Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Fantasy Baseball: Diamond Market - Falling

June 9, 2008 @ 10:15:48

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Herija C. Green

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)

Catchers

None

First Basemen

None

Second Basemen

Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians

Looking to spark their offense, the Indians optioned the struggling Cabrera to Triple-A Buffalo Monday, June 9, after he hit just .184 with a homer, 14 RBIs and 16 runs in 52 games this year. Cabrera's defense also was not as important with sinkerballers Jake Westbrook (elbow) and Fausto Carmona (hip) on the shelf. His replacement - second baseman Josh Barfield - is no offensive juggernaut, but he had five homers and 20 RBIs at Buffalo. Feel free to discard Cabrera in all formats.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Discard

Third Basemen

Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals

Manager Trey Hillman moved Gordon from the three-spot Sunday, June 8, ending a streak of 21 straight games batting third in the lineup. According to Hillman, he does not like the way Gordon has been swinging the bat. Gordon was hitting .296 as of May 21, but he has just 12 hits in 67 at-bats (.179) since. He has also failed to go yard - May 9 was his last dinger - and has driven in just five runs. However, his potential is still too great to consider dropping him. Hang on to him in all leagues.

Shallow mixed: Hold

Deep mixed: Hold

AL-only: Hold

Shortstops

Luis Maza, Los Angeles Dodgers

With second baseman Jeff Kent (back) and shortstop Rafael Furcal (back) missing time in the last month, Maza has been able to find semi-regular work in the middle infield. That could change with the addition of shortstop Angel Berroa (Kansas City Royals), who was acquired Friday, June 6. Neither Maza nor Berroa are great options in any fantasy leagues, though you can feel free to discard Maza in all formats.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

NL-only: Discard

Outfielders

Wladimir Balentien, Seattle Mariners

Likely a speculative pickup by some owners in deep mixed leagues, Balentien is losing time to outfielder Jeremy Reed of late. Balentien sports a dismal .194 average and has not gone yard since May 12. In fact, he has recorded just three of his nine RBIs in the last month. He has potential to hit for power, but owners in mixed leagues should cut him loose.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Hold

Ryan Spilborghs, Colorado Rockies

The Rockies should receive a boost Tuesday, June 10, when outfielder Matt Holliday (hamstring) is expected to return from the disabled list. They also recently returned outfielder Brad Hawpe (hamstring), creating a glut of outfielders on their roster. Spilborghs is still putting up decent numbers, but he could find it tough to get regular at-bats with Holliday, Hawpe, and outfielders Willy Taveras, Scott Podsednik and Seth Smith all in the mix. Go ahead and drop Spilborghs in all formats except NL-only.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

NL-only: Hold

Designated Hitters

Mike Sweeney, Oakland Athletics

The oft-injured Sweeney (knee) is scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery Wednesday, June 11, which could keep him out four to six weeks. In his first season in Oakland, Sweeney was hitting for a decent average (.292) but doing little else at the plate (two home runs and 12 RBIs in 120 at-bats). Designated hitter Frank Thomas (quadriceps) has been rehabbing in Las Vegas and could receive most of the at-bats at DH when he returns. Sweeney could still see time at first base, but he is no longer an option in mixed leagues. Stash him on the DL in league-specific formats.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Hold

Starting Pitchers

Jeremy Bonderman, Detroit Tigers

Bonderman (shoulder) is expected to miss the rest of the season with thoracic outlet compression syndrome. In layman's terms, the team discovered a blood clot in his axillary vein. Go ahead and drop him in all single-year leagues.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Discard

Burke Badenhop, Florida Marlins

Badenhop actually turned in one of his better performances Tuesday, June 3, giving up three runs in five innings; that fact speaks volumes of his year so far as he has posted a 2-3 record, 6.38 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. With his poor numbers, the team has inserted pitching prospect Ryan Tucker into the starting rotation. The team appears to have better prospects for their rotation - Tucker, starter Chris Volstad - so it is time to ditch the struggling Badenhop in all formats.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

NL-only: Discard

Sidney Ponson, Texas Rangers

The Rangers designated Ponson for assignment Friday, June 6, opening up a spot in their rotation. They have not stated who will replace him, but it is safe to say his disruptive personality will not be missed in the Rangers clubhouse. He has been a decent pitcher this year - 4-1 record, 3.88 ERA - but should only be stashed in AL-only formats to see if he can land another starting gig elsewhere.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Stash

Relief Pitchers

Rafael Soriano, Atlanta Braves

A Braves bullpen already reeling from the loss of hurler John Smoltz (shoulder) learned Soriano (elbow) is still battling tendinitis in his right elbow. He already missed 45 games earlier this season with the same problem, but he thinks he should be able to return after a couple of days off this time. The team has the unreliable reliever Manny Acosta - two blown saves in the last week - in the bullpen and relief pitcher Mike Gonzalez (elbow) could return soon from Tommy John surgery. Some rest might be all Soriano needs so hang on to him in all league formats.

Shallow mixed: Hold

Deep mixed: Hold

NL-only: Hold

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.