12/15-12/21 Pitching Slash Line (ERA/WHIP/Kper9/BBper9) Hitting (AVG/HR/OPS/SB)
* A's sign Rich Harden (5.58/1.66/7.34/6.07). Real Life: Harden looks to revive his career in the place it started. Will likely battle with Brandon McCarthy for 5th Spot in rotation. Fantasy Life: At one time Harden was always drafted earlier than he should have been because Owners wanted to have Harden the year he reached 30 starts and that year never happened. Harden was bad in limited action with the Rangers last season and his K/9 has decreased for three consecutive seasons while his BB/9 has increased. For those who may not know thats not a good combination. All underlying stats indicate that the miserable 2010 season is due to lack of stuff than a case of bad luck. Bottom Line: Don't look for a turnaround in 2011 but he would be worth monitoring during Spring Training.
* Cubs sign Kerry Wood (3.13/1.39/9.59/4.06). Real Life: Another Homecoming as Wood returns to the North Side for less money. Will be the Setup man for Marmol and will earn a occasional Save chance. Fantasy Life: Still has nasty stuff and the move to the NL should only increase the productivity. As a fan I would love to see the Cubs stretch him out and back into the rotation but that isn't the percentage play. Bottom Line: Has good K/9 value and can give you a spot SV upon occasion likely should be used as a Roster filler throughout the year.
* Twins sign Tsuyoshi Nishioka (.346/11/.482/22). Real Life: Another import coming with very high praise. First Japanesse Player since a guy named Ichiro to have 200 hits in a season. Fantasy Life: His closer to a .300 Hitter over his career, last seasons .346 mark was the product of a .389 BABIP last season. Though he did swipe 22bags his 22 for 33 mark likely won't translate well to MLB thus he likley won't have the 33 opps. this season. Bottom Line: Likely a last resort 2B or MI fill in but given the unknown you have the potential of upside. Should be taken in all formats with a late round pick.
* National Re-Sign Chien-Ming Wang. NA. Real Life: The Nationals were so pleased with Wang's 0 IP last season under contract that they wanted to re-up for anoter season. Assuming he actually returns to the rotation pencil him in for the 4th or 5th spot in the rotation. Fantasy Life: If a pitcher who hasn't pitched in nearly two season that when healthy rarley strikes out anyone and pitches to contact is your thing than Wang is your guy. Bottom Line: AVOID
* A's acquire Josh Willingham .268/16/.848/8 Real Life: Willingham is a right handed bat for a team who is starving for pop. Willingham will likely own the majority of playing time in a four way battle for three lineup spots between Matsui, C. Jackson and Coco Crisp. Fantasy Life: Willingham is what he is, a .260-.270 hitter with 23 HR pop and a player who will be added and dropped often throughout the course of the 2011 season.
* Red Sox sign Bobby Jenks 4.44/1.37/10.42/3.08 Real Life: Jenks will likely be the setup man for Pappelbon with the potential for some SV chances. Fantasy Life: Jenks BB/9 went up a bit in 2010 however on the bright side his K/9 rate of 10.42 was his highest since 2006. Even with that in mind given Jenks philosphy that encourages pitching with runners on base in the setup role Jenks doesn't have any fantasy value. Bottom Line: Unless a injury occurs or Pappelbon's struggles of 2010 continue Jenks will likely ride the Waiver Wire all season.
* Tigers Re-Sign Magglio Ordonez .303/12/.852/1 Real Life: Played well in just under 400 PA last season but one has to wonder if a repeat on injuries isn't in the works, Ordonez will be 37 (that we know about) when the season opens. Fantasy Life: In a perfect world Ordonez plays in 145 games hits a little over .300 hits 15-20 HR's and drives in 85. Bottom Line: Not enough upside to warrant investing a pick of Ordonez with so many High Upside guys likely available.
* Blue Jays sign Edwin Encarnacion. .244/21/.787/1 Real Life: Encarnacion will likely rotate between 3B/1B/DH to begin the season. Given the depth of power hitting with the Jays in Encarnacion continues to struggle with AVG and OBP he won't be given much slack. Fantasy Life: On the upside Encarnacion was the victim of a .239 BABIP last season so if the law of averages balances out this season you can expect a mid .260's mark which would likely be enough to give Encarnacion plenty of playing time. However until Encarnacion improves on his low 7.9 BB% then he will not have a OPS in the mid to high .800's. Bottom Line: If it's late in the draft and you need a CI or Flex option with upside Encarnacion is worth taking a gamble on.
