Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Ryan Raburn, Mike McCoy, Luis Mendoza

September 19, 2011 @ 12:15:24

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)

 

Middle infielders

Ryan Raburn, Detroit Tigers

Raburning for production

Carlos Guillen strained his calf on Sunday and very well may be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season, at minimum. Raburn has been playing only semi-regularly but would likely split time at the keystone with the switch-hitting Ramon Santiago, in addition to his occasional PT in the outfield, in the absence of Guillen.

This year, Raburn has been a bit of a liability against right-handed pitching. However, September - really, the post-break period - is typically when his bat awakens from its slumber, and in 2011, it's right on schedule. Since the ASB, he's hit .315 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 108 at-bats. In his past five games, he went 9-for-15 (.600) with two bombs, four ribbies and four runs.

Jim Leyland's likely desire to keep from exposing him to many right-handers will probably limit his upside. Raburn is swinging a hot stick, though, and - just as he was in the previous two seasons - he can be a nice fantasy supplement to close out this year.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Consider

AL-only: Acquire

Mike McCoy, Toronto Blue Jays

The swelling in Yunel Escobar's elbow has gotten only worse since he suffered the injury about a week ago. He's at least a few days from returning, and there aren't many more than a few remaining. It's possible that Toronto gets to the point at which it decides not to bother pushing Escobar back into the lineup.

McCoy has been filling in, and filling in quite capably. In his last six starts, all at short, he's 7-for-24 (.292) with three RBIs and four runs. McCoy may possess eligibility at some combo of second, third, short and the outfield in your league. Unfortunately, the lifetime .202 hitter doesn't possess many qualities that suggest success is a long-term proposition. McCoy may swipe a couple of bases, but he may have already spent his earnings.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Consider

Pitchers

Luis Mendoza, Kansas City Royals

The Royals will replace Luke Hochevar, whom they've shut down for the remainder of this campaign, with Mendoza. Mendoza, 27, is lined up for a start against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday and would likely pitch at the Minnesota Twins in the club's final series of 2011, as well.

The right-hander achieved quality results for Triple-A Omaha this year. Mendoza was 12-5 with a 2.18 ERA, a 5.05 K/9 and a 3.37 BB/9 in 33 games, including 18 starts (a total of 144 1/3 innings). He's been to the bigs on a few occasions, previously, notably in his debut season with the Texas Rangers in 2007, when he gave up four runs in 16 innings.

Alas, Mendoza has rarely tasted success in the major leagues since. He has a lifetime 8.43 ERA in 84 1/3 frames. As his farm record indicates, he doesn't generate swings and misses, and he issues a fair number of free passes. His stuff isn't dazzling enough to overcome that, making him not worth the risk.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Pass

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

 

---

What do you think? We want to hear from you!

Name: E-mail: Please, enter the number that you see

Comment Guidelines

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.

Talk Sports 24/7!
KFFL Sports Forums: Over 24,000 strong and growing!

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Dee Gordon's problems at bat (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Player Prospecting: Will Smith, Yordano Ventura, Wil Myers, more (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Roundtable: How trade talks develop (05/23)