Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - AL

July 26, 2010 @ 13:15:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - NL

Fantasy baseball waivers and the acquisition of fantasy baseball free agents can make or break your season. Your fantasy baseball cheat sheets won't help you after spring training. If your team remains the same after opening day, you will have trouble competing in your rotisserie baseball league.

Do you need to replace your fantasy baseball busts? Which fantasy baseball players can you ignore? KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market gives you fantasy baseball tips and insight to sort through the masses quickly.

Key

Acquire	Add player (in most circumstances)
Watch	Track player, add if trend continues
Pass	Do not add player (in most circumstances)

 

Middle infielders

Ryan Raburn, 2B/OF, Detroit Tigers

You better, you better, you Brett

Until the Tigers come up with a better solution (trade, call-up), Raburn is the likeliest to benefit most from the absence of Magglio Ordonez (ankle). He started both games of the club's doubleheader yesterday and came up with a bases-clearing double in the eighth inning of Game 2 that put Detroit ahead for good.

Raburn's eligibility at the keystone is what makes him interesting. Last season he swatted 16 homers in 261 at-bats - an aberration - but he packs a little punch, and his average has a little room for growth. That might be easier to accomplish with more PT, if he keeps getting it.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

William Rhymes, 2B, Detroit Tigers

The Tigs called up this discreet thief from Triple-A Toledo to take the roster spot of Carlos Guillen (calf). Rhymes, 27, doesn't draw a ton of walks, but he has a solid BA profile (.289 average in the minors, .304 this year).

It's uncertain how long he'll be up or if he'll play regularly because Detroit has a couple of other fringe middle infielders earning playing time. Rhymes had the rhythm to put up about 20 steals per year on the farm, so he warrants monitoring. He started one game of a doubleheader on Sunday.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Watch

Pitchers

Dan Haren, SP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Your PSA, in case you haven't heard: The Halos picked up Haren for a song from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite Haren's mediocre numbers in most departments, he's a top-five strikeout pitcher and familiar with the AL West. Angel Stadium will only help. Dump the FAAB without hesitance.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Brett Anderson, SP, Oakland Athletics

Anderson (elbow) sailed through his latest rehab start (5 1/3 innings, nine strikeouts) and will start for the A's this Friday at the Chicago White Sox.

There were warning signs that Anderson, a highly touted fantasy pick coming in, could experience physical issues or fatigue this season. His return won't quell them, but he shouldn't be available anywhere, and yet he is.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - NL

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Nicholas Minnix

KFFL's baseball editor plays in LABR and Tout Wars and won the FSWA Baseball Industry Insiders League in 2010.

The University of Delaware alum is a regular guest on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio and Baltimore's WNST AM 1570. Follow him on Twitter.

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