Normally, this is the position that features the players you start at a utility position because they aren’t eligible anywhere else.

Depending on your league’s rules, that might not be the case this season, thanks to Adam Dunn’s move to Chicago, and the Rangers and Angels forcing Michael Young and Bobby Abreu, respectively, to regular designated-hitter duties.

The trio might join David Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero as players only eligible at DH, unless your league allows you to start a player at a position at which he played a certain amount of games the year before.

If so, Dunn is obviously more valuable at first base, and he might play enough games there in 2011 to be eligible anyway. Young should play enough in the infield to be eligible at multiple positions, but Ortiz, Abreu and Ortiz likely will be relegated to DH-or-nothing status, depending on how highly touted Angels rookie Peter Bourjos fares as the everyday center fielder. The latter’s presence in the lineup has bumped Abreu from a corner outfielder to designated bat.

Another potential dilemma is the Twins’ Jason Kubel, who batted only .249 last season, struggles to hit lefties, doesn’t have a regular outfield position and has Jim Thome around to take away at-bats at DH. Kubel — who batted .300 with 28 homers and 103 RBI in 2009 — is worth a look late, but should be drafted as a reserve.

On to the rankings:

Rank, player: R-HR-RBI-SB-Avg.
1. Adam Dunn, CWS: 85-38-103-0-.260
2. Michael Young, Tex: 99-21-91-4-.284
3. David Ortiz, Bos: 86-32-102-0-.270
4. Bobby Abreu, LAA: 88-20-78-24-.255
5. Vladimir Guerrero, Bal: 83-29-115-4-.300
6. Jason Kubel, Min: 68-21-92-0-.249
7. Jorge Posada, NYY: 49-18-57-3-.248
8. Hideki Matsui, Oak: 55-21-84-0-.274
9. Manny Ramirez, TB: 38-9-42-1-.298
10. Travis Hafner, Cle: 46-13-50-2-.278

Preseason top 100 players (4): Dunn (52), Young (67), Ortiz (83), Abreu (98).

Short hops
Adam Lind has moved from DH to first base in Toronto, and Johnny Damon is now an outfielder in Tampa Bay. ... Ortiz has had at least 30 homers and 100 or more RBI in six of his last eight seasons. ... Posada is expected to spend most of his time at DH because of the Yankees’ signing of Russell Martin and the grooming of uber-prospect Jesus Montero as the backstop of the future. ... Ramirez has compiled only 617 at-bats the last two seasons, but his numbers in that span are very good (.293, 28 homers, 105 RBI, 100 runs). ... The Tribe’s Hafner has batted .259 with a combined 34 homers and 123 RBI the last three seasons.

NOTE: Statistics are from the 2010 season. ... Players are listed only at the positions at which they are expected to spend the most time in 2011.

THIS WEEK: Shortstops, Thursday; third basemen, Saturday; designated hitters, today.

LAST WEEK: Catchers, March 7; first baseman, March 8; second baseman, March 9.

NEXT WEEK: Outfielders, starting pitchers, relievers and overall top 100.