -- to establish himself as a top 30 starter.

Nando's 2013 Starting Pitcher Rankings
	2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank		2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank
1. Justin Verlander, Tigers	2	2	21. CC Sabathia, Yankees	18	16
2. David Price, Rays	3	3	22. Matt Moore, Rays	71	63
3. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals	19	27	23. Johnny Cueto, Reds	9	9
4. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers	4	4	24. Roy Halladay, Phillies	95	71
5. Felix Hernandez, Mariners	14	10	25. Adam Wainwright, Cardinals	40	35
6. Max Scherzer, Tigers	20	21	26. Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals	34	26
7. Jered Weaver, Angels	8	11	27. Ian Kennedy, Diamondbacks	43	33
8. Mat Latos, Reds	26	14	28. Kris Medlen, Braves	23	39
9. R.A. Dickey, Blue Jays	1	1	29. Lance Lynn, Cardinals	32	34
10. Matt Cain, Giants	6	5	30. C.J. Wilson, Angels	60	36
11. Jon Lester, Red Sox	147	68	31. Jeff Samardzija, Cubs	59	58
12. Zack Greinke, Dodgers	21	13	32. Jake Peavy, White Sox	24	19
13. Yu Darvish, Rangers	27	28	33. Dan Haren, Nationals	88	66
14. Cliff Lee, Phillies	36	23	34. Matt Garza, Cubs	153	119
15. Chris Sale, White Sox	12	15	35. Josh Beckett, Dodgers	173	97
16. Gio Gonzalez, Nationals	5	7	36. Tim Lincecum, Giants	144	89
17. Cole Hamels, Phillies	7	6	37. Doug Fister, Tigers	61	64
18. Yovani Gallardo, Brewers	30	20	38. Josh Johnson, Blue Jays	84	56
19. Madison Bumgarner, Giants	15	17	39. Kyle Lohse, Cardinals	17	8
20. James Shields, Royals	16	12	40. Ryan Dempster, Red Sox	43	42

Relief Pitcher

This is a motley crew. With so many jobs in flux, and pitchers like Ryan Madson and Mariano Rivera getting back into the mix, it's tough to pinpoint who will even close, much less who will do it effectively. Huston Street is someone I particularly like going into 2013, with a long-term contract and an offense that will get him into a lot of close games. He missed some time last year and should work his way into 40 saves, at the very least ... Addison Reed had a quietly effective season in 2012 and there's no reason to think he can't replicate his success in 2013 ... two sleepers who didn't make the list but could turn out to be stellar RP picks aren't relievers at all -- Andrew Cashner has an electric arm for the Padres and Hector Santiago, the failed closer project in Chicago, turned out to be a really good starter at the end of the year, putting up a 1.86 ERA and striking out 26 batters in 19 1/3 innings over four starts ... Why is Fernando Rodney so low? In the five seasons prior to his 2012 revitalization, Rodney amassed a 4.42 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. He had five seasons with an ERA of 4.24 or above. In fact, 2012 marked just the second time in 10 seasons in which Rodney, 35, posted an ERA below 3.50.

Nando's 2013 Relief Pitcher Rankings
	2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank		2012 Roto Rank	2012 H2H Rank
1. Aroldis Chapman, Reds	11	5	11. Greg Holland, Royals	79	20
2. Kris Medlen, Braves	23	10	12. Joe Nathan, Rangers	41	7
3. Craig Kimbrel, Braves	10	3	13. Drew Storen, Nationals	232	N/A
4. Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies	28	9	14. John Axford, Brewers	60	15
5. Huston Street, Padres	90	37	15. Jonathan Broxton, Reds	81	32
6. Jason Motte, Cardinals	25	6	16. Joel Hanrahan, Red Sox	50	12
7. Chris Perez, Indians	76	26	17. Fernando Rodney, Rays	13	1
8. Mariano Rivera, Yankees	N/A	N/A	18. Steve Cishek, Marlins	94	39
9. Addison Reed, White Sox	99	24	19. Alexi Ogando, Rangers	99	24
10. Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners	89	31	20. Wade Davis, Royals	141	73

Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us on Twitter @CBSFantasyBB or Nando Di Fino at @nandoCBS . You can also e- mail us at fantasybaseball@cbsinteractive.com .