Brand Name Talent at Generic Prices
sonofzim@fantasybaseballgeeks.com
When it comes to pharmaceuticals I tend to go with the “name brand” antibiotics for the occasional sinus infection or whooping cough. For the extra twenty bucks it’s worth the peace of mind to know exactly what chemicals will be wreaking havoc through my system. But an extra $20 savings towards your fantasy roster can be huge if you know where to look for bargains.
Ryan Church - Icon SMI
Here is a list of players at each position who you can order from the dollar menu and fill your lineup with quality production. All of who, should cost you $10 or less in auction drafts:
C: Ramon Hernandez, Cincinnati Reds - $8…A move to the NL Central from the AL East is exactly what the doctor ordered for Ramon Hernandez. Despite turning 32, he still has a strong chance to appear in 130+games and will bring real power from behind the dish to the Cincinnati offense. It was only 2006 when Hernandez last topped 20 homers, so his bat is far from dead. Injuries have slowed him a bit, but have also discounted his price tag significantly. (.285 7 HR after the break when healthy)
1B: Kendry Morales, Los Angeles Angels - $1…A lot of baseball people have been touting Kendry Morales for some time now but it’s my belief that the expectations were a bit unfair considering he is only 25 years old. Morales has produced stellar numbers in the minor leagues including hitting .341 in ‘07 and ‘08.
| Minor League Batting Stats | |||||||||||||
| Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | SLG | AVG | |
| AAA-Salt Lake | 66 | 256 | 41 | 82 | 13 | 12 | 52 | 14 | 40 | .359 | .520 | .320 | |
| AAA-Salt Lake | 64 | 255 | 42 | 87 | 20 | 5 | 37 | 15 | 30 | .385 | .486 | .341 | |
| AAA-Salt Lake | 78 | 317 | 46 | 108 | 19 | 15 | 64 | 19 | 43 | .376 | .543 | .341 | |
Guys don’t hit .340 (under 26) in AAA and never figure it out in the majors so Morales might turn out to be the best value on draft day at a position where most are spending top dollar for “super sluggers” or overpaying for mediocre talent like Adam LaRoche (a nice player but not worth the sticker price). Morales has the gig and the opportunity. Is there for a 25/90 season with an average over .280 to boot.
2B: Alexi Casilla, Minnesota Twins - $7…Alexi Casilla had a quietly respectable season last year for an underrated Minnesota team. Projecting his numbers over a full season his numbers would be - 90 runs, 170 hits, 80 rbi and 10 steals. This last season in the dome should suit his slap-happy hitting style and after the “Big 3″ are gone (Utley/Kinsler/Pedroia) the shaky middle tier of Cano’s and DeRosa’s make Alexi a very smart selection.
3B: Casey Blake, Los Angeles Dodgers - $9…Casey Blake is boring. When his name is called out at your draft the room everyone will continue to drink their beer and stuff their face with chips. Unless of course it’s called out in the first five rounds…that might get a rise from the group. A Casey Blake selection is about as sexy as Ernest Borgnine running in slow motion on a beach, but Blake will play 150 games and hit .270 20/80. At 35, he is not going to improve and might even decline but for the price he is an option if you choose to spend your money on other positions other than 3B.
SS: Mike Aviles, Kansas City Royals - $10…Aviles came out of nowhere last year and played a bit over his head in all likelihood. One thing to note is this guy plays hard for nine innings and for a team in Kansas City, who let’s face it most of your fellow owners will disregard due to lack of publicity. He could deliver 10+ homers and 10+ steals with a .300 average. Aviles has good baseball sense and KC is getting closer to shedding the doormat of the AL Central tag making Aviles a cheap, but useful pick.
OF: Ryan Church, New York Mets - $4…Ryan Church got off to a spectacular start last year then got knocked silly several times in a short span of time and never recovered his timing or his equilibrium. This year he will hopefully be fresh and clear of the cobwebs and in a very potent Mets lineup. His pre-injury first half numbers make him a great potential value.
| Category | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | SLG | AVG | TB |
| Pre All-Star |
57 |
205 |
40 |
63 |
10 |
36 |
19 |
50 |
.370 |
.512 |
.307 |
105 |
| Post All-Star |
33 |
114 |
14 |
25 |
2 |
13 |
14 |
33 |
.305 |
.307 |
.219 |
35 |
OF: Shin-Soo Choo, Cleveland Indians - $5… Choo finally prevailed after battling countless others in a crowded Cleveland outfield last season. He is a high OBP guy (.397) whose value will have a lot to do with where he hits in the lineup. Don’t expect more than 15 homeruns and you will not be disappointed. With the excellent base stealing ability he showed in the minor leagues he could become a poor man’s Ichiro someday. He has yet to scratch the surface.
OF: Rick Ankiel, St. Louis Cardinals - $7…Rick Ankiel was red hot until his abdominal strain. I was lucky enough to deal him two weeks before the snag. Until the injury though, I was second guessing the move. Ankiel has tremendous power as evidenced by a .500 SLG %. He will never hit for average and there is a bit of a logjam in St. Louis with Chris Duncan returning and Colby Rasmus approaching the big leagues. For his price I like his upside. You might not get a 40 HR season, but 30 or more is a very good reality.
SP: Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati Reds - $4…Arroyo rebounded last year to win 15 games for the first time in his career with a stellar second half performance (8-4 3.47ERA). He is a prime candidate to be dealt to a contender midseason.
SP: John Maine, New York Mets - $6…Maine succumbed to injuries last year but has front line stuff and more importantly mental toughness. Look for a bounce back.
SP: Todd Wellemeyer, St. Louis Cardinals - $4…Wellemeyer might be a fluke, but Dave Duncan is a genius and was able to get him over the hump after Wellemeyer hit the wall midseason. He is a great two start option/back of the rotation guy in a weak division.
SP: Brett Myers, Philadelphia Phillies - $4…Brett Myers is hard to pin down and not worth a major investment due to his mental instability (on and off the field). When on and motivated he is a top of the rotation strikeout machine and he comes at a significant value now after a bizarre 2008 campaign making him a great choice in leagues that reward K’s.
SP: John Danks, Chicago White Sox - $3…Gavin Floyd won more games, but John Danks had the better season when you look closer at the numbers. He is still very young and could improve to be a #2 starter in time.
RP: Frank Francisco, Texas Rangers - $1…83 K’s 26 BB and a 3.13 ERA - Sounds like an old Billy Wagner line. Frank Francisco throws hard and misses bats for a mediocre team sure to play in a boatload of close games. This is a nice recipe for cheap saves. There are many other places to find them, but as of now he has the gig and the stats to back it up.
ZIM’S KEYS TO BARGAIN SHOPPING:
- Look at small market teams.
- Target players returning from injuries.
- Know a player’s minor league track record.
Happy hunting!
