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MyKFFL

Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide

Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report - Up

April 3, 2009 @ 01:00:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report - Down

KFFL's Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report gives fantasy baseball players the scoop on any happenings that have significantly affected KFFL's fantasy baseball rankings and projections.

A trio of youngsters earned their way onto their respective teams' major league roster. All the real movin' and shakin' came at the back end of the bullpen for a bevy of clubs, though.

Catchers

Chris Iannetta, Colorado Rockies

There's little question that Iannetta is an intriguing No. 1 fantasy catcher this year. Mix his power with Coors Field (again) to come up plenty of upside. KFFL merely bumped up expectations slightly, in accordance with his demonstrated gains in slugging and lack of worry about PT.

Kenji Johjima, Seattle Mariners

The evidence for a potential turnaround was plentiful (as KFFL had been promoting all offseason); Johjima made his case. It (well, that and the signing of Ken Griffey Jr.) was enough to sentence Jeff Clement to the minors to begin the campaign. Johjima is a high-end No. 2 fantasy option with the ability to put up low-end No. 1 numbers.

John Baker, Florida Marlins

The Marlins made no move to acquire a worthy backup to Baker. On top of it, he'll hit second at times, in front of shortstop Hanley Ramirez. There's more reason to believe he can be a very solid No. 2 catcher in mixed leagues.

First basemen

Kendry Morales, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Cuban slugger warrants attention because of his mesmerizing spring numbers. He hasn't demonstrated that ability in regular season major league action yet, but fantasy leaguers must be aware that scouts believe he has the tools. Morales is worth a flier as a reserve corner man in deep mixed leagues. He has moderate upside.

Travis Ishikawa, San Francisco Giants

The lefty slugger is slowly making believers of fantasy owners, and rightly so. It's questionable whether he's worth a pick in a deep mixed format, but he belongs on watch lists without a doubt.

Third basemen

Emilio Bonifacio, Florida Marlins

The speeder has not only made the roster (and endeared himself to manager Fredi Gonzalez), but he's also the starter at the hot corner. He's also expected to hit leadoff. Can he hold that spot down for any length of time? Doubtful, but he's worth a low-end investment in NL leagues for the steals and runs upside.

Outfielders

Jordan Schafer, Atlanta Braves

The Braves essentially handed one of their top prospects the starting job in center after they traded Josh Anderson to the Detroit Tigers. It became official Friday, April 3. Schafer is a legit 20-20 threat, although it's unlikely to happen this year. He's a great flier pick in deep mixed affairs.

Brett Gardner, New York Yankees

Pinstripes manager Joe Girardi selected Gardner as his starting center fielder, pushing the speedster to the forefront of deep mixed flier picks. There's upside aplenty here for stolen bases.

Dexter Fowler, Colorado Rockies

The Rockies' top prospect played well enough to earn a roster spot this spring. You don't keep a player with his potential on the roster and force him to sit and watch. Ryan Spilborghs and, more likely, Seth Smith should be looking over their shoulders. It's bold to spend a mixed league pick on Fowler, but a fistful of dollars in NL affairs may be required.

Starting pitchers

Paul Maholm, Pittsburgh Pirates

It's about time we listened to ourselves and upped the expected fantasy impact for this improved lefty. He has made remarkable gains in control and efficiency thanks to some adjustments made last season. His remarkable spring stat sheet is a testament to that. Maholm is a solid pick to round out any fantasy rotation.

Koji Uehara, Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore's Japanese import has had a good exhibition season, especially in the dominance department. Give him more credit where K's are concerned. He's mildly intriguing as a flier pick in deep mixed leagues.

Rick Porcello, Detroit Tigers

By far the club's top pitching prospect, Porcello received a spot in the rotation for two reasons: 1) Jeremy Bonderman will open the year on the disabled list, and 2) the youngster earned it. The 20-year-old is unlikely to stick there all season, but he should be on mixed league watch lists.

