Grady Sizemore’s offseason began with elbow surgery on Sept. 9, when 24 games remained in the Indians’ 65-97 season.

Two months later, semi-nude photos of him were posted on the Internet — forcing Sizemore to apologize, Major League Baseball to investigate why the pictures allegedly were stolen from an e-mail account and causing females everywhere to say how much they liked them, but wonder why he decorated his bathroom in such a manner.

Now Sizemore, seemingly healthy and with the embarrassing incident behind him, is the best player on a team that seems to have a policy of trading its stars a year before free agency — which in Sizemore’s case would be next season, a year before the Tribe’s club option of $8.5 million for 2012.

From a fantasy perspective, he could be undervalued in many drafts following a 2009 season in which he posted five-year lows in games played, at-bats, runs, hits, extra-base hits, homers, RBI, stolen bases and batting average.

That likely won’t happen in Northeast Ohio, as Tribe fans might be overanxious to select the Tribe’s best player.

Don’t overpay for someone who has a career batting average of .275 and has struck out once per 4.5 at-bats in his six-year career. But aside from Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, Matt Holliday and Carl Crawford, I’d be willing to take a chance that Sizemore will outproduce any other player at his position and would put his value in the late second-round range for 12-team leagues.

In 2007 and ’08, Sizemore averaged 29 home runs, 84 RBI, 36 steals, 110 runs and 70 extra-base hits.

Will he be a 30-30 player again, as he was in 2008? Will his elbow be a problem? Will the ladies swarm center field on opening day?

Those questions we can’t answer. What we can do is believe in a player who, prior to 2009, had a track record of hitting for power, scoring a lot of runs and stealing about 30 bases.

On to the rankings:

Rank, player: R-HR-RBI-SB-Avg.
1. Ryan Braun, Brewers: 113-32-114-20-.320
2. Matt Kemp, Dodgers: 97-26-101-34-.297
3. Matt Holliday, Cardinals: 94-24-109-14-.313
4. Carl Crawford, Rays: 96-15-68-60-.305
5. Grady Sizemore, Indians: 73-18-64-13-.248
6. Jacob Ellsbury, Red Sox: 94-8-60-70-.301
7. Justin Upton, Diamondbacks: 84-26-86-20-.300
8. Curtis Granderson, Yankees: 91-30-71-20-.249
9. Jason Bay, Mets: 103-36-119-13-.267
10. Manny Ramirez, Dodgers: 62-19-63-0-.290
11. Andre Ethier, Dodgers: 92-31-106-6-.272
12. Nick Markakis, Orioles: 94-18-101-6-.293
13. Jayson Werth, Phillies: 98-36-99-20-.268
14. Shin-Soo Choo, Indians: 87-20-86-21-.300
15. Bobby Abreu, Angels: 96-15-103-30-.293
16. Carlos Lee, Astros: 65-26-102-5-.300
17. Josh Hamilton, Rangers: 43-10-54-8-.268
18. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners: 88-11-46-26-.352
19. B.J. Upton, Rays: 79-11-55-42-.241
20. Shane Victorino, Phillies: 102-10-62-25-.292
21. Nelson Cruz, Rangers: 75-33-76-20-.260
22. Torii Hunter, Angels: 74-22-90-18-.299
23. Hunter Pence, Astros: 76-25-72-14-.282
24. Carlos Quentin, White Sox: 47-21-56-3-.236
25. Nate McLouth, Braves: 86-20-70-19-.256
26. Raul Ibanez, Phillies: 93-34-93-4-.272
27. Johnny Damon, Tigers: 107-24-82-12-.282
28. Andre McCutchen, Pirates: 74-12-54-22-.286
29. Alex Rios, White Sox: 63-17-71-24-.247
30. Denard Span, Twins: 97-8-68-23-.311
31. Michael Bourn, Astros: 97-3-35-61-.285
32. Adam Jones, Orioles: 83-19-70-10-.277
33. Michael Cuddyer, Twins: 93-32-94-6-.276
34. Brad Hawpe, Rockies: 82-23-86-1-.285
35. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs: 64-20-55-9-.241
36. Carlos Beltran, Mets: 50-10-48-11-.325
37. Nyjer Morgan, Nationals: 74-3-39-42-.307
38. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies: 47-22-58-3-.223
39. Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals: 63-22-97-4-.265
40. Juan Pierre, White Sox: 57-0-31-30-.308
41. Vernon Wells, Blue Jays: 84-15-66-17-.260
42. Juan Rivera, Angels: 72-25-88-0-.287
43. Jay Bruce, Reds: 47-22-58-3-.223
44. Rajai Davis, Athletics: 65-3-48-41-.305
45. Mark DeRosa, Giants: 78-23-78-3-.250
46. Delmon Young, Twins: 50-12-60-2-.284
47. Garrett Jones, Pirates: 45-21-44-10-.293
48. Nolan Reimold, Orioles: 49-15-45-8-.279
49. Franklin Gutierrez, Mariners: 85-18-70-16-.283
50. Julio Borbon, Rangers: 30-4-20-19-.312
51. Corey Hart, Brewers: 64-12-48-11-.260
52. Chris Coghan, Marlins: 84-9-47-8-.321
53. Cody Ross, Marlins: 73-24-90-5-.270
54. Marlon Byrd, Cubs: 66-20-89-8-.283
55. Mike Cameron, Red Sox: 78-24-70-7-.250
56. Nick Swisher, Yankees: 84-29-82-0-.249
57. Dexter Fowler, Rockies: 73-4-34-27-.266
58. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers: 54-9-50-3-.310
59. Colby Rasmus, Cardinals: 72-16-52-3-.251
60. J.D. Drew, Red Sox: 84-24-68-2-.279

