Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Fantasy Baseball: Diamond Market - Rising

July 18, 2008 @ 12:16:46

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Herija C. Green

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

Chris Iannetta, Colorado Rockies

The Rockies are reportedly listening to offers for catcher Yorvit Torrealba, and Iannetta has already been seeing the majority of the playing time with more at-bats than Torrealba in each of the last three months. As well, with 10 homers in 53 games this year, Iannnetta has given a decent return in the power categories and his .281 average and 37 RBIs don't hurt either. Add him in all deeper mixed leagues. If Torrealba is traded, consider adding Iannetta in shallow leagues as well.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Chris Snyder, Arizona Diamondbacks

Despite suffering an injury this writer hasn't even recovered from reading about, Snyder (testicle) looks set to return from the DL Saturday, July 19. The Arizona backstop has posted a .246-7-33 line on the season, which was helped largely by his .309-3-14 line in May. He hit only .217 in June and managed just six RBIs. He's a candidate to be added in deep, two-catcher mixed formats.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

First Basemen

Richie Sexson, New York Yankees

Apparently Sexson wanted to move as far away from Seattle as possible. The Yankees announced Sexson's signing Friday, July 18, and the right-handed hitter is expected to give first baseman Jason Giambi a breather at first base against left-handed pitching. Sexson has raked against southpaws this year with a .344 average, five home runs and 18 RBIs in 61 at-bats. He could also see time at designated hitter if outfielder Hideki Matsui (knee) is indeed done for the season. AL-only owners should add him and start him based on matchups.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Acquire

Bryan LaHair, Seattle Mariners

The Mariners are expected to call up LaHair from Triple-A Tacoma Friday, July 18, to give the power-hitting prospect a long look at first base. In 85 games for the Rainiers this year, LaHair is hitting just .263, but he has 12 dingers and has driven in 53. He's an option solely in AL-only leagues.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Acquire

Second Basemen

None

Third Basemen

Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals

Zimmerman (shoulder) could make his return from the disabled list sometime this week. Prior to his DL stint, Zimmerman was hitting just .257 with eight homers and 27 RBIs. With his last game coming May 25, there is a good chance a hasty owner dropped the slugger. If available, don't hesitate to grab him in all leagues. He has been a beast after the All-Star break during his career with a .295-18-103 line in 164 second-half games.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Hank Blalock, Texas Rangers

Blalock's (hand) return from the disabled list did not come about exactly as expected. With first baseman Chris Davis continuing to smoke the ball in the majors, the Rangers opted to move Blalock back to third so they could keep both bats in the lineup. This means the injury-prone Blalock will continue working at the tougher defensive position. Blalock is worth watching in mixed formats based on past performance, but his injury history makes him a risky proposition at best right now.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Shortstops

Jeff Keppinger, Cincinnati Reds

Keppinger should receive more playing time with infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. (hamstring) on the 15-day DL. After a hot start in 2008 (.312-2-13 in April), Keppinger has managed just a .205 average with two RBIs in 11 July games. He is still a lifetime .305 hitter, so if you need to boost your average, consider adding him as a short-term option in deeper mixed leagues. Just don't expect much in the other fantasy categories.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians

With a playoff spot seemingly out of the picture, the Indians recalled Cabrera from Triple-A Buffalo Friday, July 18, and he will likely resume the everyday second base duties he lost earlier this year. His month-long stint in the minors could not have gone much better as he hit .326 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 34 games. He is not worth adding in deep mixed leagues at this time, but AL-only owners should scoop him up if available.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Outfielders

None

Designated Hitters

None

Starting Pitchers

Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado Rockies

Jimenez allowed just three runs in seven innings Thursday, July 17, earning his fourth straight quality start and sixth in eight games. During that stretch, the 24-year-old has lowered his ERA from 5.43 as of June 6 to 4.20. One worrisome sign is his walks; Jimenez gave nine free passes in his two starts before the break and issued two more July 17. However, he has recorded 98 strikeouts in 120 innings and is worth adding in deep mixed leagues.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Joe Blanton, Philadelphia Phillies

Blanton should receive a slight boost in value after his trade to the Phillies as the National League is generally more pitcher-friendly due to the absence of the designated hitter. The Phillies offense is also stronger than the Oakland Athletics, so more run support could be expected. He does leave the friendly confines of McAfee Coliseum for the more hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park, which could affect his ratios and serve to partially offset any increase in wins. Place him on your watch list in deep mixed leagues to see how he fares in his new surroundings and add him in NL-only formats.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Brett Myers, Philadelphia Phillies

After a stopover with Class A Clearwater Friday, July 18, Myers is expected to return to the majors for a start Wednesday, July 23. His struggles have been well-documented this year; however, he looked sharp in a start for Double-A Reading Saturday, July 12, giving up just two runs in eight innings with 10 strikeouts. Bear in mind the start was against minor leaguers, but if he pitches well in his Clearwater start, Myers could be a high-reward addition in deeper mixed leagues. Those in shallow formats that are in need of pitching help should place him on their watch lists.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Gio Gonzalez, Oakland Athletics

The trade of starter Joe Blanton to the Philadelphia Phillies has left a vacant spot in the A's rotation, and Gonzalez is expected to be the one to fill that spot. The southpaw has been outstanding for Triple-A Sacramento over his last four starts. In that span, he has given up just three earned runs in 28 1/3 innings while striking out 34 batters. Considered to be one of Oakland's top pitching prospects, Gonzalez should be added in AL-only leagues and placed on watch lists in mixed formats.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Paul Maholm, Pittsburgh Pirates

Maholm was tagged with his first loss in almost two months Thursday, July 17. Even in the loss, Maholm managed seven strikeouts without any walks. Prior to his Thursday start, the lefty was 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA over his last three starts. With seven quality starts in his last nine outings, Maholm has worked his way into being an option in deep mixed leagues. However, shallow mixed owners should hold off on him for the time being.

Shallow mixed: Watch

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Kip Wells, Colorado Rockies

Wells (hand) looks set to make his return from the disabled list Monday, July 21. He threw a rehab start for Double-A Tulsa Wednesday, July 16, giving up just two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings of work. The former first-round pick has not finished with an ERA less than 5.09 since the 2004 season and is not guaranteed to remain in the rotation. He is a speculative add in NL-only leagues at best.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Watch

Relief Pitchers

None

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.