If your team has performed as underwhelmingly as mine has this season, the playoffs are probably not what is No. 1 on your mind right now. Instead, you may be looking to the future and considering who your keepers should be.

Everyone knows that Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols and Robinson Cano are going to be kept by whoever owns them, but what about those tougher decisions when you get to the end of your keeper selections? Do you go young, or choose the batter who will always put up decent numbers?

Selecting keepers can be extremely challenging, but if you have any of these five players, I think you should think twice before letting them go.

5. Ben Zobrist, IF/OF – Tampa Bay Rays

Zobrist’s season numbers aren’t phenomenal, .265, .737 OPS, 48 RBI, 6 HR, which may put his keeper status in question. Keeping him, however, may be the one of the best choices you could make.

Zobrist has eligibility at four different positions in Yahoo leagues and two positions in ESPN leagues, giving you flexibility to put him wherever your roster needs a boost. No matter where he plays for your team, he is bound to produce: this season he has averaged one hit per game, one run every two games and a stolen base every five games. Though he won’t win your league single-handedly, his stats may just win a couple head-to-head match-ups.

4. Aramis Ramirez, 3B – Chicago Cubs

This guy has been God awful all year long, but there is really no reason to think that he will hit this way again. Since 2000, Ramirez has only hit below .250 once–the season before he was traded (2002) in which he hit .234.

Many experts have surmised Ramirez has stopped playing for manager Lou Piniella. With a new manager in the wings, a renaissance of sorts may be in line for Ramirez. Anyone who has put up with a .222 average and .697 OPS this year may call me crazy, but I think that Ramirez is worth another shot.

3. Vladimir Guerrero, OF/Util. – Texas Rangers

An aging slugger enjoying an above average year, I know, you probably think he doesn’t belong near this list. But consider that since 1997 (except for his injury-shortened 2009 season) Guerrero has never hit lower than .300 or had an OPS below .833.

There are no guarantees his numbers will continue to be as spectacular next season, but any owner who has enjoyed his 1.2 hits per game, 0.8 RBI per game and the home run he hits every fifth game would be silly to let him fall to the draft.

2. Adam Jones, OF – Baltimore Orioles

At the end of last season, I faced a terrible conundrum: Jones had stopped hitting as expected and keepers were due. I didn’t know what to do, but after a terrible season (see a trend) I decided to stick it out with Jones, and boy am I glad I did.

This season he has averaged more than one hit per game, a run every two games and an RBI two out of every 10 at bats. His numbers have been what is keeping my team out of the very bottom of the league. I don’t face a very difficult choice this year: Jones will be a part of the next Indians-pun-named team I own.

1. Mat Latos, SP – San Diego Padres

Another member of my “Acta Fool’s,” Latos has been a glimmer of hope in my pitching this season. Winning 12 of his 21 starts while holding his ERA to 2.36 so far, his numbers have been simply fantastic.

One reason some owners might be hesitant to hold on to Latos is his age. At just 22 years old, he has a lot of aging to do, and many hitters yet to face. There is a significant chance that batting coaches and managers will figure him out and instruct their hitters accordingly, but you don’t really want to be the manager that let him go if that doesn’t happen…do you?