* Diamondbacks sign Xavier Nady. .256/6/.660/0 Real Life: Nady was dreadful last season in a platoon role with the Cubs. However when your the Diamondbacks in order to plaese the fan base you have got to sign somebody and that is how you end up with Nady. Nady goes into Spring as the front runner for the LF job but expaect Geraldo Parra to put up a battle. Fantasy Life: Even if Nady wins the job outside of a potential 23 HR's Nady has little value. He never walks 4.9% and K's with frequency 26.8% so to expect a OPS above .740 would be foolish and a average in the .250 range should be expected. Bottom Line: The high end result isn't worth the risk associated with the pick.
* Padres sign Orlando Hudson. .268/6/.710/10 Real Life: Will be the everyday 2B for the Padres and will likely draw intrest from fantasy owners for whatever reason. Fantasy Life: Hudson is what he is. His AVG won't kill you but it won't make you better. He has no power and no speed. Outside of the potential of Runs Hudson offers not stat that helps your team yet he will be drafted in about 75-80% of leagues if not more. Bottom Line: Hudson isn't worth a roster spot unless he is on the Waiver Wire and you are in need of a Band-Aid.
* Astros sign Bill Hall. .247/18/.772/9 Real Life: Hall will be the everyday 2B for the Astros heading into 2011. Fantasy Life: Though Hall will man 2B to begin the season he won't be eligible in most formats to begin the season. Hall does have HR potential but given the state of MI in baseball his power doesn't hide his scars which include a low AVG which won't improve unless he drastically improves on his 30.2% K Rate. One may look at Hall's 18 HR in limited action and think wow 30 is possible but a increase in HR/FB rate of 17% compared to his career 13.4% mark and a increase in FB% to 44% from a career mark of 40.5 explains it. Bottom Line: A 23 HR season is possible but so is a .240 AVG and a OPS in the low .700's.
* Brewers acquire Zach Grienke from Royals for Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, Jeremy Jeffress, and Jake Odorizzi. Greinke (4.17/1.25/7.40/2.25), Escobar (.235/4/.614/10), Cain (.306/1/.763/7), Jeffress (NA), Odorizzi (NA). Real Life: The Brewers pick up a good young pitcher who will be under their control for more than one season as well as veteran SS and perhaps the worst everyday player in baseball Yuniesky Betancourt. Greinke, Gollardo, and Marcum should make a fearsome 1-2-3 punch and if the Brewers can be consistent on offense then a playoff run is certianly possible this season. Likely need to sign a extension with Greinke to make this deal worth while. For the Royals Escobar and Cain are both atheletic speed guys who play good defense and could be top of the order hitters in the near future. Jeffress and Odorizzi were the top two pitching prospects in the Brewers System. Jeffress likely has more upside however he has already be suspneded twice for failing the Minor League Drug Policy. Odorizzi meanwhile is the only one of the bunch who has yet to have any MLB experience but at 20 Odorizzi had become the Number 1 prospect in the Brewers system. Escobar will be the everyday SS while Cain will battle Melky Cabrera for the CF job in Spring Training. Fantasy Life: The move to the NL in combination with a reversal of misfortune of a low LOB% of 65.3 (72.5 career mark) should be enough for Greinke to bounce back from a letdown in 2010. The one concern a owner may have is Greinke's decreased K/9 rate and increase in BB/9 last season. Greinke lost over 2 K per 9 while his BB/9 went from 2.00 to 2.25 last season. Escobar could have good return value this season. He should be a late round option who will likely increase his SB total of 10 last season as the Royals figure to attempt to generate Runs more so than the Brewers last season. Escobar's low .264 BABIP was a big reason for his low .235 AVG however his low BB% of 5.8 suggest his likely not a consistent .300 hitter just yet. Though Cain has the same potential of Escobar he likely is a few season away from reaching it. Given Cain's OF position your likely better off going another route this year. Bottom Line: Greinke is likely a TOP 20 Pitcher however don't expect another Cy Young Season. Escobar is worthy of a MI spot or SS if your desperate. Monitor the status of Cain once the season starts or draft late if in need of SB.
No comments:
Post a Comment