Franklin Morales, Colorado Rockies

One of the club's former top prospects nailed down the fifth starter's role with a solid camp. He still has to demonstrate that he's over his major league control problems ... oh, and he pitches in Colorado half the time. NL players can take a shot with him, but not mixed managers, for now.

Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers

This right-hander is one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in baseball. The Rangers have hinted that they won't be shy about bringing up the K artist before the break. Keep your eyes peeled, especially in AL and keeper formats.

Derek Holland, Texas Rangers

Like Feliz, Holland, a southpaw, may receive a call to the bigs before the All-Star break. He made huge strides last season and can bring the heat, too. Again, AL and keeper players should be on alert.

Relief pitchers

Kevin Gregg, Chicago Cubs

Cubs skipper Lou Piniella may have surprised more than a few fantasy baseball owners when he anointed Gregg the closer. It shouldn't have come as a shock; Sweet Lou likes his vets, and history suggests he'll stick with Gregg unless the right-hander truly unravels. View Gregg as a solid midrange No. 2 closer.

Frank Francisco, Texas Rangers

KFFL has been optimistic about this right-hander's ability to hold down the closer's role in Texas. High flyball rates and Texas don't mix, but stunning gains in control breed success. Francisco is a sneaky low-end No. 2 reliever with midrange No. 2 upside (but also definite risk).

Brandon Morrow, Seattle Mariners

The M's and Morrow wised up; they have agreed on a move back to the bullpen, where the righty will eventually close. How soon depends on how quickly he moves past his forearm problems. He has midrange No. 2 or better fantasy closer potential, as we saw last season.

Matt Lindstrom, Florida Marlins

Shoulder problems had the top gun's status for Opening Day in doubt. After some throwing sessions and treatment, he appears locked and loaded. Don't be as skeptical as we might have been about the injury; instead, blame it on command issues and a disappointing K rate given the bullets in his clip.

Huston Street, Colorado Rockies

The Rox are going with Street at closer. He was exceptional in his final nine innings of the spring. Manny Corpas has some work to do. There are several factors at play in this decision, but regardless, the outcome is that fantasy owners can consider Street as a decent low-end No. 2 closer. Beware thin air.

Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals

Quick, who's the closer in St. Louis? Technically, no one, but manager Tony La Russa is likely to lean on this righty with the righteous heater early and often. Others are still in the mix for save chances, but Motte has boundless upside. He's risky, so don't view him as more than a high No. 3 or low No. 2.

Brad Ziegler, Oakland Athletics

Joey Devine (elbow) will begin the season on the disabled list, leaving Ziegler as the default closer for at least the first few weeks. It's unlikely that he repeats his stellar run of 2008, but he's a source of saves, making him a midrange No. 3 reliever.

Fernando Rodney, Detroit Tigers

Yet another bullpen situation changes on the fly; Detroit manager Jim Leyland said that Rodney would be the first to pitch in a standard save situation for him. After that, nothing is etched in stone. Consider Rodney a midrange No. 3 reliever just because of his opportunity.

Carlos Villanueva, Milwaukee Brewers

Villy is the top candidate to step in for Trevor Hoffman (oblique) in the first week. In fact, Hoff may not be ready to return when he was originally projected (April 11), meaning Villanueva could receive an extra chance or two ... or more? A nice No. 4 reliever....

Joel Zumaya, Detroit Tigers

Tigers skip Jim Leyland mentioned that the oft-injured (and still injured) flamethrower (when healthy) was a candidate to save games down the line, should the need arise. Perhaps he's worth stashing in AL leagues, but don't do so with high (or even moderate) expectations.

Ryan Perry, Detroit Tigers

Perry was the final and, perhaps to some, surprise name Tigers manager Jim Leyland floated around as an option at the back end of the bullpen. Fernando Rodney is the lead here, but this situation is about as stable as Gary Busey. Perry brings the heat and has the highest upside of any candidate. Watch him in mixed formats, and he's not a bad player to stash in AL ones.

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report - Down