Burnett worth it?

AJ Burnett - This guy sure does know how to pitch, just as long as he's healthy and not on the DL. The guys who took a chance on AJ are cashing in big time so far in his two starts. I still don't see him lasting the whole season. His record shows that he's vulnerable to injury. I would ride his hot hand and see where it leads but if he does string together 5-8 quality starts, I wouldn't blame you if you decided to cash in for some guys that can help you in other roto stats.

Scott Downs - If you need a guy who can give you help in all your pitching stats, look no further than Downs.

Chris Carpenter - I love this guy but only problem is he seems to enjoy spending time on the DL. He has a strained ribcage and will most likely head to the DL. Owners, do not panic just yet. Make sure you wait until more info is released. This guy still has it, proven by his amazing performance in his first outing. Just too good to drop.

Andruw Jones - With all the money in the world for doing nothing but stinking it up on the field, it seems Jones has found his stroke. Ok, I shouldn't go that far since he's only appeared in two games. But in those two games he's posted a 5-8, 1HR, 4RBIs, and a 1-to-1 BB to K ratio. If you have room why not pick him up and stash him for a bit. The Rangers lineup is a place where someone could easily get some sweet pitches to hit.

Travis Hafner - Guy seems to have found a comfort zone. 3HRs and 6RBIs so far. Owners who took a chance are smiling. Only problem is he is UTIL only. Not a fan, unless he is hitting 30-100 for the year.

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.

Pierre

As Jay-Z said in his song, "Use to run bases like Juan Pierre" Pierre is still tearing it up on the base paths. He has 19SB's and with his playing time being solidified after Andruw Jones's DL stint expect him to continue his stealing. This is a great pick up for owners if they have a chance. Pierre is a .300AVG hitter and has stolen at least 45bags since 2001. This guy have the wheels and is the type of person that can make the steals category swing in your favour. Plus, if you are far from the top of the leaders in SB's this is the guy you want because you can easily make up 10-15 bags in a month and a bit.

Jones

Andruw Jones of the Dodgers was placed on the 15-Day DL with an injured right knee which required surgery. It will take Jones 4-6 weeks to recover from this injury.

Owners, use the DL spot but if you don't have one or if it is being used, drop Jones. He isn't worth a spot on rosters unless you are in a deep NL-only league.

CC Sabathia

Ouch, another terrible outing by Indians ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia. The start to this season is nothing owners ever expected in their craziest of dreams. This time around, the heavy bats of the Tigers gave Sabathia another 9 ER's.

Owners shouldn't outright panic but should be worried. This is a contract year for Sabathia and we all know contract years can lead to major swings in stats, look at Adrian Beltre of 2004 and Andruw Jones of 2007. Just hope Sabathia turns things around and becomes a 2004 Beltre because if he continues and struggles like Jones in 2007, owners will have wasted a high draft pick.

My advice is to wait him out. Bench him for his next start and watch what's happening from the sideline. He throws a gem, throw him back into your lineup for his next start. If he throws batting practice and allows another 9ER's, worry about it then. But on the bright side, his velocity is there but he just can't find his location. Just hope injuries aren't causing this terrible start.

Juan

Juan Pierre of the Dodgers was drafted for one reason and that was for steals. This year under new head coach Joe Torre, he doesn't seem like owners are going to be happy with his production. Pierre is sitting behind Jones, Ethier, and Kemp.

Look at his stolen base totals for the past few years.
2001 - 46
2002 - 47
2003 - 65
2004 - 45
2005 - 57
2006 - 58
2007 - 64
2008 - 0

In fantasy baseball Pierre has one thing that owners want and that's steals. For him to get steals he has to at least get into the batters box.

ADVICE - Keep him on your bench or at least try and trade him. He won't get you top value but all depends on what people in your league want to give up for his services. Going back on keeping him, it would make sense to keep him for a bit and see how the young players pan out and especially the slumping Andruw Jones (.129AVG).