Fantasy baseball team previews: NL East
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February 18, 2009 @ 01:00:01
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By Eric McClung
Edited by Nicholas Minnix
Fantasy baseball team previews: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West
For information on each team's ballpark, see KFFL's Fantasy baseball ballpark overview - NL.
Fantasy sleepers/breakout performers
- You can probably grab closer Mike Gonzalez on the cheap in most mixed setups. He brought some stability to the 'pen after returning from Tommy John surgery last year.
- After an offensive meltdown, outfielder Jeff Francoeur (.239 last year) has tweaked his batting approach and has lost some weight this offseason.
Fantasy busts/fading performers
- Don't expect soon-to-be 37-year-old third baseman Chipper Jones to hit .364 again. His age is once again the concern, but you should plan for him to miss time with injuries and resist reaching for him.
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Projected rotation |
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For projected bullpens, see KFFL's Fantasy baseball closer depth charts.
Spring training battle
Injury update
- Veteran starting pitcher Tim Hudson (elbow) is still recovering from Tommy John surgery but may make an impact late in 2009.
- Injury-prone reliever Rafael Soriano (elbow) missed most of last year but should be ready to go for Spring Training.
Impact prospect(s)
- Starting pitcher Tommy Hanson was named MVP of the Arizona Fall League and has a career 2.74 minor league ERA. He'll start the season at Triple-A Gwinnett but could find himself in the bigs sooner rather than later.
- Outfielder Jordan Schafer's presence would give Atlanta another threat on the basepaths while he continues to develop his power. He'll probably have a shot to win a starting outfield this spring.
For information on each team's ballpark, see KFFL's Fantasy baseball ballpark overview - NL.
Fantasy sleepers/breakout performers
- Outfielder Cameron Maybin is a top prospect with blistering speed and developing power. He is projected to hit at the top of the order. To be successful in the bigs, Maybin needs to improve his plate discipline. He has improved at taking walks; hopefully reducing strikes is next in line.
Fantasy busts/fading performers
- Last season, from June on, starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco was an impressive strikeout machine. While he appears to be legit, he could be overvalued. Nolasco enters 2009 coming off his first year of 200 or more innings pitched; injuries have plagued him, and in 2007, right elbow issues limited to him to 55 innings.
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Projected rotation |
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For projected bullpens, see KFFL's Fantasy baseball closer depth charts.
Spring training battle
- Infielders Jorge Cantu, Dallas McPherson and Gaby Sanchez are in the mix at the corners, but obviously one must sit. Cantu regained his form and set a career high in home runs last year; he's a virtual lock for either corner. McPherson went deep 42 times in Triple-A Albuquerque but hasn't hit in the bigs, so how will he win the job at third? Sanchez, the most intriguing option at first, has burned his way through the farm system. Speedy infielder Emilio Bonifacio may figure into thing at third, too.
Injury update
- An injury to his right patella tendon derailed the first season of starting pitcher Andrew Miller (knee) in Florida. He is reportedly healthy, has worked on refining his delivery and should help round out the rotation.
Impact prospect(s)
- Relievers Ryan Tucker and Jose Ceda fit the profile of future closer - they're converted starters who throw hard. Keep an eye on them if Matt Lindstrom falters.
- First baseman Logan Morrison was the MVP of the Florida State League. He has much more upside than Gaby Sanchez. If Morrison continues to develop, he may challenge for PT at some point this season.
- Starter Sean West is on a relative fast track to the majors, and he has been compared to none other than the Big Unit. Injury concerns in the current projected rotation could mean opportunities for West.
For information on each team's ballpark, see KFFL's Fantasy baseball ballpark overview - NL.
Fantasy sleepers/breakout performers
- Starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey struggled mightily until he hit his stride from June through August. He peaked in July, with a 4-1 record and 28 strikeouts. Pelfrey is inexperienced and doesn't fan many, so it will be interesting to see if he can repeat in 2009. He's on some folks' lists, but keep in mind that his ceiling is limited.
Fantasy busts/fading performers
- Despite coming off a career best in ERA, starting pitcher Johan Santana has some caution signs. He turns 30 and is coming off knee surgery. Santana's strikeout rate was by far the worst of his career since becoming a full-time starter. Meanwhile, his walk rate and batting average against have been on the rise over the last four years. He won't bust, but don't take him and sacrifice a quality hitter.
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Projected rotation |
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For projected bullpens, see KFFL's Fantasy baseball closer depth charts.
Spring training battle
- The Mets have to determine a fifth starter. Right-hander Freddy Garcia is the leading candidate, but they signed Tim Redding earlier in the offseason as a fallback option. Veteran Livan Hernandez and intriguing young southpaw Jonathan Niese are on the outside looking in.
Injury update
- Starting pitcher Johan Santana (knee) pulled out of the World Baseball Classic as he recovers from arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He is on track for Opening Day, though.
