Last year, injuries caused Pujols play in 148 games. Despite the missed time, he hit 37 HRs and his .357 average easily led all first basemen.  He had elbow surgery during the offseason, but he should be ready for Spring Training.  Owners might have to contend with some nagging injuries, but he’s a legitimate first round draft pick.

The Yankees landed the biggest free agent hitter prize, agreeing to terms with Teixeira on a $181 million dollar contract. His stat line has been extremely consistent, rarely deviating from his 3-year average (.298, 32 HRs 112 RBI).   Teixeira hit well in every stop he’s made over the past 2 years, so he displays strong adaptability.  Owners just have to hope he doesn’t shrink under the pressure in the Big Apple.

Cabrera was the centerpiece of a blockbuster deal in the 2007 offseason.  The move suited him well, resulting in a career high 37 HRs and 127 RBI. On the downside, his .349 OBP was the lowest since his 2003 rookie year. The position change from 3B to 1B only slightly affects his value, but not enough to drop him on draft boards.

For the third straight year, his homerun total decreased going from 31 HRs in 2007 to 23 in 2008.  But, his average bounced back to .300 and his RBI total increased to 129 from 111.  If Morneau begins to display the 30 HR power while maintaining his average, he could be in for a special year.

He leads all first basemen with 153 HRs over the past 3 years. Over the past two years, he’s struggled in April (’07-.221, ’08-.168) and May (’07-.225, ’08-.238).  Howard’s average may be relegated to the .260 territory, but his power has the ability to carry fantasy owners throughout the summer.

Berkman saw his HR totals drop from 46-34-29 over the past 3 years, but the rest of his production remains solid across the board.  He stole a surprising 18 bases in 2008, but owners can’t depend on Lance “Wheels” Berkman. His career OBP stands at a gaudy .413, so he’s an especially valuable addition to fantasy teams who play with non-traditional stat categories.

Gonzalez blasted 36 homeruns and 119 RBI in 2008, but was hampered by Petco (.247 AVE) and lefties (.213 AVE). He’s still tremendously productive despite the flaws, so there’s room for improvement.  A slight chance exists that he could be traded with the Padres dismantling, which could help accelerate his growth.

For someone who has the reputation for being a free-swinger, Fielder’s batting average has remained consistent over his brief career.  His .278 career line is very respectable for a power hitter, showing that 35-40 HR potential doesn’t have to come at a high cost to your batting average.

Youkilis took a big leap upwards in the power offensive categories resulting in a career-high 29 HR and 115 RBI campaign.  He plays in a hitter-friendly park on a powerful team, although the lack of track record might be the biggest concern surrounding him in 2009.  He also qualifies at third base giving owners a bit of flexibility with their rosters.

The Reds finally paved the way for Votto to be their everyday first baseman, and he responded with an outstanding offensive effort.  He continued hitting at a .300 clip while cracking 24 HRs and 84 RBI.  He handles both right and left-handed pitchers equally and his .368 OBP was fine for a free-swinger.  Votto struck out 102 times in 526 ABs, so he certainly has room for improvement and growth as a fantasy slugger.