Friday, December 19, 2008

Braves or Dodgers?


It seems the jumping back and forth between the Braves and the Dodgers has come to an end. After a little situation between the Braves organization and the representatives of Furcal (Link here), he has finally signed on the dotted line and will be in Dodger blue next year.

Since Furcal is going back to the Dodgers his fantasy value hasn't changed. The only thing owners want to make sure and worry over is his health. As long as Furcal stays healthy he can put up some solid fantasy numbers.

.285avg, 5-7hrs, and 25sbs.

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Saturday, December 13, 2008

Saito

The Dodgers closer for the past few years, Takashi Saito, is now a free agent. This is great news for Broxton who seems to be the newly cemented closer for the Dodgers. Reports are Saito and the Dodgers may still come to terms over a contract but I don't think this is going to affect Broxton. He is the new closer in Dodgers land even if Saito comes back.

Broxton just took a huge boost in draft value. High K/9 rate and saves adds very great to any lineup.

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Raul Ibanez


Raul Ibanez is now a apart of the Phillies and this is a very good sign for you fantasy owners. Raul will sit in a very productive lineup that consists of Utley, Rollins, Victorino, the young Werth, and MVP Ryan Howard. Look for Ibanez to provide strong fantasy numbers in this lineup but don't expect him to hit 30+HRs like he did back in 2006. He has never hit more than 26HRs in a single season.

In Seattle, where the team was absolutely crap, he still managed to produce 100+RBIs in the past 3 years so expect him to drive in around 100+RBIs especially with the likes of Utley, Rollins, and Victorino hitting ahead of him.

Ibanez seems to be an underappreciated OF in fantasy baseball but he is a great #2/#3 OF'er. As with most underappreciated players you can most likely grab him in the 6-9 rounds.

Look for Ibanez to have this as a stat line: 290AVG, 23HRs, and 114RBIs.

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Friday, December 12, 2008

AJ


The Yankees have apparently signed Mr. AJ Burnett after completing a deal with CC, pending a physical. I see this deal failing, in real life, because this money should have been spent on signing a big bat (Mr. Big Texeira). You never know, they might sign Big Tex too.

Fantasy wise this Burnett's value lies squarely on health. If AJ can stay healthy he can be a strong contributor for fantasy teams but this guy just can't stay healthy. Now that he is apart of the Yankees there will be plenty of offence to support him while he is on the mound so you can see a few extra wins. He is staying put in the AL East but as a Yankee he does not have to go through the Yankees lineup but instead he now has to face the Jays lineup, including the Red Sox, Rays, and Orioles, so this is another plus. If he stays healthy expect the same type of numbers 15-10, 180K's, and a 4.10ERA. Nothing to drool over.

There will be plenty of fantasy owners who will over reach for AJ because he now plays for the Yankees now but don't be that owner. He should be a #2-3 starter on your team and shouldn't be drafted until the late single rounds even early double digit rounds. Don't put your season on the line with a guy who usually only throws 20 starts a season.

Personally I would make him my #3 starter. Plus, I wouldn't even draft him unless there was no other pitcher on the market. I don't care for guys who can't stay healthy, especially pitchers!

Overall, this isn't anything huge in fantasy land.

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Thursday, December 11, 2008

Big Tex with Nats?


I just came across a rumour that the Washington Nationals, yes the Nationals, have sent an offer to big time switch hitting Mark Teixeira. The contract would total $160million over 8 years.

Why would Tex even bother going to the Nationals and playing there? As a free agent high profile sought-after free agent, wouldn't he leverage that into a deal so you could sign with a team that has a legitimate chance at winning the World Series. It is a lot of money but this guy can get this kind of money with any team, all he has to do is choose which team he wants to play for and that team will most likely show him the money.

If this rumour is true, I can't believe the Nats even bothered to send him an offer. Maybe they just want to make the fans of Washington feel like they are doing something to improve their team.

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SIGNINGS!!


The winter meetings in Vegas finally brought some news to the baseball world.


C.C. Sabathia - I had a 10% chance in my head that Sabathia would not sign with the Yankees this off-season and I guess the 90% was right. Sabathia signed for 7 seasons and is worth $161million. What I have read is Sabathia was a little reluctant to live in New York because he just didn't know what it would be like so the Yankees gave Sabathia a nice cluase in his contract, option to leave after 3 years. Fantasy wise, this is nothing big. As long as Sabathia stays healthy he is, in my eyes, the #2 pitcher in fantasy baseball behind Johan. The only thing to take note of is how hard the Brewers pitched him last year. He threw 130.1innings in 17 starts as a Brewer and most of those starts had him throw 100-120 pitches. In his career, Sabathia has thrown plenty of innings but you never know when this might catch up with him.

