Fantasy Baseball Offseason Guide

Fantasy Baseball Hot Stove: Hanley Ramirez, Carlos Marmol, Willie Bloomquist

November 9, 2011 @ 12:05:35

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Your fantasy baseball draft isn't far off. KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Hot Stove surveys free agency, trades, salary arbitration and injuries that will affect your rotisserie or head-to-head baseball league. You're cleared for your MLB offseason program: The Arizona Fall League, Baseball Winter Meetings, Rule 5 draft and more will shape your fantasy baseball rankings.

Florida Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez on track to be ready for start of ST

Last week, president of baseball ops Larry Beinfest told the team's official site that reports on Han-Ram's recovery from surgery on his left shoulder were all positive. He's begun range-of-motion exercises and remains on target for opening day, at minimum.

Marmol closing ... for now

In the past couple of years, health has become more of a concern for Ramirez, 29 next season. This operation is the second that the club's shortstop has had on that joint, the first coming after his 2007 campaign. It's obvious that injuries were a factor in his .243/.333/.379 slash line in 385 plate appearances this past season. His .300/.378/.475 slash line in 2010 contained small signs that perhaps a decline was on the horizon, however.

It seems unlikely that the power marks of the central figure on the soon-to-be Miami Marlins will be immediately restored after another shoulder procedure. A possible position switch (to third base) would make Ramirez slightly more valuable, but it seems unlikely, considering that the Fish would probably have to sign Jose Reyes to make it happen.

It's difficult to imagine Ramirez having a season much worse than his 2011; a rebound is in order, with full health driving optimism. Rotisserie players would be unwise to bank on a return to 2007 and 2008 form, however. Early impression: Ramirez's cost won't dip enough to reflect his likely statistical cap, based on recent developments. He may still be worth a high draft pick based on his upside, however risky, though.

Chicago Cubs RP Carlos Marmol not expected to lose closer's role

According to the Chicago Tribune, last week, new GM Jed Hoyer stated that Marmol was the man he pictured closing games for the Cubbies, with a nod to the dominance (15.99 K/9) that the right-hander displayed in 2010. Hoyer declared that the organization has to discover a way to "fix" Marmol's slider, specifically. He blew 10 save opportunities, as well as posted a 4.01 ERA, in 2011.

The 30-year-old's ordinarily nasty stuff wasn't quite up to par this past season. He lost about 2 mph on his average fastball velocity, and his slider was considerably less effective. The issues seem to have been largely mechanical, as was often chronicled earlier this year. One would ascertain that the new, organized regime, which has a rep for putting the right people in place so that its club can succeed, has evaluated this resource well.

Marmol's rate of walks per nine has, it's no secret, been a potential harbinger of his failures. He's overcome the dangers because his incredible two-pitch arsenal enables him to erase danger more easily than he creates it. The Cubs seemed to draw that pitcher out at times this past season. If he's still in there, the new staff will probably find a way to lure him out, which should justify some hopefulness for a rebound.

Arizona Diamondbacks re-sign INF Willie Bloomquist

The D-backs already brought utility player John McDonald aboard, so this re-upping seems a little odd. Bloomquist gives Arizona insurance in case Stephen Drew (surgically repaired broken ankle) isn't at full strength. The vet is also a possible short-term fix for the hole at second base (if they don't re-sign Aaron Hill) or a decline from potential one-year wonder Ryan Roberts at the hot corner, or a platoon partner with left fielder Gerardo Parra.

Bloomquist, 35 in 2012, was terribly valuable in NL-only and mixed leagues for a couple of stretches this past season, thanks mostly to his 20 stolen bases in 30 attempts and 44 runs scored in 381 plate appearances. Arizona is aggressive, which should ensure that the right-handed hitter will have the same potential value next season.

Given his age, and noting his lack of efficiency in 2011, it appears that the window for that kind of value is closing, though. Bloomquist remains unlikely to be a batting average asset and won't be one in the power department, so he's more of a consolation prize than a target in deep NL leagues. Refer to his lines from past seasons as reasons to view him that way.