Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Aroldis Chapman, more

July 6, 2011 @ 12:52:39

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Your fantasy baseball cheat sheets are no longer of use. KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market series gives you tips on fantasy baseball players available as free agents, on waivers or for your FAAB dollars in your rotisserie or head-to-head baseball league. It's time to replace your fantasy baseball busts.

Key

Acquire	Add player (in most circumstances)
Consider	Add for speculation or because of need
Watch	Track player, consider if trend continues
Pass	Do not add player (in most circumstances)

Corner infielders

Ian Stewart, Colorado Rockies

On Tuesday, the Rockies again recalled Stewart, this time with the intention for him to serve as depth only. Although he started in his first game back and may do so for a couple of days or more, it's a necessity only because of the injuries to the club's top two players.

Stash with fingers crossed

In 191 plate appearances with Triple-A Colorado Springs, the 26-year-old compiled a .269/.356/.581 slash line and 14 home runs. He's battled inconsistency and has made changes that don't seem to be solving the problem in the long term. There's talent here that Colorado has yet to cultivate, which makes him a difficult own. Maybe he'll pay dividends to deep leaguers who can afford to stash him.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Consider

Outfielders

Mike Cameron, Florida Marlins

The Fish claimed the 38-year-old from the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday and will use him to round out their outfield depth. Chris Coghlan (knee inflammation) should return not long after the break, making available PT limited, but Cameron could draw some starts in center field before the All-Star Game, at least.

Cameron batted .149 (14-for-94) and belted three homers with the BoSox and is obviously at the tail end of his career, but he hit at least 20 homers in each of his last four seasons in the Senior Circuit. His legs have abandoned him, but with some minor corrections, he'd be a contributor in very deep leagues. Or, at least, he could ... but one shouldn't hold his breath.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Consider

Pitchers

Zach McAllister, Cleveland Indians

The right-hander will make his major league debut on Thursday in place of Fausto Carmona (strained quadriceps). The stint with the Tribe is likely to be for two starts (barring a disastrous first one) and could last beyond that.

McAllister, 23, more of a ground-baller, spent most of his pro ball childhood in the New York Yankees' organization before arriving via trade last year. His success has come with by way of frequently low BB/9s and HR/9s. Last season, he was torched (5.29 ERA between the two organizations at the Class AAA level) for most of the year as he struggled a bit with his control and served up 21 home runs. Strikeouts aren't his forte (6.97 per nine, lifetime on the farm) now that he's moved to the upper levels.

This season, at Triple-A Columbus, the right-hander has gone 8-3 with a 2.97 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, a 6.59 K/9 and a 1.95 BB/9 in 15 starts (97 innings). He seems to be learning from his experience in his second season at Triple-A. McAllister doesn't profile as more than a mid-rotation starter, but that's nothing to sneeze at. He's obviously riding a high in 2011 and is worth taking a chance on, but keep in mind that new levels have tended to introduce him to an adjustment period.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Consider

Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds

Fantasy owners have shown relatively little interest in the lefty phenom since the Reds recalled him from Triple-A Louisville in late June. Hard to blame them; in 18 MLB frames, he has a 5.50 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP and a 10.50 BB/9.

In five appearances (five frames) since his recall, however, Chapman has allowed one hit, one walk and one earned run (on a ding dong) and has fanned 10. Dusty Baker said that he plans to use the 23-year-old in more late-inning situations moving forward. The staff is pleased with the progress he made in the minors by sacrificing a touch of velocity to rein in the wildness.

Chapman is doing what people drafted him for, the whole steal-Francisco-Cordero's-job thing. Hey, if you need strikeouts, get a strikeout man.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Consider

NL-only: Acquire