AJ Burnett - Where will you land? Reports are coming out that the Yankees are offering him a 5 year $90million contract. Minimal fantasy impact since he'd be staying in the AL East. Plus, with his health concerns and his "contract year" effort behind him, he won't be finding a place on my fantasy team in 2009.

Ben Sheets - Will you be a Yankee too?

Derek Lowe - Following Sheets?

K-Rod - The newly crowned single season saves leader did not get his Mariano money but he did find a home and team that is going to pay him nicely. The Mets will pay K-Rod $37million over 3 years. Fantasy wise, this is a great move for owners of any Mets starters. With all the problems the Mets had last year (let's not forget about two years ago) of blowups from the bullpen, Mets starters might now get the wins they deserved. K-Rod is a top notch fantasy closer and should be taken in the draft as a top-3 closer.

JJ Putz - Not a signing but the a trade. Putz was acquired from the Mariners by the........Mets! Omar and company really want to rebuild their bullpen from scratch so they won't have anymore of those September collapses again. Fantasy wise, great news for owners of Mets starters but bad news for people who had Putz as their closer. He will assume the set-up role.

New York Mets - Omar, what about signing Brian Fuentes too?

Kerry Wood - Reportedly has signed with the Indians for 2 years worth $20million. Fantasy wise, this is a good move. Wood finds a new home and a place where he can start over with a clean slate. Wood still has the ability to post huge numbers (K/9, decent ERA, and saves).

Edwin Jackson - A young 14 game winner in 2008 was traded to the Tigers by the Rays. This young starting pitcher has thrown a total of 456 innings in the bigs and looks like a solid 3/4 pitcher in fantasy leagues. This kid has a 5.3K/9 ratio, which is alright, but he has a fairly high career ERA of 5.15. I have Edwin on my surprise list for 2009.

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Saturday, December 6, 2008

2009 MLB Prospects

Keeper League Owners.

The top 50 prospects for 2009. You might have to pay a hefty Price for the #1 prospect.

**CLICK HERE**

PS. Courtesy of MLB.com

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Friday, December 5, 2008

Signings

Edgar Renteria - Signing with a NL team is a great thing for us fantasy owners. Renteria has signed with the Giants for $18.5million over 2 years. Just take a look at his stats comparing his performance on an AL team versus a NL team.

13 Year Pro Career
Career averages - .290AVG, .347OBP, .405SLG
2 Years in the AL - .276 and .270AVG, .335 and .317OBP, .385 and .382SLG

All numbers falling below his career averages. Also, Renteria seems to find the running game a little more comfortable in the NL. In his only two years in the AL, Renteria failed to steal 10 or more bases, which he did in every other year as a NL player.

Overall, Renteria is a decent option at SS if you fail to grab a big time name in the draft. He is a guy that won't hurt you but won't win you a title either.

Jorge Julio - Just signed with the Brewers for $950,000 for a 1year contract. With the departure of Gagne and Torres, Julio might find himself closing out games for the Brew Crew come 2009. Fantasy owners, nothing is final but if he is a closer, there is plenty of value here. Remember, every closer is worth a spot on a fantasy roster.

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Thursday, December 4, 2008

Update


Here are a few things to take note of.

Dustin Pedroia - Just signed a 6-year $40.5million contract with the Red Sox. Looking at his number this guy deserves it. AL Rookie of the Year, AL MVP, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and a World Series Ring. That is a nice trophy case to have. I'm starting to fall for this guy because of his ability to give a .300AVG, 15HR's, 15-20SBs, and show improvement in his overall game as he matures. This guy is worth an early 3rd round pick.

Javier Vazquez
- He is now a Braves pitcher. This doesn't give him a tremendous boost in draft value but remember, he is going to a better ballpark and an easier league to pitch to. This guy is a workhorse and should be a #3 pitcher in your fantasy roster. On draft day, this guy always seems to fall under the radar because he doesn't jump out with amazing numbers but at the end of the year they are all there. Remember this guy when you are drafting.

Mike Hampton
- The deal is final. He is now the property of the Houston Astros. Owners, don't worry about him.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Hampton

With all the big busts out there Mike Hampton ranks fairly high on the list. Hampton signed an 8 year $121million contract after the 2000 season and well most fantasy owners from that time know how poorly that panned out.

It seems things are coming full circle. Hampton is reported to have signed a 1 year contract with the Astros for $2million and with bonuses reaching another $2million.

Yes, this isn't much help for fantasy owners and doesn't really rank high on fantasy news but come on, it's the offseason and there isn't much going on. Hampton does not deserve a spot on rosters next year unless you are in a super deep deep league.

I hope free agents start signing with teams so I have some news to talk about.

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