RADIO
This article is designed to compare and contrast what the major roto sites advise readers to do. I will take a look at their player recommendations objectively and either agree or disagree with their tutelage. The majority of the players I discuss are deep-league relevant guys who could be completely irrelevant in shallower standard leagues. By no means do I want you to think that I am bashing the corporate fantasy baseball websites-- I am merely advising on whom I think would be the best player to take a flier on out of the multitude of glowing appraisals that you can find out there.
Do you Prefer Profar?
The main question here: is #1 prospect Jurickson Profar worth adding while Ian Kinsler is on the DL? One major website suggested that Profar could potentially play the outfield once Kinsler returns from the DL. But Profar has never played a single inning in the outfield so far in his professional career. And to think the Rangers would just stick him in left field without any experience is preposterous. I am by no means suggesting that Profar couldn't handle the outfield, but I highly doubt the Rangers would take that risk just to keep his bat in the lineup. If you are in a redraft league and don't already own him, then I really don't think he is worth a flier YET, unless of course your team is thin at middle infield. That same site I mentioned above will tell you that Profar is worth an immediate add in all leagues and I think that is misleading. He is a future stud, don't get me wrong, but the fact that he is splitting time with Leury Garcia severely dampens his fantasy value sat the present time. If you're in a keeper league and Profar's dollar value makes sense, then by all means would stash him because he will be back again before the end of 2013 and he will likely have a more prominent role next year.
Chris Hardy Dickerson
One key element to finding sleepers-- a factor you won't find on any stat sheet-- is opportunity. And this is why I love what the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees have done the past two seasons: they've grabbed players that almost every team has given up on and gave them a chance to play. The Orioles placed Nolan Reimold on the DL on May 18, and with his injury history there is no telling when he may come back. I have already read that he will not be activated when first eligible, and so enter Chris Dickerson with a chance to play. So far, he has responded to the tune of a .333 BA, 3 R, 3 HR and 5 RBI in just 18 AB. Most fantasy websites will refer to Chris Dickerson as “organizational depth,” but he was a prospect once upon a time and I still believe he can be fantasy relevant in AL-only or deeper mixed leagues. Take a short-term flier and ride the streak, at least until Reimold makes it back.
Delmon “I’m still” Young:
I feel as though everyone has written this guy off and I am still not sure why. Yeah I get it, he is a complete "meh" defensively, but he can still rake. His career in Philly has gotten off to a shaky start, but recently he's raised his BA over 100 points and hit 2 bombs in the last 48 hours. Delmon is just 27 years old, and in his prime years of productivity, to say nothing of the absolute beast he was for the Detroit Tigers the last two post seasons (in about 800 AB, 26 HR and 100+ RBI). Most major roto websites have already written him off and mainly because of his dreadful defense, but his bat should play well in Citizen’s Bank Park. If your team is in need of an outfielder, take a shot, I can see Delmon hitting .292 with 20 HR by the end of the season.
Quick Hits:
For any owner who has the bench room, now might be a good time to stash Christian Yelich. He should get called up by the end of June but I have a feeling that he might be recalled before Giancarlo “Don’t Call Me Mike” Stanton returns from the DL. Some other names to watch out for as the calendar turns to June and beyond: Yasiel Puig, Zack Wheeler, Michael Wacha, Jonathan Singleton, Nick Franklin and Carlos Triunfel.
Take it or leave it, agree to disagree, love em or hate em, this is my world and you're just reading it!
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