Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Falling

June 10, 2009 @ 01:01:04

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Rising

Fantasy baseball waivers and discarded fantasy baseball players can make or break a season. You may have adjusted your fantasy baseball cheat sheets over and over during spring training. If your team remains the same after opening day, though, you will probably have trouble competing in your rotisserie baseball league.

When is it time to give up on your fantasy baseball sleepers? Which players are worth retaining? KFFL.com's Diamond Market series gives you the fantasy baseball tips and advice you need to sort through the masses quickly.

Key

Discard - Drop player (in most circumstances)

Stash - Hold player if roster space is available; consider dropping if trend continues

Hold - Do not drop player (in most circumstances)

Starting pitchers

Brandon Morrow, Seattle Mariners

The right-hander is going to try to become a starting pitcher - again. The club stretched Morrow out a bit (2 1/3 frames, 33 pitches) in his appearance Tuesday, June 9. The Mariners will send him down to Triple-A Tacoma in the near future to continue increasing his stamina.

Although he appears to endorse it and Seattle has several long-term options at closer, it's a curious move for Morrow, who has trouble staying healthy as well as the health concerns that arise with diabetes. In a similar experiment last season, the 24-year-old posted a 5.79 ERA in five starts. He was outstanding in his first start after his call-up but disappointing afterward. It's a hope-for-the-best scenario.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Stash

Relief pitchers

Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies

Many fantasy owners felt the Phils had to do something with their maligned closer. In his last seven appearances, Lidge (knee) converted five of his last seven save chances, with a 1.42 ERA and .182 batting average against. With a break or two, he might have been perfect on that run.

It's still not clear whether the cited reason (right knee sprain) is legit. It's clear that he'll use the time to try to work things out. Fantasy owners might expect a short stay down on the farm, but there's no telling given the 32-year-old's tumultuous history with the Houston Astros. Regardless, don't do anything drastic. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Lidge will not lose his job while he's out.

Shallow mixed: Hold

Deep mixed: Hold

NL-only: Hold

Jose Arredondo, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Plenty of folks drafted Arredondo as a sleeper for saves in 2009. Unfortunately, the righty hasn't demonstrated the ability that netted him a 1.62 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP and 55 strikeouts in 61 innings in 2008. Swings in his velocity and trouble with control certainly contributed to his 5.55 ERA and 1.64 WHIP. The Angels finally decided it'd be better for him to work out his issues at Triple-A Salt Lake. For those who continued to hold out hope, find a different dream.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Discard

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Rising

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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.

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