Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Rising

April 17, 2009 @ 01:00:01

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Falling

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

Rob Johnson, Seattle Mariners

Starter Kenji Johjima (hamstring) is on the 15-day disabled list and likely will miss two to three weeks. The M's have named Johnson the starter in his place. He hit well with Triple-A Tacoma last year (.305 average) and showed off a decent batting eye, but that has yet to transfer over to the bigs. For now, his at-bats are his best value.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Acquire

Second basemen

Chris Getz, Chicago White Sox

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen plans to keep Getz batting leadoff, which should help his runs totals for the time being. Still, he's only hitting .227 and is struggling to adapt to his first taste of major league action. Getz can hit for average and has demonstrated an outstanding batting eye in the minors. His speed is also another minor plus if you want to vulture a few steals.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Shortstops

Omar Infante, Atlanta Braves

The Braves will re-evaluate shortstop Yunel Escobar (abdominal) Friday, April 17, after he left early Thursday, April 16, with a strained abdominal muscle. Escobar is day-to-day. Given the tendency for abdominal injuries to linger, Infante is a proactive pickup in NL-only leagues. He won't help much other than boosting your average, though he had moderate success in on-again, off-again 2008 playing time (40 RBIs, .293 clip).

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

NL-only: Acquire

Outfielders

Nick Swisher, New York Yankees

Outfielder Xavier Nady (elbow) might be done for the year. First baseman Mark Teixeira (wrist) has been bothered by his wrist. Designated hitter Hideki Matsui (knee) has fluid buildup in his knee. Swisher shouldn't have a problem finding room in the lineup, especially with his commendable .406-4-11 line in 32 at-bats to start the season.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

Mike Cameron, Milwaukee Brewers

Cameron is off to an impressive start, hitting .370 with two stolen bases and a 1.315 OPS. He even has a respectable seven walks compared to just four K's - unheard of for the free swinger. He's one of those players to ride while he's hot and sit while he slumps.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Chris Duncan, St. Louis Cardinals

Another quick starter, Duncan is hitting .389 with two dingers through his first 36 at-bats. He made a name for himself with 43 homers combined in 2006 and 2007. However, his power stroke disappeared last year, and he has yet to hit for average consistently in the majors. He may eventually show his true colors against lefties (.215 career clip), too.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

NL-only: Acquire

Gary Matthews Jr., Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Vladimir Guerrero (pectoral) could be headed to the DL with a right pectoral strain, which should create more opportunities for Matthews to get his bat into the lineup. He's hitting just .214 and has only one ribbie in 14 at-bats, but those in AL-only leagues should definitely take note.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Acquire

Starting pitchers

Armando Galarraga, Detroit Tigers

Dating back to the middle of April 2008, Galarraga has compiled 15 wins, a 3.52 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 192 innings. He never showed exceptional control in the minors until he joined the Tigers last year, which leaves us waiting for the other shoe to drop. Still, with over a year of quality outings under his belt, he has shown enough to warrant shallow-league consideration.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

AL-only: Acquire

P.J. Walters, St. Louis Cardinals

With starter Chris Carpenter (oblique) out for four to eight weeks because of a tear in his left oblique muscle, Walters will have the first crack at a rotation spot. He lasted just four innings after giving up three earned and allowing nine baserunners, but he fanned seven batters. For now, place him on your watch list, especially given his strikeout potential.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Watch

AL-only: Acquire

Chris Jakubauskas, Seattle Mariners

Jakubauskas made his first career major league start Thursday, April 16, throwing 5 1/3 innings and allowing just two runs. He was starting in place Ryan Rowland-Smith (triceps), who has been sidelined by triceps tendonitis. It's still early to be using Jakubauskas for a spot start. You'll also have to wait to see if the M's give him another turn in the rotation.

Shallow mixed: Pass

Deep mixed: Pass

AL-only: Watch

Relief pitchers

Manny Corpas, Colorado Rockies

Troy E. Renck, of the Denver Post, has reported Corpas likely will become the Rox closer again. We've already extolled our belief countless times that he's more suited to the role in Denver, and it appears manager Clint Hurdle has finally come around, too.

Shallow mixed: Acquire

Deep mixed: Acquire

NL-only: Acquire

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Falling

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.