Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Fantasy Baseball: Diamond Market - Rising

September 2, 2008 @ 13:53:39

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Bryce McRae

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

Taylor Teagarden, Texas Rangers

Teagarden is one of a few top catching prospects the Rangers have been housing. He posted a .211-9-22 line in 246 at-bats in the minors; he spent much of August in Beijing with Team USA. The prized backstop already has two home runs and eight RBIs in three games (eight at-bats), and he appears set for some playing time. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (forearm) is out for the year, and Gerald Laird will split time at best.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

First Basemen

None

Second Basemen

David Eckstein, Arizona Diamondbacks

The D-backs acquired Eckstein from the Toronto Blue Jays before the waiver trade deadline. He's expected to fill in at second base, which was essentially a void with Orlando Hudson (wrist) out for the year. An experiment with third baseman Mark Reynolds at second didn't seem to cut it. Eck went 2-for-4 with two ribbies in his first contest as a Snake.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Acquire

Blake DeWitt, Los Angeles Dodgers

Second baseman Jeff Kent (knee) has had surgery and may be done for the rest of the regular season. The Dodgers have been playing DeWitt, the club's surprise star at the hot corner earlier this season, in Kent's spot recently. The youngster has responded with three hits in 12 at-bats, including two RBIs, in four starts. He was hitting .306 at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Matt Antonelli, San Diego Padres

The Friars released second baseman Tadahito Iguchi and recalled Antonelli, one of their top prospects entering the season. At Triple-A Portland, he struggled for most of the year (.215-7-39 with six steals), but he hit .290 with four homers and 11 RBIs in August. He went 1-for-4 in his major league debut Monday, Sept. 1, and should get ample time.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Acquire

Third Basemen

Mat Gamel, Milwaukee Brewers

Gamel is one of the club's top hitting prospects, but he wouldn't mind some tips with the mitt. He put up a .325-20-99 line across two levels of the minors this year, although he struggled a bit at Triple-A Nashville. Nevertheless, if the Brew Crew becomes impatient with their lack of production at the hot corner, it's not out of the question that Gamel could get a look. Milwaukee lacks left-handed bats in the everyday lineup.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Watch

Shortstops

None

Outfielders

Shin-Soo Choo, Cleveland Indians

It's time to pounce on Choo if you need outfield help. Since July 9, he has raised his average from .235 to .284. He has seven home runs, 25 RBIs and 31 runs scored in that time. Choo has chipped in with four steals this year, too. He fans a ton (64 times in 236 at-bats), so he's likely to cool off before long, but in the meantime....

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Will Venable, San Diego Padres

Outfielder Jody Gerut (finger) has been out of commission for the past handful of games, and the club recently placed outfielder Scott Hairston (thumb) on the 15-day disabled list. The 25-year-old Venable was hitting .292 with 14 homers and 58 RBIs for Triple-A Portland; he's 4-for-15 and has driven in two since joining the parent club.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Watch

Designated Hitters

None

Starting Pitchers

Shaun Marcum, Toronto Blue Jays

A couple of weeks ago, the Jays optioned Marcum to Triple-A Syracuse to work on his command. Perhaps it was the jolt he needed: The breakout right-hander allowed five hits and four earned runs in 13 innings; however, he walked only three and fanned 15. Prospective fantasy owners should take advantage of those who were quick with their trigger fingers.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Brandon Morrow, Seattle Mariners

The interim-closer-turned-starter is back with the M's after five outings for Triple-A Tacoma. He's stretched out (he went from 1 2/3 innings in his first to six in his last), and he seemed to be adjusting: He allowed seven earned runs in his 18 2/3 innings. Morrow allowed only one hit in his last appearance, and he issued eight walks while fanning 23 in those starts. The bigs are a bit different, though.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Jorge De La Rosa, Colorado Rockies

The name evokes shrieks from AL-only fantasy managers, but lately with the Rockies, De La Rosa has been rosy. He has roasted opponents by allowing three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, and one or fewer in five of them. There's little evidence to suggest he'll keep this up, but ride him while he's hot, or at least play matchups.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Joshua Geer, San Diego Padres

San Diego called up Geer in time to start Saturday, Aug. 30, and the righty didn't fare too poorly. He notched a win in his big-league debut by pitching five innings and allowing five hits, three walks and two earned runs; he also struck out five. The 25-year-old isn't highly touted (he went 8-9 with a 4.54 ERA for Triple-A Portland), but he may get a few more looks.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Watch

Relief Pitchers

Matt Lindstrom, Florida Marlins

Closer Kevin Gregg (knee) was expected to miss a few days because of inflammation in his left knee. However, there doesn't appear to be any rush to get him back. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he'd use either Lindstrom or reliever Joe Nelson in save situations for the time being. Nelson (1.82 ERA, 1.24, 47 K's in 39 2/3 innings) has the better ratios, but Lindstrom has been hyped as the closer of the future. Perhaps the future is now for Marlins, who cling to playoff hopes. Either addition might be a short-term thing.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire