Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide

Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report - Down

March 6, 2009 @ 01:00:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report - Up

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.

How much does injury news affect two of fantasy baseball's top stars, Alex Rodriguez (hip) and Johan Santana (elbow)? Enough. Baseball's most coveted free agent finally signed, in case you hadn't heard. Several other fantasy-relevant names are making a move this week, too.

Third basemen

Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

Can this dude stay outta the news? The hip injury has actually done a ton for A-Rod; now, so little of the focus is on the PED issue. Rodriguez is putting off surgery. Uncharted territory: In mixed drafts, he should fall out of the first round unless he displays zero effects this spring. He could play all season, but is that worth the risk? Probably not in your first two picks.

Mark Reynolds, Arizona Diamondbacks

Reynolds may have to fight a bit for playing time, mostly because of his shoddy glove work (35 errors last year). The D-backs have some flexibility thanks to the versatility of Conor Jackson and Chad Tracy. The projection still demonstrates that Reynolds is undervalued this year.

Shortstops

Rafael Furcal, Los Angeles Dodgers

Furcal's projected playing time required further examination - back problems, after all, can easily flare back up. His outlook is a bit more optimistic in the runs department now that outfielder Manny Ramirez has signed on the dotted line. His health makes Furcal a little risky, though.

Outfielders

Jayson Werth, Philadelphia Phillies

The right fielder busted out - finally - last season. There's plenty of skill here, but the original projection should have taken Werth's lengthy score sheet of maladies into account. Don't forget that he's injury prone simply because he delivered in 2008. He can still easily perform as a fantasy No. 3 outfielder, but note the risk and don't reach.

Starting pitchers

Johan Santana, New York Mets

Is he going to be ready for Opening Day, or isn't he? The story changes daily. Regardless, an elbow injury to a hurler who has tossed at least 219 innings for five straight seasons is slight cause for concern. This is why pitchers aren't as safe to draft early. How far does he fall? It seems too risky before the fourth round, and definitely before the third.

Justin Duchscherer, Oakland Athletics

At first the righty was uncertain for Opening Day because of elbow soreness. Then, he was on schedule. Now, it's unlikely. Injuries have been a problem for him throughout his career. This development just outlines the risk associated with this soft tosser who posted stellar ratios in 2008; he was already due for a correction. The A's could even move him back to the bullpen, severely limiting his value. Maybe you can still justify a flier.

Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox

Everyone seems to have forgotten about last year's Next Big Thing. His original projection made sure that didn't happen, but Boston has a couple of veteran arms who are (or will be) in line for innings before Buchholz. He's simply biding his time and is still worth keeping on your watch list in deep mixed setups.

Relief pitchers

Bob Howry, San Francisco Giants

One bad season does not a pitcher make. Little about his peripherals suggests that Howry is nearly as bad as his numbers indicated last season. He moves from the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field to San Fran's AT&T Park, too. Nevertheless, last season did occur, so a potential decline was accounted for.

Taylor Buchholz, Colorado Rockies

The right-hander suffered a partial tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. He hopes to back on a big-league mound by May. He was occasionally deep mixed worthy as a pickup last season because of his ratios, but this news makes Buchholz barely worthy of a reserve pick in deep NL-only formats.

Eric Gagne, Milwaukee Brewers

His recent LASIK eye surgery gave a glimmer of hope for a turnaround, but his shoulder is acting up again and he's considering surgery. Assistant general manager Gord Ash on Gagne's chances at a roster spot out of camp: "I would say impossible." You know the drill. Move along.

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report - Up