Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Rising

April 24, 2009 @ 01:00:01

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)

Catchers

Kurt Suzuki, Oakland Athletics

He's heating up at the plate, but there isn't anything glamorous here. Suzuki is hitting .327 to start the season with seven runs scored. Those are about the only categories he'll contribute in. If you are looking to catch up on catcher starts, Suzuki is someone to pick up. Note: The A's have six games coming up on the road, where Suzuki is hitting .382 this year (13-for-34).

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

First basemen

Nick Johnson, Washington Nationals

His .380 average to start the season is deceiving. Johnson's BABIP is astronomical (.475). What should that tell you? To prepare for his average to drop. Don't forget he has one of the worst NL offenses around him, and he has yet to hit a homer after missing the majority of the last season with a wrist injury. Even if he is adapting well to hitting second in the order, don't stay too loyal to him.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Second basemen

Chris Getz, Chicago White Sox

Getz gets leading off. The rookie is hitting .333 with six runs and three steals through his first 42 at-bats. He has demonstrated a good batting eye (this season and in the past) and has decent speed. Be prepared for a rookie slump, but he has done enough to warrant a mixed league roster spot, especially at a scarce position.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Shortstops

Maicer Izturis, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Is Izturis breaking out of his slump? He was hitting just .143 on Sunday, April 19, but has doubled that number with seven hits in his last 14 at-bats. Don't look for much long term from him, though. He has just a .272 career average and has seven road games (.071 road average) in the next week and a half.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Outfielders

Jose Guillen, Kansas City Royals

Guillen (hip) is set to return from the disabled list Saturday, April 25. He was hitting only .167 with no extra-base hits before his injury, albeit in a small sample size. He isn't someone to grab in mixed leagues just yet, but keep an eye on the streaky hitter. He's someone to pick up when hot.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Hideki Matsui, New York Yankees

There wasn't anything drained from his knee, as was originally reported, but rather Matsui received a cortisone shot Thursday, April 16. He said after the shot he felt more flexibility at the plate and on the bases. Since then, he has raised his average to .244 with seven hits in 17 at-bats.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Melky Cabrera, New York Yankees

After only three starts in the Yanks' first eight games, Cabrera has started three in the last week. 25-year-old outfielder Brett Gardner, who won the job in center field out of spring training, is hitting just .240 compared to Cabrera's .304 average. Monitor this situation to see if the Yanks make any firmer shift in the PT; they might not be as likely to put up with the less experienced option (Gardner) after a month of struggles.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Brandon Jones, Atlanta Braves

Atlanta has placed outfielder Garret Anderson (quadriceps) on the 15-day disabled list, opening up a spot in the majors for Jones. He was hitting .308 (16-for-52) with two runs for Triple-A Gwinnett. Jones offers some minimal numbers across the board, so don't invest much in him at the moment. Anyone with playing time has value in NL games, though.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Watch

Starting pitchers

Tim Wakefield, Boston Red Sox

When the knuckler is knucklin', Wake is tough to hit. It's been on so far this year as the vet has allowed just six earned runs in 22 innings (2.45 ERA). He doesn't offer much, if any, upside, and you'll have to be prepared for when his knuckleball isn't on (like last year when he had a 6.65 ERA in September). Ride him while he's on a roll, but don't stick with him too long if that's the case.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Matt Palmer, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Palmer earned the win for the Angels Thursday, April 23, though he gave up four earned runs while allowing nine baserunners and striking out just one. He'll receive another turn in the rotation, but the 30-year-old rookie doesn't offer much upside. As Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland said after facing Palmer, "When you haven't seen the guy, I think the pitcher always has the advantage." Palmer won't have that advantage next time.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Watch

Relief pitchers

Scott Downs, Toronto Blue Jays

Closer B.J. Ryan (shoulder) is on the disabled list; for how long, who knows? Downs is now the first option to replace him for the surprising Jays. He has allowed just one run in 9 2/3 innings with 14 strikeouts this season, and he already has his first save in place of the Beej. If he's somehow available, pick Downs up immediately.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Jason Frasor, Toronto Blue Jays

If you missed out on Downs, Frasor is the likely consolation prize. He has yet to yield a run in eight innings this season, allowing only three baserunners while striking out six; much of his success can be traced back to his reincorporation of a split-finger fastball. He's not the first closing option but is worth speculating on given Downs' inexperience in the role. Keep in mind: Frasor has blown seven of his 12 save chances since he held the role in 2004.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Jeff Samardzija, Chicago Cubs

The Cubbies called up Samardzija Thursday, April 23, to use him out of the bullpen. A two-run, one-inning appearance soon followed. Don't jump on him anytime soon, but keep him in mind as someone to monitor.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Watch

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Falling

Author Bio

Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.