Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - AL

April 14, 2010 @ 13:30:00

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Tim Heaney

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - NL

Fantasy baseball waivers and the acquisition of fantasy baseball free agents can make or break your season. Your fantasy baseball cheat sheets won't help you after spring training. If your team remains the same after opening day, you will have trouble competing in your rotisserie baseball league.

Do you need to replace your fantasy baseball busts? Which fantasy baseball players can you ignore? KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market gives you fantasy baseball tips and insight to sort through the masses quickly.

Key

 

Catchers

Dioner Navarro, C, Tampa Bay Rays

Kelly Shoppach (knee) hit the 15-day DL with a right knee sprain. He's optimistic he'll be back as soon as he's eligible, but until then, Navarro will take over most of the backstop duties. His biggest contribution will come from his at-bats. Average (.252 career hitter; .295 in '08) and some mild power, backed by a flyball uptick in recent years, are the categories he can help in the most. Mixed leaguers with two-catcher lineups can feel more comfortable using him as a No. 2.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Outfielders

Jose Guillen, OF, Kansas City Royals

Ricky 'splained some things Tuesday

Guillen has opened up his '10 campaign with a .313-4-8 line and seven runs in just 32 at-bats. His last four games heading into Wednesday: 6-for-13, five runs, four homers, seven RBIs. It makes him worth adding ... just not for anyone with long-term potential.

Guillen is streaky, but the fact that the oft-injured vet is strictly playing DH can preserve him and keep him focused on hitting. Ride him while he's hot, but don't be quick to discard him when he comes back to earth. He could easily post another 20-homer, 80-RBI season if healthy.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Pitchers

Ricky Romero, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

The southpaw struck out 12 in only six innings yesterday. He carried a no-hitter into the eighth. Over his first two starts (15 innings), Romero has a 1.80 ERA with 16 K's and only four walks.

In the first half last year, he posted a 3.00 ERA, 1.26 WHIP with seven wins in 13 starts. He's a former top-10 draft pick. If your daily transaction leaguemates haven't jumped on him already, there's no harm in seeing if his arm is finally ready to live up to his high draft standing. Weekly lineup owners with a free-agent budget will probably have to pay big to get him. If you can afford to pay a high-upside price, take the chance, as long as you drop someone disposable.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Kevin Gregg, RP, Toronto Blue Jays

Gregg bumped Jason Frasor from the closer job. Though Manager Cito Gaston said he won't work his closer on consecutive nights, don't expect Gregg to yield many chances.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Fernando Rodney, RP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Rodney will step into the closer's role with Brian Fuentes (back) on the 15-day DL. He might only have the job for a week - Fuentes is eligible to return April 21 - but if he's available, and you need some saves help, grab him. Just don't invest too much as his SVOs likely will be fleeting.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Jim Johnson, RP, Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles placed closer Mike Gonzalez (shoulder) on the 15-day DL. They haven't stated who'll close, but Johnson is the likely bet to see first shot, though they could mix and match. JJ has good fastball heat, but it hasn't translated yet (5.58 career K/9); his dominance has improved in the last few seasons, though, and he managed 10 saves despite struggling in the role last year. Cla Meredith and Kam Mickolio are two deeper, AL-only options, but Johnson is the best of a bad bunch.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - NL

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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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