Preseason top 100 players (26): Braun (3), Kemp (6), Holliday (13), Crawford (20), Sizemore (21), Ellsbury (27), Justin Upton (28), Granderson (33), Bay (34), Ramirez (51), Ethier (53), Markakis (55), Werth (58), Choo (63), Abreu (65), Lee (66), Hamilton (69), Ichiro (70), B.J. Upton (75), Victorino (79), Cruz (80), Hunter (87), Pence (88), Quentin (89), McLouth (92), Ibanez (94)

Short hops
In his three-year career, Braun has batted .308 and averaged 34 homers, 106 RBI and 16 steals. ... In 235 at-bats after being traded to St. Louis last season, Holliday batted .353 and had 13 homers, 55 RBI and a 1.023 OPS. ... Ellsbury will steal a ton of bases (120 the last two seasons), but he doesn’t score as many runs as you might think (96 per season in the last two) and he has no power. ... Crawford has batted .305 or better with 50-plus steals in three of the last four years. ... Bay, who has 67 homers the last two seasons, likely will suffer a dip in power playing half his games at spacious Citi Field. ... In 900 at-bats the last two seasons, Choo has 34 homers and 152 RBI. ... The underrated Carlos Lee has batted .300 or better and averaged 31 homers and 109 RBI the last four years. ... Ichiro posted career lows in steals and runs, and had his second-worst RBI total last season. ... The enigmatic B.J. Upton was great in 2007 (24 homers, 82 RBI, .300, 22 steals), but he’s averaged 10 home runs, 61 RBI and 82 runs while batting .257 the last two seasons. If you draft him in the first few rounds, you better be a huge fan of stolen bases.

NOTE: Statistics are from the 2009 season. ... Positions listed are according to the depth charts at mlb.com.

THIS WEEK: Outfielders, today; relief pitchers, Thursday; starting pitchers, Friday

LAST WEEK: Third baseman, March 8; designated hitters, March 9; shortstops, March 11

TWO WEEKS AGO: Catchers, March 2; first baseman, March 4; second baseman, March 5