Fantasy Baseball Sleepers 2010: 5 Guys On My Radar

     It’s been said over and over again throughout the years of fantasy baseball, and should continue to be reiterated for those that maybe just don’t get it yet.  Fantasy studs are fantasy studs, no question about it.  Your top draft picks and the bulk of your fantasy baseball auction dollars go to the studs.  They go towards Albert Pujols and Hanley Ramirez. You use them up on Ryan Braun and Tim Lincecum.  These picks are used to build the core of your team, your foundation.  But as most of us already know, fantasy baseball championships are consistently won later on in your draft.  It’s your value picks that do it for you.  It’s the guys that you pick up in the 21st round that perform like a second round pick.  That’s where the magic happens and that’s what wins it for you.  Sure, without your studs, your team is a joke, but who’s going to pass on Ryan Howard because they have a hunch that this could be Adam LaRoche’s year?  No one worthy of playing this game, that’s who.

     So with that, it’s time to start making lists of potential late round steals;  players to watch during Spring Training that your competition may not be following just yet.  Keeping tabs on position battles, rising stars and even players who may start in the minors but have the potential of hitting the majors by midseason is integral to your fantasy baseball draft prep.  We’re talking fantasy baseball sleepers here.  Anyone can scour the waiver wire during the season, but it’s the savvy owner, and usually the winner of your league, that finds these players late in the draft before anyone else has a chance to pick them up.  And as one of your fantasy baseball reference points, it’s time I started sharing some of my lists with you.  To start, here are 5 guys that I’ll be tracking this Spring with the hopes of snagging them late in my draft and using them to win another championship this year.

Julio Borbon, OF  TEX –  It’s tough for me to really call Borbon a sleeper now that every fantasy baseball magazine and website has his name and picture plastered all over the place.  But, believe it or not, there are still those that don’t know him.  Borbon was a late season call-up last year and he dazzled with his .312 average and 19 steals in just 157 at bats.  Dazzled with his .376 OBP and 30 runs scored in just 46 games.  He was the consummate leadoff hitter that the Rangers hoped Elvis Andrus would be and they loved him so much that the team already has him penciled in as their starting center fielder for 2010.  If you’re concerned that maybe last year was a fluke, think again, and check out his minor league totals.  In 231 career minor league games he’s got a .310 average with a .360 OBP and since 2008 where he started all the way down in High-A ball he racked up 78 SB before his promotion to the bigs.  With any luck he won’t be as high profile this spring, but will just maintain enough to keep the Rangers confident in him.  That way, he stays off other people’s radar and you can grab him later in the draft.

Kevin Slowey, SP  MIN –  I love the way this guy has stayed off people’s radar the last couple of years and the trend should continue this season as a wrist injury prevented him from taking the next step in 2009.  In ‘08, Slowey notched 12 wins with 123 Ks in just over 160 innings while keeping his ERA just under 4.  He also had a fantastic 1.16 WHIP, a 6.9 K/9 rate and a BB/9 rate of just 1.4.  But the wrist injury, which resulted in surgery and plenty of time lost, hampered him to the tune of a 4.89 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP in just over 90 innings.  But if you look a little deeper into his ‘09 numbers, you’ll notice that he actually improved to a 7.4 K/9 rate and had virtually the same BB/9 rate as well (1.5).  With the wrist healthy and a fresh start in 2010, I expect Slowey to take the step forward that he should have taken in 2009.  Last year’s totals will knock him down on most people’s draft boards, so you’ll be able to swoop in nice and late.    

Eugenio Velez, 2B/OF –  There are several reasons to keep Velez on your radar this spring.  First and foremost, he’s the only guy in the Giants starting lineup with wheels and will start the season atop a revamped and slightly stronger batting order.  But there’s more to him than just being the default speed guy on an unusually sluggish team.  After being demoted in the first half, Velez was summoned again in late July where he showed that things were finally coming together.  In fact, since his return he hit .277 (.321 OBP) with 5 HR and 10 steals.  The numbers aren’t eye-popping but they’re certainly worth noting as something to build upon.  He still qualifies at second but is slated to play right field this season, so the position flexibility will be a nice asset.  Barring a complete meltdown, Velez should remain with the club all season and hopefully will be able to put together a 25+ SB year with a half dozen HR. 

Justin Masterson, SP  CLE –  For the most part, the only people in your league that could still be tracking this guy are your hardcore Red Sox fans and since we know what those guys are all about, you probably won’t have to worry.  Masterson was a key component in the Victor Martinez deal last year and while his overall numbers looked atrocious (4-10, 4.52 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) he is definitely going to blossom into a quality starter.  He’s got a nice low three-quarter arm delivery, a ridiculous sinker that keeps hitters off balance and induces a tremendous amount of ground balls.  Another reason to keep him in your sights is that there are rumors of him supplanting Kerry Wood as the closer this year.  I’d prefer him in the rotation, but he could establish himself as a dominant 9th inning guy if the opportunity presents itself.  Masterson will likely start getting noticed in the spring, so when people bring him up, talk about his 1-7 record and 1.59 WHIP in 10 starts with the Tribe last year and keep the 8.19 K/9 rate a nice little secret for yourself.

Logan Morrison, 1B  FLA — I feel very relieved that I can include this pick here now that the rumors of a Marlins offer to Russell Branyan have been disspelled.  While everyone last year was hyping up Gaby Sanchez, Morrison was falling off of everyone’s radar.  Obviously, the wrist injury that wiped out his entire 2009 also had something to do with it, but he’s become a forgotten prospect and that could be good news for you.  Barring the signing of a veteran, Morrison and Sanchez should battle this spring for the starting job and I think the job will eventually go Morrison’s way.  He’s got better power potential than Sanchez and has the ability to hit for a high average while drawing plenty of walks.  Quality plate discipline is crucial for a young player who wants to crack a lineup and Morrison’s 48 to 64 strikeout to walk rate should get him the edge.  He also hit 24 HR in just 453 AB in 2007 and while the power decreased last year (again, due to the wrist), he should continue to develop.  I’m sensing a big rebound and possible breakout year for him.

     So there’s a few to get you started right now and I’ll be back with more installments throughout the spring.  There are plenty more fantasy sleepers out there.  Good scouting is key to your fantasy baseball success, so stay on top of things and you’ll reap the benefits by season’s end.

     There are plenty more fantasy baseball sleepers to be found on the site.  Just check out Part 2 and Part 3 of this series!

     Remember, For the best in free fantasy baseball advice, 2010 fantasy baseball player rankings, fantasy baseball draft help, and fantasy baseball strategy, stick with The Fantasy Baseball Buzz and I’ll have you at the top of your standings in no time.

     Good luck and I’ll see you all in the money this year!

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