Man-Ram Down: Sifting Through Free-Agent OFs

August 30, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez (oblique) will be out from seven to 10 days with an oblique injury.

Ramirez left the team's game Tuesday, Aug. 28, with what was called back spasms. He remained out Wednesday, Aug. 29, and will now miss at least one week. With the team in the middle of a pennant race, the injury must be somewhat serious, or else he would likely be playing through it. While this is an off year for Ramirez, he is still hitting .292 with 20 home runs, 86 RBI and 79 runs. Those numbers could be tough to replace. Outfielder Eric Hinske played in place of Ramirez Wednesday, but with just a .201 average and only 16 RBI this season, he is not a viable fantasy option.

While the injury could be nagging for the rest of the season, you will likely need just a short-term replacement for Ramirez. One option could already be in the American League East. Check out Baltimore Orioles outfielder Aubrey Huff. He might not be a household name, but Huff is hitting .356 (32-for-90) with eight home runs, 19 RBI and 17 runs in the last month. He should also provide you with some flexibility, as he is eligible as a third baseman, a first baseman and an outfielder. He is available in around 71 percent of leagues polled.

Also consider Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Nate McLouth. McLouth is hitting just .257 over the past month but has scored 22 runs, knocked in 17 runs and hit seven home runs. He has also stolen eight bases in that time. The Pirates as a team have been on fire offensively, and McLouth has been a huge part of that. If you are worried about his low average, remember that in August, Ramirez was hitting just .264. McLouth is available in around 94 percent of leagues polled.

Each of these options is just a short-term fix, as Ramirez should be back relatively soon. How he hits after that could be a concern, though. Keep an eye on KFFL for any updates to his condition.

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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.

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