Jeff Passan's 2022 MLB season preview - Predictions from every possible perspective

We're exactly one week away from the start of the 2022 MLB season. With Opening Day (finally) in sight, it's time to predict what we'll see this year.

In this space last year, gamblers who paid attention made a bunch of money, fantasy players hit on a couple of sleepers and prospect hunters learned a few names. Of course, I also said Codi Heuer would have a better year than Liam Hendriks. Can't win 'em all.

Predictions are indeed a fickle game, though with the help of dozens of evaluators, coaches and players, I'm far more confident in helping better forecast the year in baseball. So come along as I don a variety of hats to preview 2022, from the players who will help you win your league and fatten your bank account to the vital transactions and must-see stars of the season ahead.

Here are 10 players — a couple high picks and eight others worth sniping at the end of a draft or in your salary cap league — that will help earn bragging rights.

Austin Riley, 3B, Atlanta: Aside from catcher, third base is the shallowest position in fantasy, and Riley couldn't be in a better spot. He's 24, hits for average and power, bats behind Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson, hits line drives at an elite rate and was one of the 10 best hitters in the second half last season.

Logan Gilbert, RHP, Seattle: As if his nifty fastball that sits at 96 mph weren't enough, Gilbert spent the winter adding 6 mph to his slider that now resides in the vicinity of 89 mph. Gilbert's soft slider was his worst pitch last season and with a potentially elite secondary pitch to complement his already-elite heater, he's primed to take the leap.

Jo Adell, RF, Los Angeles Angels: Post-hype prospects of Adell's caliber are always good fantasy bets and after halving