Fantasy source.

SQUEEZE PLAY

BY CHRIS BAHR

It started even before Doug Mientkiewicz secured the ball in his glove (and later in a safe-deposit box) for the final out of the World Series. Fantasy owners were firing keeper questions to Fantasy Source's Daily Mail feature. Well, we have an answer: Our website now features keeper rankings for every position, in addition to traditional positional rankings.

If you're torn between Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson or wondering whether Jimmy Rollins is a better keeper than Nomar Garciaparra, we can help. And who couldn't use some help with keeper leagues? They are a challenge.

Live in the now. Why make moves that could bolster your roster in two years while hurting your squad this season? Being in a keeper league doesn't mean you should voluntarily go through a rebuilding phase. Don't deal a proven stud for a prospect who might shine in 2007. Keeper strategies might vary, but the goal--winning--remains the same.

Find the right mix. If you have five keeper spots, don't lock up three starting pitchers, a closer and an outfielder. Balance is key, and you want to address both pitching and offense. Generally, it makes sense to keep more elite hitters than pitchers, so aim for three position players and two hurlers. You also will need to mix in some youngsters with your veterans.

Know your competition. This is true in any setup, but it's even more important with keepers. For example, if you are going to expose the versatile Ryan Freel and hope to draft him later, make sure you have a feel for when he will be in demand. Freel might not have a starting job now, but his 40-steal potential makes him attractive to 5x5 owners.