Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Rising

August 24, 2009 @ 00:00:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Bryce McRae

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Falling

Fantasy baseball waivers and the acquisition of fantasy baseball free agents 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.

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

Key

Acquire - Add player (in most circumstances)

Watch - Track player; consider adding if trend continues

Pass - Do not add player (in most circumstances)

First basemen

Brandon Allen, Arizona Diamondbacks

Josh Whitesell didn't do anything with his final trial run, and Chad Tracy isn't a long-term solution at either corner. It's time the D-backs turned to Allen, whom they stole from the Chicago White Sox for reliever Tony Pena. He earned his rep as a raw swing-and-misser, but he has slowly improved in that department. In 447 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A, he hit .298 with 20 homers and 75 RBIs. He's 2-for-8 with an RBI in his first two big league games.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Third basemen

Chris Davis, Texas Rangers

Davis' big bat is back in the bigs

The Rangers called up Davis so that he'll be available for Tuesday's affair with the New York Yankees; the 23-year-old is expected to receive most of the playing time at first base. Whiffing is nothing new for him, but Davis struck out in nearly half of his at-bats with the big club. While he was down on the farm, he altered his stance a bit, which has helped him shorten his swing and cut down on the K's. The humbled hacker hit .327 with six dingers, 30 RBIs, 25 walks and 39 strikeouts in 165 at-bats at Triple-A Oklahoma. He'll man first, but in fantasy baseball he's probably more useful at the hot corner, where he holds eligibility in all formats.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Scott Rolen, Cincinnati Reds

The Reds activated Rolen (concussion) Sunday and penciled him into the starting lineup. The deadline acquisition went 0-for-3 with two walks, two whiffs and a run scored. He hasn't hit well since he moved to the Queen City, but Rolen was having his finest season in three years before this derailment. As long as he's past the concussion, he should contribute in Cincy's bandbox.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Starting pitchers

Tim Wakefield, Boston Red Sox

It took a little longer than Beantown expected, but Wake (back) is expected to return to the mound for a start Wednesday. His lower back strain turned out to be an issue with the sciatic nerve that led to pain in his left calf muscle, too. You know the deal: An ERA that hovers in the 4.00s, with brilliance (sometimes for long stretches) mixed with disaster (sometimes for long stretches). He sprinkles in wins, if that's a need, thanks to the BoSox attack.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Charlie Haeger, Los Angeles Dodgers

It's the All-Knuckler edition. The 25-year-old has produced, unexpectedly, two very good starts since his promotion and insertion. He allowed five hits (including two homers), three earned runs and no walks while fanning two in seven innings in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals Aug. 17. He followed with seven frames of three-hit, four-walk, shutout ball against the Chicago Cubs Saturday. The fortunes of a knuckleballer are about as predictable as his signature pitch, but Haeger's performance warrants attention. Haeger worked on the offering with noted knuckler Charlie Hough in Spring Training. Next issue: Phil Niekro, Tom Candiotti.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Armando Gabino, Minnesota Twins

The wait-and-see approach is in order. The Twinkies are turning to Gabino Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles at the Metrodome. The 25-year-old is 5-3 with a 2.83 ERA and 55 K's and 22 walks in 86 innings for Triple-A Rochester. He has started only five contests (25 innings) for the Red Wings; Gabino is 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA, 18 strikeouts and six walks in them. The O's really struggle away from Camden Yards, but they have tortured many a right-hander this season, so it's risky to hang your hat on Gabino's debut.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Watch

Relief pitchers

Scott Downs, Toronto Blue Jays

Return could be soon for Downs

The Jays are prepared to active the southpaw on Monday or soon thereafter. Downs (toe) has pitched in three minor league games since his deactivation, allowing three hits and an earned run, with two K's, in 2 1/3 innings. Toronto has been acutely aware of the possible effects of rushing him back, so he must be showing plenty of positive signs.

Manager Cito Gaston doesn't sound as if he's ready to trust Downs with the closer's job right away, at least on a full-time basis. Jason Frasor has performed well in Downs' absence, so some combination of the two is expected to be Gaston's nightcap of choice. An odd save or three? Worth a shot.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Chris Perez, Cleveland Indians

Perez was awful when he first joined the Tribe, but after a nauseating outing July 7, Perez gave himself a little talking-to. Since then, he has reeled off 15 1/3 scoreless innings, with 19 K's, four walks and a .104 opponents' average in that time. He has pitched so well that, if Kerry Wood isn't available, Perez is likely to get the nod. It's tempting to ride the ERA and WHIP reducer's momentum, especially with that bit of news.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Falling