This is not, it should be noted, a “sleepers’ list.”  The players mentioned here are already well-known to astute fantasy players.  They are, however, the ones most likely to dramatically increase their value from the beginning of 2005 to the end of the season.

Many of these players are listed higher on my draft board (which I certainly recommend checking out!) than on those of my peers in this industry.  I have built the perceived increase in their value into my 2005 rankings.  With each player, I’m listing where I have them ranked on my draft board.

• Miguel Cabrera (ranked 6th at outfielder): I hope I’m not unfairly burdening this talented youngster, but I’ve referred to him repeatedly on my “Drafthelp.com Fantasy Insider” webcasts as “The Next Albert Pujols.”  Right now, he’s a poor man’s Pujols but should be a more reasonable facsimile by the end of the season.
• Corey Patterson (ranked 12^th at outfielder): Now fully recovered from the effects of his knee injury, he’s ready to step up and become the next 30-30 star.  40-40 might not be a shock, either.
• Jason Bay (ranked 13^th at outfielder): 26 home runs in 411 at-bats as a rookie?  It doesn’t take Stephen Hawking to calculate how much better he could do over the course of a full season in ’05.
• Brad Wilkerson (ranked 16^th at outfielder and 10^th at first base): This dual-eligibility player turns 27 this year, landing him in the prized actuarial wheelhouse.  His plate discipline could be somewhat better, but balance that against the move to what is anticipated to be a bandbox at RFK, and you’ve still got a legitimate sleeper who could break out big in 2005.
• David Wright (ranked 9^th at third base) and Zack Greinke (ranked 36^th at starting pitcher): These two young guns tore it up over the course of a half-season in 2004 upon being called up, and look to continue this year.  Both of them are incredibly mature and advanced for their young ages.
• Jose Vidro (ranked 6^th at second base): He suffered through a difficult 2004, but like his aforementioned teammate Brad Wilkerson, should benefit from a more hitter-friendly park and improved protection in the lineup.
• Rich Harden (ranked 27^th at starting pitcher): The Big Three in Oakland is no more, but Harden could be poised to put together a new Big Two with Barry Zito as early as midseason.