Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Rising

April 6, 2009 @ 01:00:00

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)

Outfielders

Eric Byrnes, Arizona Diamondbacks

An often overlooked player on draft day, Byrnes was tabbed for the Opening Day starting lineup. Manager Bob Melvin said he'll try to run his best lineup out every day; it obviously won't always include Justin Upton. Fantasy owners mustn't forget which of these two outfielders is more experienced.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Jordan Schafer, Atlanta Braves

It's official: Schafer is the Bravos' center fielder. Not a bad debut, either - 2-for-3 with a home run. The all-around talent with potential 20-20 this year (only 19 dingers to go!) is the 99th player in baseball history to homer in his first at-bat. It's hard to sit by and watch.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Austin Kearns, Washington Nationals

Elijah Dukes isn't the starting right fielder in D.C., in case you didn't hear. Kearns beat out the talented Dukes thanks to the latter's poor spring and the former's solid one. Kearns isn't terribly exciting, but he's a starter and belted 16 homers, with 74 RBIs, in the season before last.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Andruw Jones, Texas Rangers

Texas retained Jones as the fifth outfielder; the 10-time Gold Glove winner hit .300 with three bombs in the spring. He also whiffed 19 times and walked just three, so he's not out of the woods yet. Be aware, that's all, especially given his locale.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Acquire

Starting pitchers

Jeff Niemann, Tampa Bay Rays

Niemann won the job for which many fantasy owners prematurely penciled in the name "David Price." Niemann, a former top prospect who has overcome various maladies in order to arrive at his big-league shot, is a tall righty who throws pretty hard. He may just be keeping the seat warm, but....

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Jason Hammel, Colorado Rockies

This past weekend, the Tampa Bay Rays dealt this right-hander who can start or relieve to the Rox. He'll pitch out of the bullpen initially, but he can jump into the rotation at any time - as manager Clint Hurdle says.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Watch

Relief pitchers

Carlos Villanueva, Milwaukee Brewers

Too few fantasy baseball players are aware that Trevor Hoffman (oblique) is expected to miss roughly the first two weeks of the season. Villy is first in line for save chances until then. Also, in case you hadn't heard, the all-time saves leader is old and stuff.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Falling

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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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