Initial 2009 rankings: Designated hitters

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.

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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