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Fantasy Baseball: Players to Buy Low

July 22, 2008 @ 16:14:34

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

Fantasy baseball owners need to pick their spots all season, and the start of the second half provides prime timing for capitalizing on deflated value. KFFL.com spotlights some of the most noteworthy buy-low candidates that should be acquired before your trade deadline.

Chone Figgins, 3B, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Figgins was greatly overvalued entering the season because of his 2007 batting average (.330). He's still good for one thing - steals - of course, even though, with 17, it may not seem like it. He missed nearly a month and a half with a hamstring problem, but it can take basestealers awhile to regain confidence in their legs. Figgins still isn't running often, but he's healthy, and with the Angels' aggressive philosophy on the bases he'll begin swiping at his old pace.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia Phillies

"J-Roll" has missed some time, too, but that's not the main reason for his drop in value. He has a mere six ding dongs in 306 at-bats - one every 51 at-bats. That's a far cry from his pace of the last two seasons (one homer every 25.5 at-bats). The 25 steals are about right. Rollins' round-tripper rate and batting average, particularly in the past two years, have increased in the second half.

Derek Jeter, SS, New York Yankees

"Jete" was considered a top-60 pick entering the season, and he has picked it up lately. He has a lot to prove, though. A few things to remember: He has never batted lower than .292 in a season; he's a career .316 hitter; and his post-break average is more than 10 points higher than his pre-break mark. Oh, and a Yanks turnaround starts with The Captain. His power and steals may be in decline, but by the end of the year he could be a top-six shortstop.

Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds

One could make the argument for plenty of buy-low outfielders, but Bruce might be the most exciting target. The 2007 Minor League Player of the Year (lest we forget!) is perhaps most lauded for not his power or speed but his brain. He soaks up a ton and is always looking to make adjustments. Expect the phenom with the .267-7-24 line in 187 at-bats to be an everyday regular in your shallow mixed outfield before too long.

Josh Beckett, SP, Boston Red Sox

A 2-1 record with a 5.68 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in July makes this year's Beckett look more like the 2006 disappointment than the 2007 Cy Young Award candidate. However, his biggest problem two years ago was the long ball (36 allowed); he gave up 17 last season. This year, the right-hander allowed nine in May but has served up just four since. Every pitcher hits a rough patch. He was nasty (3.10 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 102 K's in 98 2/3 innings) after the All-Star game last year. He's still a stud hurler.

Matt Cain, SP, San Francisco Giants

It's the same old story with Cain. In his career, before the break, he has a 4.18 ERA and 1.34 WHIP; afterward, he boasts a 3.31 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Much of that is boosted by his 2005 debut (2.33 ERA, 0.93 WHIP), which began in August. However, in the second half of each of the past two seasons, he has increased his rate of strikeouts per nine innings and decreased his rate of walks per nine innings. He won't get run support from the poor Giants, but those peripherals are a recipe for fantasy success.

Javier Vazquez, SP, Chicago White Sox

With Vazquez, it can be pretty simple: If he walks dudes, he's in trouble. Witness his June (7.48 ERA, 1.92 WHIP, 15 walks issued in 27 2/3 innings). He was terribly hittable (.330 opponents' average) that month, too - not a good combo. July has been a little kinder, and he's better than this. He's on pace in the strikeout department and has the ChiSox offense behind him. He should still end up with 14 wins.

J.J. Putz, RP, Seattle Mariners

Putz is finally back from elbow problems, but it's not easy to forget how much he has broken fantasy hearts (4.95 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, seven saves thus far). A ribcage issue sidelined him earlier in the year, so he has frustrated folks for a while. Three facts make him a trade target, despite reliever Brandon Morrow's performance in the interim: The M's waited until they were sure Putz was healthy; his stuff is still nasty; and Seattle is still paying him to close games. He will pitch in non-save situations initially, but he will eventually re-enter the ninth-inning picture; look to grab him before he does.