Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - NL

Fantasy baseball waivers and the acquisition of fantasy baseball free agents can make or break your season. Your fantasy baseball cheat sheets won't help you after spring training. If your team remains the same after opening day, you will have trouble competing in your rotisserie baseball league.

Do you need to replace your fantasy baseball busts? Which fantasy baseball players can you ignore? KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market gives you fantasy baseball tips and insight to sort through the masses quickly.

Key

Middle infielders

J.J. Hardy, SS, Minnesota Twins

The beginnings of a youth revolution?

Before his recent DL stint, Hardy was working into a groove (.333-0-3 during an eight-game hit streak). He was activated yesterday; look into the streaky bat if you need a middle infield spark capable of 20-plus homers and can deal with a fluctuating clip.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Pitchers

Ervin Santana, SP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Including a hiccup May 9, Santana has posted a 2.98 ERA with 42 K's, 14 walks and a 1.30 WHIP in his last six starts. Hot streaks prompt pickups.

However, his inflated strand rate, slightly helpful BABIP and continually disheartening GB/FB say you should sell high. Avoiding him for home starts remains an entrenched roto rule.

The bright side: The righty's velocity is up across the board, and he's attacking the zone more often - both contributing to his 2008-level dominance. His control remains solid, which helps when he's using his lethal slider more. There's enough proven talent here to take a chance on revisiting that brilliant season, as long as you stay on top of his worrisome trends.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Chris Tillman, SP, Baltimore Orioles

Reports say Tillman will be called up to start Saturday's contest at the Toronto Blue Jays. Though that start should make you nervous, the 22-year-old righty has a high ceiling and could be a long-term factor for 2010. Tillman has sustained sparkling control (47 K's, 12 walks this season) while showing improvements in May for Triple-A Norfolk.

If he sticks, Tillman could line up to face the Boston Red Sox (home) and New York Yankees (home) before receiving less scary assignments in the San Francisco Giants (road) and Florida Marlins (home). 

The O's just made a large roster reshuffling, so their longing for success could keep Tillman in the bigs if he shows them something. Safe to say he won't break out this season, but his increasing polish could round out a deep pitching staff. At minimum, it doesn't hurt having an excelling, young, hyped commodity merely for trade purposes.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - NL