Break is Over

The break is over and I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I hope 2009 brings everyone in the world what they have always wanted. Now, time for fantasy baseball.

Mark Teixeira - Nothing to report with him. He is a Yankee and can hit anywhere in the world. His value has not changed.

Brian Fuentes - He is now an Angel and will replace K-Rod as their new closer. This is great news because Fuentes will now be a full time closer and 82Ks in 62.2 innings is nice for owners but some owners but be a little worried with his ability to adjust the AL hitters. He isn't in the elite tier of closers but he should be drafted in the mid second tier closers.

Andruw Jones - Remember when this guy was a fantasy stud. Well, those days seem so long ago. He is not going to find himself playing in the Dodger blue anymore and for fantasy owners he is nothing more than a distant memory.

Watch the Radar

Here are a few guys you need to keep an eye out and make sure they don't leave your radar.

Andruw Jones of the Braves. He is expected to return after the All-Star break if all goes well. Currently, he is in the minors for a rehab stint. Most owners cut him loose and he should be sitting on the FA list. If you have a spot on your bench or a DL spot go out and grab him and stash him away. If he can live up to his old power and the $18million contract, he could be a steal for the second half.

Chris Carpenter of the Cardinals is recovering from right elbow surgery and should have returned by the All-Star break but has recently hit a snag in his recovery. It seem like the Cardinals are going to take things extremely slow and hope he can come back for the stretch run. If the Cardinals are in a play-off race you will Carpenter back but if they are completely out Carpenter will be a sleeper for the 2009 fantasy season.

Fuentes and Street of the Rockies and A's respectively are both rumoured to be on the trading block. This is terrible news for owners because if they are traded they will most likely turn into set-up men and would destroy all fantasy value. If you have either player I would try to and see if anyone wants to take their services off your hands. Try to sell these guys to another team that is on the bottom of the saves category, don't sell to the competition. Make sure to keep an eye out on this situation.

Moises Alou of the Mets is suppose to return to the lineup in the next week or two but the Mets are going to take extreme caution with this player...he is old and brittle. If you have room on your team try and pick him up because when he is not injured he produces for fantasy owners. He is available in almost all leagues. Take a quick peak on the FA list and see if he is there, if so, take a chance on him.

Richie Sexson of the Mariners is not finding it pleasant due to the fact that rumours are swirling that he is going to be out very soon. So far this season he hasn't produced and many owners have cut ties with him a long time ago. If you look at his stats he is a .284 hitter after the All-Star break and .244 before so if you have a spot on your bench maybe this is the time to grab him and stash him there and see if he gets hot. If he can go on one of his tears he can easily hit 15-20HR's in the second half and still give you the decent AVG (.284) as well. If you are in desperate need of power this guy might be your solution.

Kenny Lofton is still sitting on the side and waiting for a contract to be handed to him. This guy, even at the ripe age of 41, still has something in him to help fantasy owners. Last season, at 40 years of age, he produced 23SB's and hit .296 in 490AB's. Looking at those numbers, I am curious on the reason why he hasn't been dealt a contract. As a veteran he can still produce on the field and hopefully could still help the younger guys out. I have that he is demanding too much money and when his price goes down teams will be there with the paper and pen. Owners, make sure to keep an eye out for Lofton because he can easily put up 10-15SB's in the second of the season while hitting .275.

Barry Bonds is sitting, just like Lofton, without a contract this season. After finishing his legal issues for this year (he has court dates set for 2009) Bonds is waiting for a club to offer him a contract. The problem is no one is willing to go out and sign this homerun king (I use the term loosely) because of what their fans might do. Honestly, I think it is a mistake in not signing him. Bonds is still able to produce as a DH (2007: .276, 28HRs, 66RBIs, 132BBs, 5SBs, and only 54Ks in 340AB's) and would bring a team a left handed bat. If he is signed, ALL fantasy owners should pick him up ASAP.

Rocco Baldelli of the Rays is still trying to make his way back to the Majors after being sidelined with a mitocondrial disorder that cause fatigue in his legs. This guy, if healthy, has the potential to produce 20HRs and 20SB's but the problem is inability to stay healthy. Just keep him in the back of your mind just in case he finds a way to get healthy and stay healthy.

Street and Fuentes

Closers Huston Street of the A's and Brian Fuentes of the Rockies have been rumoured to be on the trade block and the possible destination would be New York. For owners who have any or both of these guys, which I do, this is troubling news. If one of them or even both are traded to New York, they would lose complete value since the closer, Mariano Rivera, is not going anywhere. Both Street and/or Fuentes would be middle/set-up men for Rivera.

Owners, if you have Street or Fuentes start to shop them around and see if they garner any attention and if they do, see if the trade will benefit you. For now, just make sure to take note of this rumour because as with all "rumours" they are just that...rumours.

Fuentes

Brian Fuentes recorded his second save of the season against the San Francisco Giants last night. Corpas owners who didn't grab Fuentes should be kicking themselves. Saves in any fantasy league is absolutely cutthroat. Expect Fuentes to continue as the closer unless he has problems, like his 2 week stretch in 2007 which cost him his closer role.

Fantasy Advice...saves and SB's are always the hardest to find in all fantasy leagues so make sure to draft SB's and saves plus watch the wire for injuries and the performance of current closers. Adding someone like Fuentes to your team from the waiver wire can make or break a fantasy championship.

Fuentes/Corpas

Another closer is in hot waters and in this case might even be moved out of the closer position altogether. Manny Corpas of the Rockies is throwing some batting practice during games and isn't closing out games with saves but rather giving their opponents one last chance for victory. In his last 4 save opportunities, he's blown 3 of them.

This is where former Rockies closer Brian Fuentes comes in. He is the closer in waiting and the waiting is over. After losing his closer job last year, Fuentes has come out strong this year posting a stat line of 0-1, 1SV, 12IP, 8H, 3ER, 10K's, with a 2.25ERA.

Owners, go out and grab Fuentes in your league ASAP. He will not be available for long.