Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - NL

August 18, 2010 @ 15:45:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - AL

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)
Consider	Add for speculation or because of need
Watch	Track player, consider if trend continues
Pass	Do not add player (in most circumstances)

Corner infielders

Xavier Nady, 1B/OF, Chicago Cubs

The Atlanta Braves are rumored to be on the verge of acquiring Derrek Lee. That would allow the X Man to man first on a more permanent basis. Nady is filling in for Lee, who has a bad back and has been resting for a couple of days. Nady also spelled Lee at times earlier this season.

Mad Cubs: Beyond Fukudome

Nady is clearly the Cubs' best immediate option at first. His numbers (.234 BA, four HR, 23 RBI in 175) aren't inspiring, but keep in mind that he's making a return from Tommy John surgery. The Cubs took a flier on him and played him sparingly in the first half. The recovery from TJS for batters takes awhile, too, and it usually saps them of power, not to mention their loss of timing while they were sidelined.

Nady batted .225 in 138 at-bats in the first half and is hitting .270 in 37 at-bats in the second. He may not provide much power (.354 slugging percentage this year), but don't forget that he's a solid hitter. The deal isn't done yet, but those in very deep leagues always need to get a jump.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Outfielders

Kosuke Fukudome, OF, Chicago Cubs

Tyler Colvin has slumped lately (.167 BA in August) and hasn't started in the Cubs' past three contests. Fukudome is hitting .308 with two homers this month and has started in each of the club's past six games. The Japanese import will continue to play for Colvin, at least in the short term.

Fukudome has a well-deserved rep for flaming out sometime between the beginning of summer and the All-Star break and continuing his nosedive. This year, his third, he's making something of his opportunity. For the year, he has homered nearly twice as often as he did in his first two seasons.

Lou Piniella feels that his obligation is to leave the Cubs in good standing when he leaves them. He wants to play the kids, so Fukudome's PT could be short-lived if Colvin shows signs that he's breaking his slump. But he could also help by showcasing Fukudome for an offseason trade.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Pitchers

Brandon Lyon, RP, Houston Astros

Speculation that Matt Lindstrom's struggles and back troubles would open the door for Lyon has paid off. It's official: Lyon is the club's closer, at least for now. Bradley Mills wants to give Lindstrom time to work out his difficulties before putting him back on the horse.

Lyon isn't an inspiring pitcher, numbers-wise; however, he seems to have always been a little more focused in save situations (3.27 ERA) than in non- (4.18 ERA). He may net you a few.

Watch out for Wilton Lopez, whom Houston loves to challenge and who has proven capable of pitching in high-pressure situations. His skills are more than adequate. The righty picked up a closure last night because Lyon was unavailable.

Shallow mixed: Consider

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Travis Wood, SP, Cincinnati Reds

It's confirmed: Mike Leake to the bullpen, Homer Bailey remains in the rotation. That's a big positive for Bailey's value. It also secures Wood's value, for now; the Reds will recall Wood, as promised, so that he can start on Thursday at the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Snakes have hammered lefties, especially at home, this season. Play Wood at your own risk tomorrow. If you desire to add some solid depth, the rookie is intriguing.

The southpaw was 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 40 K's in eight starts (51 innings) before his temp demotion. Wood seemed to benefit from some serious fortune (.212 BABIP against him) in that first go-round, so don't expect more miracles, like his near no-hitter. But he's a quality pitcher.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Consider

NL-only: Acquire