Billy Hamilton (OF, CIN) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF2 ANALYSIS: Billy Hamilton's 56 SB last year still were good for the second-most in the league (Dee Gordon, 64). However, Hamilton left a lot to be desired last year, with only 72 runs scored and a mediocre .250 batting average. Understandably, Hamilton owners were driven crazy by his inconsistency, but he […]

Phil Hughes (SP, MIN) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as High-End SP3 ANALYSIS: Phil Hughes posted 11.63 strikeouts for every walk he issued last season, the best ratio in MLB history for a starting pitcher. How did a pitcher who, in parts of five qualifying seasons as a starter, had never managed an ERA south of 4.00 manage to top such a […]

Collin McHugh (SP, HOU) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Round 15-17 ANALYSIS: Collin McHugh started the 2014 season in Triple-A, having posted an 0-8 record and an 8.94 ERA for his career, but an early injury to Scott Feldman led to McHugh's recall. A seemingly temporary move turned into 25 starts, during which he went 11-9 with a 2.73 ERA, […]

Jacob deGrom (SP, NYM) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Middle Rounds ANALYSIS: Jacob deGrom was among the best mid-season fantasy baseball pickups of 2014. Originally expected to work out of the Mets' bullpen, the rookie gave many fantasy owners a boost with his high strikeout totals and low WHIP and ERA. After a six-run outing on June 16, deGrom settled into […]

Jay Bruce (OF, CIN) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Rounds 7-9 ANALYSIS: Jay Bruce smacked 34 HR in 2013, driving in 109 runs and finishing tenth in MVP voting. But in 2014, his numbers fell significantly, as he hit just .217 with only 18 HR, marking the first time in his seven-year career that he didn't reach 20 HR. Following knee surgery […]

Jonathan Villar (SS, HOU) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target Late In Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: Out of the three shortstops in Houston, the other two being Jed Lowrie and Marwin Gonzalez, Jonathan Villar is the only one who has any stand out skill – speed. In only 87 games last year, Villar snagged 17 SB. He stole another 24 in 51 games in Triple-A. It is not […]

Giovanny Urshela (3B, CLE) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target Late in Keeper/Dynasty Leagues ANALYSIS: Lonnie Chisenhall struggled in the second half of 2014, and if he wins the Indians' starting third base job, he could be on a short leash. Giovanny Urshela is an internal option who could give Chisenhall a run for his money as early as Spring Training. Urshela was one of […]

Justin Verlander (SP, DET) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as SP5 ANALYSIS: Once-Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander finished 2014 with a gruesome 4.54 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP and a 6.95 K/9 rate, all either worst or second-worst in his nine year career. He also averaged his lowest fastball velocity ever – 93.1 mph. Despite somehow managing to eclipse 200 IP and rack up 15 wins, […]

Xander Bogaerts (3B/SS, BOS) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Rounds 12-16 ANALYSIS: Expectations were high for young standout Xander Bogaerts in 2014. Fantasy owners hoped his toolsy skill-set could help him become a fantasy monster. Unfortunately, Bogaerts endured growing pains as a 21-year-old. He finished with a .240 BA, 12 HR and 46 RBI. He has since decided to up his offseason training routine. […]

Andrew Heaney (SP, LAA) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Late Rounds ANALYSIS: This offseason, Andrew Heaney was traded from the Marlins to the Dodgers to the Angels in one day. In Anaheim, Heaney will compete for the final spot in the starting rotation with Hector Santiago and Nick Tropeano, according to the Angels' official site. In just 29.1 innings last year, Heaney […]

Zack Wheeler (SP, NYM) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Middle Rounds ANALYSIS: Zack Wheeler’s rookie campaign in 2013 was quietly solid: 100 IP, 3.42 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 7.6 K/9. Still, there was room for improvement. Wheeler’s FIP was a mediocre 4.17, and he walked just over 4 batters per nine innings. On top of that, when opposing batters put the bat […]

Steven Souza (OF, TB) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as Low-End OF3 ANALYSIS: Steven Souza can be described as late-bloomer, mainly due to his off-the-field problems, which included a 50-game suspension for a banned stimulant in 2010. Since that time, he has destroyed minor league pitching. He won the International League MVP in 2014 with a .345/.427/.577 line, 18 HR, 77 RBI and […]

A.J. Pollock (OF, ARI) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF5 ANALYSIS: After a head injury in May of 2014, A.J. Pollock returned on September 2 and finished the season strong, tallying six stolen bases and 13 runs in his final 23 games. Not only does he provide stellar defense in center field, but he combines his strong contact rate (84.2%) with his speed […]

Miguel Montero (C, ARI) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as Low-End CA1 ANALYSIS: Miguel Montero is coming off a season in which he fell short of his career averages in HR, R, AVG, OBP and SLG. In the first half, he hit 11 HR, drove in 52 runs and earned his second All-Star appearance, but hit just .212 with 22 RBI and two HR […]

Michael Saunders (OF, TOR) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Late Rounds ANALYSIS: Michael Saunders posted a .273/.341/.450 line with eight homers and four steals last year in 78 games in 2014. Not particularly exciting, but useful in deep leagues. He’s two years removed from a 19 HR/21 SB season and, at 28, is still theoretically in his prime. But he’s not especially […]

