Here comes another one!
Chances are that your fantasy baseball league’s free agent waiver wire has been picked pretty clean now that we’re more than a third of the way through the season. However, you always have owners with quick trigger fingers and start dropping decent guys in slumps for whomever they deem as the new flavor of the week. If you have bench spots available, meaning you are able to drop a body without much consequence, then you should be scoring the waiver wire for just such an instance. I’ve seen owners drop great players who are slumping, hoping that no one in the league notices and then try to grab them again when they start to show signs of life. Make them pay for their mistakes. Keep checking out the available free agents, as you never know when a hot streak can ignite your fantasy team and get you some much needed stats. Here’s a look for this weekend…
3 Up
Carlos Santana, C CLE – While most people are talking about 2010 as the Year of the Pitcher, I think it’s looking more like the Year of the Rookie. Santana is the next in a failry long line of highly touted prospects to finally be called up for major league duty. Depending on your league and whatever site you use, Santana may still be available on your free agent waiver wire. If he is, then pick him up now. He’s a switch hitting, power hitting catcher and should have tremendous value for this season and beyond. He was hitting .316 with 13 HR and 51 RBI in 57 Triple-A games and he should be in the lineup tonight. Act now, while you still can.
Jake Arrieta, SP BAL – Another highly touted rookie, although not quite with the marquee name that Santana or some of the others have. The Orioles brought up Arrieta this week and debuted him against the Yankees. Normally that could be disastrous for a youngster, but Arrieta looked solid winning his first start. He went 6 innings allowing just 3 runs and struck out 6. He had 4 walks, but 2 of them were intentional. Arrieta’s got a fastball that sits in the mid 90′s, a solid changeup and a pretty nice 12-6 curve. He’ll hit some bumps in the road along the way, but could have some real nice value in AL-only leagues.
Chris Coghlan, OF FLA – The Coghlan that everyone’s been waiting for seems to have finally arrived as he continues to increase that batting average amidst this 10 game hit streak that he’s on. He’s hit .434 in that time, increasing his average to .265 from the woeful .217 it was just a short time ago. He’ll continue to see plenty of action, so if he’s available, then grab him for some serious help in average and runs scored. He should be good to go the rest of the way.
3 Down
Dallas Braden, SP OAK – Despite all the bravado shown against Alex Rodriguez and the perfect game he threw against the Rays a little ways back, Braden is finally revealing his true colors. In hi slast 3 outings, Braden is 0-2 with a 6.50 ERA and a very unsightly 1.72 WHIP. In fact, Braden hasn’t won a game since that day of perfection and doesn’t look like he will ever reach that pinnacle again. As I’ve always said…typical case of the sun shining on a dog’s ass atleast once in his life.
Nate McLouth, OF ATL – Another of my least favorite players showing that it’s more than safe to drop him off your roster, if you haven’t done so already. McLouth, hitting just .177 on the year with just 3 HR and 4 SB, could be headed to the DL soon with a possible concussion after colliding with teammate Jason Heyward, and no longer warrants consideration on your roster. Even if he doesn’t land on the DL, which he probably will, the Braves have enough options to keep him out of the lineup for atleast a few games. They are in no rush to get him back into the lineup. For me, this does mean that Melky Cabrera could see a little more time and might be able to heat up a little. Not a big move, but one that might help you a little in the short run.
Chris Snyder, C ARI – Could be all she wrote for Snyder in Arizona as Miguel Montero is expected back this weekend. Montero will immediately reclaim his starting job and will push Snyder to the bench for an extended period of time. There’s still hope that he could get traded by the deadline, so he may have a bit of fantasy value in the future. I don’t necessarily know if I’d drop him instantaneously, as we don’t know how Montero’s knee will hold under the usual catcher’s workload, but I’m fairly confident that he will soon become expendable.
For the best in free fantasy baseball advice, tips,strategies, free agent waiver wire suggestions, and analysis, stick with The Fantasy Baseball Buzz and I’ll have you at the top of your standings in no time. And, as always, for all questions, thoughts and/or comments related to the baseball fantasy world or not, you can reach me through the comments section below or at rotobuzzguy@gmail.com.
Good luck and I’ll see you all in the money this year!
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Howard,
I have been waiting for Montero to come off my DL, but have been satisfied with Yadier Molina as my fill-in catcher over that period. This Puts me in a pickle trying to decide who if anyone on my roster to let go in favor of holding onto Molina long enough to know Montero is going to finish the season without a set back. Really, not looking forward to this weekend when Montero comes off the DL.
I am really surprised that your fantasy rosters have that many young unproven prospects……