- Starting pitcher John Maine (shoulder) had surgery at the end of last season to remove a bone sport from his right shoulder blade. He said he is feeling 100 percent and should not be limited at all in Spring Training.
- Outfielder Ryan Church (concussion) reportedly no longer feels effects of post-concussion syndrome. He suffered head trauma twice last year - once in spring training, then again in May. Such a malady can easily pop up again, though.
- Second baseman Luis Castillo (hip) is chronically injured, but he's reportedly healthy after missing much of 2008 with a strained hip flexor. He says he has concentrating on condition this offseason, but one has to see it to believe it.
Impact prospect(s)
- Starting pitcher Jonathan Niese is a soft-tosser, capable of compiling strikeouts. He has a plus curveball and has improved his changeup. Niese is a long shot to win a spot at the back end of the rotation.
For information on each team's ballpark, see KFFL's Fantasy baseball ballpark overview - NL.
Fantasy sleepers/breakout performers
- Last season, outfielder Jayson Werth received a career-high 418 at-bats and made the most of them, hitting .273 while posting bests in home runs (24) and RBIs (67). Werth may expand on his breakthrough as he enters the season an undisputed starter for the first time in his career.
Fantasy busts/fading performers
- Last season, closer Brad Lidge was stellar, but be careful not to overvalue him. He converted all 41 regular season save opportunities and posted a microscopic 1.95 ERA. Perfection isn't to sustain, especially when you walk 2.42 hitters per nine.
- Following a brief demotion to the minors last season, starting pitcher Brett Myers looked to have the ship righted, only to implode again in September and the playoffs. Excluding his 2007 stint as closer, his strikeout rate is declining, his walk rate is going up, and he struggles to keep the ball in the ballpark.
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For projected bullpens, see KFFL's Fantasy baseball closer depth charts.
Spring training battle
- According to the club, Kyle Kendrick, who saw him ERA balloon from 3.87 in in 2007 to 5.49 in 2008, is the leading candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation. The charge appears to be led by J.A. Happ (1-0, 3.69 ERA in eight appearances), though. Veteran Chan Ho Park, who excelled in middle relief with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, will challenge Happ. Top prospect Carlos Carrasco will get a look, but the Phils will probably hold off on him for now.
Injury update
- Second baseman Chase Utley (hip) thinks he can be ready for Opening Day, but the Phillies may handle the best second baseman in baseball with kid gloves. He has been taking grounders but is a little behind in weight training, keeping his fantasy value in limbo.
Impact prospect(s)
- The top Phillies prospect three years running, starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco is also one of the top pitching prospects in the game. Even though he's inconsistent, Carrasco has little left to prove in the minors, having developed three big league quality pitches.
- Lou Marson is the catcher of the future; he hit .314 last season for Double-A Reading. The solid defense and game management skills of backstop Carlos Ruiz may keep Marson on the farm in the short term, though.
For information on each team's ballpark, see KFFL's Fantasy baseball ballpark overview - NL.
Fantasy sleepers/breakout performers
- Over his four-year career, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, just 24 years old, has held a steady home run-to-fly ball ratio. Despite shoulder woes last season, a strong September (five home runs, 13 RBIs) proved he had recovered and enters 2009 a little under the radar on many draft boards.
Fantasy busts/fading performers
- Outfielder/first baseman Adam Dunn's streak of five straight seasons with at least 40 home runs and 90 RBIs is at risk at Nationals Park, which is a far cry from his former outpost, Great American Ball Park. Dunn has always been a batting average liability. A power outage would turn him into a fantasy burden; that's not likely, though, so just knock him down a peg.
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Projected lineup |
Projected rotation |
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For projected bullpens, see KFFL's Fantasy baseball closer depth charts.
Spring training battle
- The battle for second base looks to have already been won by second baseman Anderson Hernandez, a defensive whiz and speedster. He's not known for his bat, despite a solid stint in D.C. and a great winter effort. Veteran infielder Ronnie Belliard is next to line; it wouldn't be a shock to see him overtake Hernandez at some point.
- The Nats say they'd prefer to have first baseman Nick Johnson in the lineup with outfielder Adam Dunn. The club is likely to try to move Johnson or someone in the outfield (likely Josh Willingham) to accommodate this, but in the meantime, at-bats will be fought for.
Injury update
- Starting pitcher Shawn Hill (elbow) had bone spurs removed from his elbow last September and has a chance to begin the season in the starting rotation. Various injuries have kept Hill from realizing his potential.
Impact prospect(s)
- Starting right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, 22, has great control of all four of his pitches. Although he does not throw them with blazing speed, Zimmermann has rung up hitters at a strong rate in the minors. He has an excellent chance to be a member of the rotation.
Fantasy baseball team previews: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West
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