Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Brandon Allen

July 14, 2011 @ 11:20:20

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

Brandon Allen, Arizona Diamondbacks

Another go-round for Allen

The D-backs haven't enjoyed much production from a mix of Juan Miranda, Xavier Nady and, before he was released, Russell Branyan at first base. Help may be on the way. The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro reports that Allen, 25, received word on his impending call-up.

Arizona is sitting on golden prospect Paul Goldschmidt at Double-A Mobile. The Allen move seems likely to result in advancement by a level for Goldschmidt, too. First and foremost is the Snakes' most recent attempt to cull value from Allen, who hasn't enjoyed prolonged success in a couple of other notable stints in the majors.

Allen (6-foot-2, 235 pounds) is a slugger with whom the organization has also experimented in left field. This season, his slash line in the Pacific Coast League, which is heavy on offense, is .306/.427/.579. His slugging rate has risen each month.

Allen sports a lifetime .268 average in the minors, however, which should give pause. He has fanned more than 20 percent of the time throughout his minor league career, but he hits the ball hard, which lends to a high BABIP and allows his average to survive. Although he hasn't cut down on the hacking, he has improved his walk rate significantly in the past season and a half; he's drawn a free pass in 16.9 percent of his plate appearances this year. This could be evidence that his selectivity is improving.

Allen is at worst another stopgap before the Diamondbacks call on Goldschmidt. He should get some opportunities to demonstrate whether this season's progress is a fluke. There's some big-time upside if he delivers. The likelihood doesn't seem all that great, however, so don't break the bank, but don't overlook him.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Consider

NL-only: Acquire

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

 

---

What do you think? We want to hear from you!

Name: E-mail: Please, enter the number that you see

Comment Guidelines

Nicholas Minnix

KFFL's baseball editor plays in LABR and Tout Wars and won the FSWA Baseball Industry Insiders League in 2010.

The University of Delaware alum is a regular guest on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio and Baltimore's WNST AM 1570. Follow him on Twitter.

Talk Sports 24/7!
KFFL Sports Forums: Over 24,000 strong and growing!

One Day FREE Fantasy Contest - $350 in cash prizes (05/25)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Orioles locking up Adam Jones (05/25)
Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: Joel Hanrahan, Addison Reed, Aroldis Chapman (05/25)