Jorge Soler (OF, CHC) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF3 ANALYSIS: With all of the hype surrounding the Cubs heading into 2015, one name that has nearly been lost in the shuffle is Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler. At 6’4”, 215 pounds, Soler is an impressive physical specimen with five-tool talent. He hit .340 with 15 HR and 57 RBI in […]

Travis Snider (OF, BAL) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF5 ANALYSIS: Travis Snider's role on his new team, the Orioles, remains unknown, but he should get his chances. The lefty hitter may platoon to begin with, but he can still hit most days, thanks to his pinch-hitting skills. Snider was tied for fifth in all of baseball with 13 hits as […]

Kris Bryant (3B/OF, CHC) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as 3B1 ANALYSIS: The Chicago Cubs may choose to wait two weeks to bring up Kris Bryant, giving themselves control over their top prospect through 2021. Bryant was Baseball America’s 2014 Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .325 with 43 HR and 110 RBI. Translating that success to the big league level is hard […]

Chase Headley (3B, NYY) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in 10th to 12th Rounds ANALYSIS: Everyone tried to pry Chase Headley away from the Padres after his breakout season in 2012 in which he posted 31 HR, 115 RBI and 17 SB. Headley struggled over the next two years, his average fly-ball distance dropping from 34.47 feet to 286.83 feet. His […]

Carlos Rodon (SP/RP, CWS) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target Late in Keeper Leagues ANALYSIS: At some point this season, Carlos Rodon will be a member of the Chicago White Sox. He features a low-to-mid 90’s fastball and a devastating, late-breaking slider. In three seasons at North Carolina State University, Rodon compiled a 25-10 record with a 2.24 ERA and a 1.06 […]

Gerrit Cole (SP, PIT) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as SP3 ANALYSIS: After being called up to the big leagues in 2013, Gerrit Cole displayed his worth by posting a 10-7 record with a 3.22 ERA. As a sophomore, his record was 11-5, but he carried an inflated 3.65 ERA, partly because of a .311 BABIP, but hitters can’t get lucky […]

Oswaldo Arcia (OF, MIN) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF3 ANALYSIS: Oswaldo Arcia will turn 24 in May, and has yet to play a full season in the majors. Still, in just 723 career AB, he has crushed 34 HR and knocked in 100 runs, including 20 HR and 57 RBI in just 372 AB in 2014. In a full […]

Ryan Zimmerman (1B/3B/OF, WSH) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Middle Rounds ANALYSIS: During an injury-plagued 2014 campaign, Ryan Zimmerman posted a .280/.342/.449 triple-slash line, just below his career line of .286/.352/.476. However, there was a drastic decrease in his power, as his 7.8% HR/FB rate was by far the lowest of his career. Back from his hamstring injury, Zimmerman should return to his […]

Cliff Lee (SP, PHI) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as SP3 ANALYSIS: From 2008-2013, Cliff Lee averaged 31 GS, 14 W, 222 IP, 33 BB and 200 K, along with a 2.90 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, despite pitching in the bandbox that is Citizen’s Bank Park. Lee made only 13 starts in 2014 and was a non-factor in the fantasy baseball world as a result […]

J.J. Hardy (SS, BAL) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as SS2 or MI ANALYSIS: When identifying a fantasy baseball draft sleeper, I like the guy to be “under the radar,” but I also need there to be proof that there’s potential upside. J.J. Hardy is entering his age 32 season and his fifth with the Orioles, but is coming off a season in […]

Chris Owings (SS, ARI) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as High-End MI ANALYSIS: With only 393 career plate appearances (PA) in the majors, Chris Owings has won the Diamondbacks' starting shortstop job. Naturally, this will increase his fantasy value significantly in 2015, as will his eligibility at both SS and 2B. In 332 PA last year, Owings showed decent speed with eight […]

Josh Tomlin (SP, CLE) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target Late in Very Deep Leagues ANALYSIS:  Through 447.2 IP, Josh Tomlin owns a career 4.89 ERA and a 4.44 FIP, as well as a strikeout rate of 15.1%. Underneath the hood, however, Tomlin’s game has been evolving. His career walk rate is an incredibly impressive 4.2%. To put that in context, Greg […]

Yasmani Grandal (C, LAD) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as High-End CA2 ANALYSIS:  Despite the pedigree of a top prospect and nearly 90 games of experience at the major league level, Yasmani Grandal disappointed in 2014, batting an anemic .225/.327/.401 with 49 RBI and 47 runs scored through 128 games. Some have written him off as a bust, but Grandal’s rare combination […]

Jonathan Schoop (2B, BAL) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target Late in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: Set to be the starting second baseman for the Orioles, Jonathan Schoop has the potential to be an everyday fantasy starter in 2015.  In 2014, he hit .209 with 16 HR, 45 RBI and only 13 walks in 481 plate appearances, which indicates a free-swinger. Schoop will undoubtedly work […]

Shelby Miller (SP, ATL) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Late Rounds ANALYSIS: At age 24, Shelby Miller is 26-18 with a 3.33 ERA in his young career. After an outstanding rookie campaign in 2013 in which he went 15-9 with an 3.06 ERA, Miller’s performance declined in 2014. He finished 10-9 with a 3.74 ERA and just 127 strikeouts. Fantasy owners […]