Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - NL

August 25, 2010 @ 13:00:00

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)

Outfielders

Carlos Gomez, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

The Brew Crew activated Gomez (concussion) from the DL this week, but it was uncertain where he would play. The continued absence of Corey Hart (hamstring) helped to resolve that issue right away. Gomez offers top-notch speed potential and the occasional, brief power surge, but he's usually a BA liability, with terrible plate discipline.

Talent, but limited 2010 potential

Lorenzo Cain hit well when he came up but has struggled in the past couple. When Hart returns, perhaps as soon as tonight, how will the Brewers handle it? Milwaukee's initial infatuation with the formerly heralded Gomez may help him, but his public statements about being the team's best center fielder may not sit well with Ken Macha.

Macha's policy has been to use those who are performing, and Gomez hasn't for most of the year. Cain has provided a spark. And there's always Chris Dickerson. Gomez may have talent, but he has a lot to learn.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Consider

Pitchers

Jordan Zimmermann, SP, Washington Nationals

The Nats will replace Stephen Strasburg (forearm) in the rotation with Zimmermann (elbow), at least for now. Zimmermann, on the road back from Tommy John surgery, has been outstanding on the farm: a 1.59 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP and 31 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings.

First, the negatives. TJS products often struggle with their control when they first come back, especially to the bigs. See Edinson Volquez for more. It may take awhile for Zimm to recover his above-average K ability. Washington probably won't let him pitch more than five frames or so per outing, so probability of wins will be low. And he doesn't have a ton of experience.

Now, the positives. The reason that Zimmermann was a polished prospect coming up was his great control. He walked only six during rehab. He posted a 3.17 K/BB as a rook. He induces a solid rate of grounders.

Overall, there is little value to be had here, at least in mixed leagues. Risk is fairly high, with a cap on Zimmermann's potential returns. He's still a talented pitcher, though.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - AL

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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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