Fantasy Baseball Analysis Draft: Round 27

February 17, 2012 @ 14:21:34

By KFFL Staff

Rnd: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28
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1) Francisco Liriano, SP, Minnesota Twins

Team: Steve Gardner, USA TODAY/Sports Weekly | Roster

At this point in the draft, it's all about upside. Liriano was great two years ago (201 K!) then couldn't throw strikes or stay healthy last year. If he can do one or the other, he could be a valuable spot-starter. If he's able to do both, he's the kind of talent who could lead this team to a fantasy title. And in keeping with my team's theme … he's still only 28.

2) Sergio Romo, RP, San Francisco Giants

Team: Ray Flowers, Baseball Guys/SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio | Roster

(1) I could use solid ratios with a shot at a few saves. (2) With a short bench of only five guys, I felt I needed a hurler over another bat.

3) Ruben Tejada, SS, New York Mets

Team: Joe Hamrahi, Baseball Prospectus | Roster

Eligibility a plus

Back-to-back Mets picks...wow! In all seriousness, I really like Tejada. He has a good eye at the plate, and he now has the opportunity to play every day with Jose Reyes out of the picture. Lucky for him (and maybe me), New York is also moving in its fences, giving Tejada a chance to hit at least a few home runs this year. I consider this my sleeper pick of the draft.

4) Jason Castro, C, Houston Astros

Team: Pasko Varnica, Mastersball | Roster

An insurance pick. He may not be ready to start the season, but the job in Houston is his and should one of my two catchers falter, Castro is a valid replacement.

5) Bryan LaHair, OF, Chicago Cubs

Team: Howard Bender, FanGraphs | Roster

No risk down here in the 27th round but plenty of reward potential. Hoping things really did click for this late bloomer who hit 38 HR (1.070 OPS). He's keeping 1B warm for Anthony Rizzo, but he should shift to OF if he hits.

6) Julio Teheran, SP, Atlanta Braves

Team: Mark Chamberlin, Baseball Sharks | Roster

Atlanta's fifth-starter plan, executed. I think Mike Minor breaks camp with the team and Teheran gets more seasoning in the minors, but Teheran's ceiling is so high I do not want to miss on Atlanta's fifth starter.

7) Miguel Olivo, C, Seattle Mariners

Team: Nicholas Minnix, KFFL | Roster

I avoided a No. 2 backstop for a while, as I noted in Round 26, but Olivo I'll certainly settle for. Hopefully the BA rebounds a bit, but I'm happy with my foundation in that cat. Olivo should approach 20 jacks; Jesus Montero is not a threat to his PT.

8) Brent Morel, 3B, Chicago White Sox

Team: Bill Macey, Baseball HQ | Roster

I don't know if Morel's eight September home runs were a fluke or a sign of what's to come, but I'm perfectly willing to invest a 27th round pick to find out. He's slated to be the White Sox's opening day third baseman, so we'll learn the answer sooner than later.

9) Vinnie Pestano, RP, Cleveland Indians

Team: Josh Shepardson, The Hardball Times | Roster

Liriano no liability this late

Pestano was a strikeout monster in his rookie year (12.19 K/9). His 16.3 percent swinging strike rate was 7.7 percent higher than the league average. Chris Perez walked a tight rope last year, and I completely expect him to fumble the job. The earlier, the better.

10) Ryan Raburn, 2B/OF, Detroit Tigers

Team: Doug Anderson, RotoExperts | Roster

The second base eligibility adds a lot to his value. If past history repeats itself, he'll sit on my bench until later in the season when he gets on one of his hot streaks.

11) Jed Lowrie, 3B/SS, Houston Astros

Team: Tim Heaney, KFFL | Roster

I considered several targets, but Lowrie's dual eligibility, as more insurance for Jose Reyes, won out. Lowrie boasts the offensive tools to succeed but hasn't yet put it all together. His entrenched playing time will provide valuable bench material in this setup.

12) Mitch Moreland, 1B, Texas Rangers

Team: Jeff Paur, RTSports | Roster

I didn't really need another first baseman or corner infielder but couldn't pass up Moreland. He is being undervalued in my view, mainly because of his struggles down the stretch last season due to injury. But when healthy, he hit last year. I like his chances for a career season.

Rnd: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28
League Home Page | Scoring Rules | Rosters | Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide

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