Danny Santana: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Bust

Santana's Breakout Success in 2014 is Unsustainable in 2015 Danny Santana was a pleasant surprise last season for the Minnesota Twins and fantasy owners alike. He was called up from the minors in May and posted a .319/.353/.472 line in 430 plate appearances, with seven HR and 20 SB. Add it all up, and he […]

Michael Saunders: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Deeeeeep Outfield Sleeper

  A New Home in Toronto Could Help Saunders Reach Potential When we put together our rankings earlier this winter, I had Michael Saunders lower than every other outfielder on my list except one. I may have forgotten that he was traded to the Blue Jays, a move which should provide a bump to his […]

Michael Cuddyer: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Bust

  Don't Let His Colorado Numbers Fool You: Michael Cuddyer is on the Decline Only seven players in baseball have posted a wOBA over .400 in the last two seasons: Troy Tulowitzki, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, Jose Abreu, Paul Goldschmidt, Andrew McCutchen...and Michael Cuddyer. Cuddyer has hit .331/.385/.543 with 30 HR, 106 R, 115 RBI, […]

Kolten Wong (2B, STL) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as High-End 2B2 ANALYSIS: Kolten Wong started the 2014 season ice-cold and was sent down briefly, but he raked when he came back before injuring his shoulder. Steamer projects just 11 HR and 17 SB for Wong in 2015. Even with the ups and down of his rookie year and a shoulder injury, his 12 homers […]

Kevin Gausman (SP, BAL) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Mid to Late Rounds ANALYSIS: Kevin Gausman, chosen fourth overall in 2012, has replaced Dylan Bundy as the most hyped young pitcher in the Orioles' organization. Gausman pitched out of the bullpen in 2013, striking out over a batter per inning and boasting a 3.77 K/BB ratio, but allowing a ton of […]

Kolten Wong: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Second Base Sleeper

  Wong Could Have a Breakout Sophomore Campaign OBP is not a standard category in the majority of fantasy leagues. It is, however, scored in both of my main leagues, and its value in real baseball is well established. Even in standard leagues, looking at OBP and underlying plate discipline metrics is useful, and I […]

Kevin Gausman: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Sleeper Candidate

  Is Kevin Gausman A Starting Pitcher Sleeper? The sudden emergence of the Baltimore Orioles after a decade and a half as the doormat of the AL East is one of the more surprising recent developments in baseball. Most expected Dylan Bundy to be a linchpin for them by now after being selected with the fourth […]

Carlos Carrasco: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Bust

  Despite a Strong Second Half in 2014, Carlos Carrasco Isn't Worth Drafting in 2015 It's a safe bet that few, if any, players have been analyzed as much as Carlos Carrasco in the last six months. That tends to happen when a pitcher who was banished to the bullpen early in the season suddenly morphs […]

Christian Yelich (OF, MIA) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF2 ANALYSIS: Christian Yelich possesses good instincts and ability, has an ideal build, and just turned 23. However, he isn't being touted as a fantasy monster right now because he has yet to hit for power in the majors. In his first two seasons with the Marlins, Yelich hit just 13 […]

Christian Yelich: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Sleeper

  Christian Yelich: Deceptively Good Christian Yelich is an intriguing player. He's a former first round pick and top prospect. He's posted high BABIPs and walk rates at every level, including the majors. He's got good instincts and ability in the field and on the base paths. At 6'3", 200, he's got the kind of […]

Mookie Betts (2B/OF, BOS) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Late Rounds ANALYSIS: Mookie Betts thrived in his rookie campaign, posting a .291/.368/.444 triple-slash line, shuffling between second base and the outfield. But heading into 2015, there are concerns about playing time. Even after shipping Yoenis Cespedes out of town, the Red Sox have a serious case of roster crunch. However, manager […]

Mookie Betts: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Second Base / Outfield Sleeper

  20/20 Potential Makes Mookie a Player Worth Betting On I voiced my qualms with the sleeper designation in my first article for RotoBaller. Moving into 2015, few players prove my point more than Mookie Betts. While highly-touted teammate Xander Bogaerts labored through a disappointing rookie season, Betts thrived in his debut, posting a .291/.368/.444 […]

Phil Hughes: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Sleeper

11.63. That's how many strikeouts Phil Hughes posted for every walk he issued last season, the best ratio in MLB history. Here is a list of the starting pitchers who have achieved a double-digit K/BB ratio in a season: Jim Whitney, Brett Saberhagen, Ben Sheets, Cliff Lee, and Hughes. That's it, in 140-plus seasons. Pedro Martinez […]

George Springer (OF, HOU) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF2 with Potential OF1 Upside ANALYSIS: George Springer's 33.0 K% last season would have tied Chris Davis for the MLB lead had he qualified, his .231 batting average was concerning, and he stole just five bases after swiping 86 in his first two minor league seasons. But this is a guy […]

George Springer: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Sleeper

  Tons of Upside for this Breakout Candidate You are not excited enough about George Springer. Yeah, I know: He strikes out a lot. His 33.0 K% last season would have tied Chris Davis for the MLB lead if he’d had enough AB to qualify, and prospect graveyards are littered with the bones of guys […]

Jake Odorizzi: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Sleeper

  Jake Odorizzi: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper As you've no doubt heard by now, the Tampa Bay Rays dealt Wil Myers, the centerpiece of the 2012 James Shields trade, to the San Diego Padres on December 17th. Myers was a massive disappointment in 2014. Coming off American League Rookie of the Year honors, he missed […]

Travis d'Arnaud (C, NYM) - Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as Low-End #1 Catcher ANALYSIS: The rigors of the catcher position mean that catchers typically don’t offer the same five-category upside as other positions, but recently, the number of deserving backstops has increased. In 2014, the catcher position posted a 93 wRC+, up from 82 just 12 years prior. Consequently, once the few true […]

Gregory Polanco (OF, PIT) - Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as a OF 3 with OF 2 Upside ANALYSIS: The Pirates initially kept outfield prospect Gregory Polanco in Triple-A for service time considerations last year, creating a fantasy frenzy when he finally got the call on June 10. He exceeded the hype at first, posting a .301/.393/.419 triple-slash line through July 4. After […]

Travis d'Arnaud: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Sleepers

  Travis d'Arnaud: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper As a general rule, I don't invest much in catchers. The rigors of the position mean that, with rare exceptions, catchers don't play as much, hit as well, or offer the same five category upside as other positions. However, in recent years, the number of rosterable backstops has increased. In 2002, […]

Gregory Polanco: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Sleepers

  Polanco's "Disappointing" Rookie Year May Make Him a 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper Mike Trout's ascension from top prospect to best player on the planet back in 2012 had an enormous impact on fantasy owners--and not just the ones who had him on their rosters. Trout's incredible performance at an age when most players are still working […]

Drew Hutchison: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

  Blue Jays Starter Drew Hutchison: Sleeper & Breakout Candidate in 2015 Let’s be honest--if you’re reading about fantasy baseball in December, you’ve probably heard of any player likely to be considered a sleeper in 2015. Fantasy sports and advanced statistics are more popular than they’ve ever been, and with that popularity has come more […]