Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Wilin Rosario, Jordan Pacheco, Joel Peralta, Ramon Santiago

September 12, 2011 @ 14:40:53

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Your fantasy baseball cheat sheets are no longer of use. KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market series gives you tips on fantasy baseball players available as free agents, on waivers or for your FAAB dollars in your rotisserie or head-to-head baseball league. It's time to replace your fantasy baseball busts.

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)

Catchers

Wilin Rosario, Colorado Rockies

Per The Denver Post, the Rockies were planning to take an extended look at Rosario, one of the game's best catching prospects, as the season winds down. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder is just three for his first 15, with a ding dong, in the bigs, but those at-bat have all come in the past week.

Peralta ready to step in

Rosario, 22, has some notable problems controlling the strike zone, but he packs considerable power in that frame. This season at Double-A Tulsa, he walked in 4.5 percent of his plate appearances and struck out in 21.4 percent of his ABs. However, he hit 21 bombs and drove in 48, to go along with a .249 batting average, in 405 at-bats. Last season, for the Drillers, he batted .285 with 19 jacks and 52 RBIs in just 270 ABs.

Chris Iannetta steps aside for a large portion of Colorado's remaining slate and could become offseason trade bait if the Rockies like what they see from Rosario in September.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Consider

NL-only: Acquire

Jordan Pacheco, Colorado Rockies

Kevin Kouzmanoff and Ty Wigginton won't be manning the hot corner very often as 2011 comes to an end, per The Denver Post. That's because Pacheco "will receive the bulk of the time at third." Why list him in the backstop section, then? Because, in fantasy baseball leagues, the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder has catcher eligibility, at minimum. That's a plus since he could play every day.

But it's only a plus if Pacheco, 25, can hit. Fortunately, he can do a little of that, too. He's 6-for-18 with a getty goner and six RBIs in his first 18 at-bats, all of which have come in the past week. Pacheco is a lifetime .303 hitter in the minors. The concern is his lack of oomph in the counting categories. Pacheco batted .323 drove six balls into the seats, with 89 RBIs and six stolen bases, in 551 plate appearances between two stops (high Class A Modesto and Double-A Tulsa) in 2010. At Triple-A Colorado Springs this year, he hit .278 with a trio of dingers, 50 RBIs and two thefts in 411 plate appearances.

It's uncertain how much this right-handed hitter will help you, but the PT should be a fantasy asset, and he probably won't hurt you.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Consider

NL-only: Acquire

Middle infielders

Ramon Santiago, Detroit Tigers

Santiago has made some changes in his hitting mechanics, and his recent surge in playing time has helped him maintain his newfound approach, as Detroit's official site notes. He doesn't stand quite as close to the dish, and he's using his trunk more when he lets loose. The absence of Carlos Guillen (who else?) has provided Santiago, 32, with the opportunity to play second base regularly. Santiago has also relieved Jhonny Peralta at short on occasion.

In the past four weeks, Santiago has played in 25 games and has started 18 of them. In that stretch, he's batted .329 with four home runs and 15 RBIs. It looks like the right-handed hitter might be onto something. This is a playoff contender with a good offense, so Santiago's PT isn't for a 2012 trial run. He could continue to provide plus production from a middle infield spot.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Consider

AL-only: Acquire

Pitchers

Joel Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays

Kyle Farnsworth has blown his last two save opportunities, which came three days apart. There's a good chance that the Rays' diagnosis of right elbow tenderness has had some effect on his recent performance. Tampa Bay, which has risen from the ashes of 2011 to come within striking distance of the AL wild-card spot, will rest Farnsie for at least a few days to see if the ailment subsides. It wouldn't be surprising to see the goggled fireballer sidelined for longer than hoped.

Peralta, 35, will likely handle save opportunities until Farnsworth is again available. He's posted a 3-4 record, a 3.23 ERA, a 7.78 K/9 and a 2.64 BB/9 in his 61 1/3 frames this season. He's also locked down two games for the Rays. Peralta has a tendency to give up the long ball, but he's otherwise quite a solid reliever to have in reserve in such a scenario. A couple of others in this bullpen could come under consideration, in the right situation. Given the club's position, however, Peralta is easily likeliest to get the ball and is the obvious roto target.

Shallow mixed: Consider

Deep mixed: Consider

AL-only: Acquire