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Fantasy Baseball: Diamond Market - Falling

July 28, 2008 @ 13:24:28

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

Max Ramirez, Texas Rangers

Catcher Gerald Laird's (hamstring) return from the disabled list over the weekend left no room for Ramirez on the roster. He was optioned to Double-A Frisco Sunday, July 27, where he is set to play two games before moving up to Triple-A Oklahoma. Ramirez hit just .233 with two homers and nine RBIs during his 13-game stint in the majors. With Laird and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia ahead of him in the pecking order, Ramirez can be discarded in all but deep AL-only leagues.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Stash

First Basemen

None

Second Basemen

None

Third Basemen

Blake DeWitt, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers acquired veteran third baseman Casey Blake from the Cleveland Indians Saturday, July 26, and in a corresponding move optioned DeWitt to Triple-A Las Vegas. DeWitt hit just .200 with six RBIs since the beginning of June after posting a .322-5-18 line in May. As long as Blake is ahead of him, and the Dodgers remain in the playoff race, DeWitt will likely remain in the minors. Feel free to drop him in all but very deep NL-only formats.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

NL-only: Stash

Andy LaRoche, Los Angeles Dodgers

One day after third baseman Blake DeWitt was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas, LaRoche followed suit as he too was sent to the minors. With just a .203 average and six RBIs in the majors this year, LaRoche is not someone who should be held in mixed formats. However, the prospect that he'll be traded to a team in need of a third sacker of the future means he retains value in league-specific formats.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

NL-only: Hold

Shortstops

None

Outfielders

Brett Gardner, New York Yankees

Gardner's stint in the majors came to a quick end after just 59 at-bats. The speedy outfielder was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre so he could start every day after the acquisition of outfielder Xavier Nady from the Pittsburgh Pirates. A borderline AL-only player at best, Gardner should be dropped in all single-year formats.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Stash

Matt Murton, Oakland Athletics

After making 30 at-bats with the A's since coming over in the deal that sent pitcher Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs, Murton was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. Murton was a coveted pickup in the trade, but he struggled with just three hits and two RBIs since switching teams. He does have some major league success as he hit .297 with 13 homers while seeing regular at-bats for the Cubs in 2006. Murton should be discarded in deep mixed leagues, but you could hold on to him in AL-only formats if you have the room.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Stash

Designated Hitters

None

Starting Pitchers

Dustin McGowan, Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays rotation took a hit over the weekend as it was learned the 26-year-old hurler would undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. The move ends a disappointing season for McGowan. He should be let go in all single-year leagues if you were holding on to him in hopes of a potential return.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Discard

Radhames Liz, Baltimore Orioles

After being shelled for six runs in 5 2/3 innings Saturday, July 26, the Orioles optioned the struggling Liz to Triple-A Norfolk Sunday, July 27. Liz struggled with his control over his last four starts, giving up 18 walks and six homers in just 17 1/3 innings. He managed to win four games while losing only three despite an ERA of 7.47 and a WHIP of 1.79. He wasn't an option in any mixed leagues, but he could be stashed in AL-only leagues if you have available space on your bench.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-only: Stash

Aaron Laffey, Cleveland Indians

After almost two months of poor starts, Laffey was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo Saturday, July 26, with the return of starter Fausto Carmona (hip). Laffey experienced an outstanding May (3-2, 0.79 ERA, 1.03 WHIP), but he has just a 2-4 record and a 6.17 ERA since the beginning of June. Despite the demotion, Laffey should be stashed in AL-only formats.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

NL-only: Stash

Relief Pitchers

Todd Jones, Detroit Tigers

Jones has been removed from his closer's role in lieu of reliever Fernando Rodney. Jones blew three of his last seven save chances and has allowed opponents to hit at a .293 clip against him this season. His ratios are less than inviting with a 4.99 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and just 13 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. Without the saves, Jones loses nearly all of his value so feel free to drop him in shallow mixed leagues. However, he could be stashed in deep mixed or AL-only formats in case the team reverses this decision.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Stash

AL-only: Hold

Damaso Marte, New York Yankees

While Marte may be happy with his switch from a pretender to a contender, fantasy owners are likely disappointed after losing out on a solid closer. Marte put up solid ratios with the Pittsburgh Pirates this year by posting a 3.47 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings. His saves were an added bonus that now appears to be over barring an injury to Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Marte could be used in AL-only leagues if you need the boost in strikeouts and ratios, but he's not worth keeping in mixed varieties.

Shallow mixed: Discard

Deep mixed: Discard

AL-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.