In preparation for our early mock draft, we go position-by-position with some preliminary rankings for Draft Day 2009. Our rankings are based on position eligibility for next season, which requires 20 games at a position to be eligible. If a player has not played 20 games, his primary position will be defined as what position he has played the most games at -- unless it is a current AL player that will be classified as DH-only.

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Initial designated hitter rankings for 2009
RK Player TM The thinking is as follows …
1 David Ortiz
BOS Wrist and age slowed him down some, so you can't consider in Round 1 or 2.
2 Jim Thome
CHW Power remains useful in Fantasy, but he is nothing more than a latter-rounder.
3 Travis Hafner
CLE Big-time injury-risk sleeper could be valuable if he showed more down stretch.
4 Rocco Baldelli
TB They didn't really unleash him, but he could prove to be a great sleeper in '09.
5 Gary Sheffield
DET Old man can still mash in spurts, but he likely has worn out his welcome.
6 Kila Ka'aihue
KC Had Ryan Shealy not gotten hot, we might have gotten a better look at Kila.
7 Frank Thomas
OAK Age makes it likely you can only consider him in AL formats next spring.
8 Cliff Floyd
TB He is nothing more than a platoon DH at this point in his career.
9 Jeff Larish
DET There is power potential here, but lack of position yet makes him a bit low end.
10 Randy Ruiz
MIN Late-bloomer has a decent bat, but won't get enough at-bats at this point.
11 Matt Stairs
PHI It's likely he slots as a DH, but he needs one outfield game for eligibility.
12 Oscar Salazar
BAL Has a great bat and should be a spring slugging star, but he is a roster long shot.
13 Jose Vidro
SEA He looks like he is done being a trustworthy major leaguer. Ignore him at this point.
14 Tug Hulett SEA There is pop in his bat, but he is blocked in Seattle at second behind Jose Lopez.
15 Jason Bourgeois CHW Reserve infielder could get eligibility other than DH in the final days of the season.

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