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Three Post-Hype Sleepers Primed for 2016 Breakouts

My recent article on over-hyped prospects advised fantasy owners against buying too high for relatively small or non-existent sample sizes. Baseball trumps every other sport, except possibly international soccer, in terms of labeling minor leaguers as future legends before they have proven their worth on the big stage. On the other side of the coin are players who have been written off by the age of 23 because they did not immediately live up to the lofty expectations set by scouts and the media.

It wasn't too long ago that Bryce Harper, reigning NL MVP, was being called a bust.  To quote Axl Rose, sometimes all you need is a little patience... Here are some fallen stars who might provide surprising fantasy value this season.

Editor's note: Read about more draft values and sleepers with our daily updated list. Make sure to also bookmark our fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. Our rankings assistant tool consolidates all our staff ranks in one easy place. Filter, sort, and export various rankings for various leagues - mixed leagues, AL/NL only, top prospects, dynasty, keeper values, and more. And it's all 100% free!

 

Undervalued Draft Targets

Matt Moore (SP, TB)

Tampa Bay knows how to develop young pitchers (e.g. Chris Archer, Alex Cobb, David Price, etc). Moore was supposed to be the ace of the Rays staff at this point in his career, but injuries have derailed him. Moore missed almost the entire 2014 season and the first half of 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery. What may be forgotten is that Moore was an All-Star in 2013, posting a 17-4 record and 3.29 ERA despite pitching in the AL East. Now healthy, Moore has the ability to bounce back in a big way. His numbers upon returning late last season look worrisome, but further inspection indicates that he just needed time to shake off some rust. In his final six starts of 2015, Moore posted a 2.97 ERA.

These Tampa Bay Rays aren't the same team from three years ago and Moore may not ever be the same pitcher. Don't expect an ace, but if all goes well he can be a solid third starter for the Rays and your fantasy team. Moore is going undrafted in many leagues and should definitely be available after pick 200. At that point, instead of reaching for a rookie or journeyman fifth starter, consider Moore to fill out your rotation.

 

Nick Castellanos (3B, DET)

Only 24, it seems like Nick Castellanos has been around forever. I swear I've seen a picture of him on the field with Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker and Darrell Evans... but I digress. Castellanos has logged 1100 big league at-bats so far and driven in 139 RBI over two full seasons. He has been injury-free so far and at 6'4"/210 he has the frame and potential to become an elite slugger, as indicated by his first-round draft status.

So why is he being picked no higher than 20th at his position, behind the likes of light-hitting Josh Harrison and late-blooming Justin Turner, neither of whom have matched his power numbers over their careers? It would seem too early to give up Castellanos, but impatience rears its ugly head when expectations aren't immediately met. The problem is that he hasn't shown much progress from one year to the next. In his rookie season, he hit .259/.306/.394 while playing every day. The following season, a nearly identical line of .255/.303/.419 was met with disappointment to those expecting a breakout. His strikeout rate also took a downward turn as he posted a 25.5% K rate. He has yet to hit more than 15 HR either, so it's not as if the power is making up for his lack of contact.

So why consider Castellanos? Simple - he's only 24 years old. Often, star players who have an immediate impact as a rookie will see their numbers dip the following season (the dreaded sophomore slump), before returning to form. Bryce Harper has already proven that we can dissect the numbers all we want, but you can't simply overlook talent. Castellanos didn't have that slump, so a sharp uptick in production is definitely reasonable. Even if he hits for a mediocre average, he could very well go for 20+ HR and 80+ RBI on a loaded Tigers lineup. At a position where premium power hitters are becoming increasingly rare, Castellanos might be worth the bet.

 

Wil Myers (OF, SD)

Nothing hurts a player's chances of success as much as, well, being hurt. Myers is becoming a poster child for fragility, so the Padres have decided to move him to first base in an effort to prevent him from shattering into tiny pieces on the outfield grass. Myers slashed .293/.354/.478 with 13 HR/53 RBI in only 88 games en route to winning Rookie of the Year in 2013. Since then, wrist injuries have limited him to 147 games over the past two seasons combined. In the time he has played, Myers has not displayed the power or contact rate that had scouts raving about him as a prospect in the Kansas City farm system. He has gone from being the centerpiece of major trades to a reclamation project in short time. While rising stars Joe Ross and Trea Turner are ready to make an impact in Washington, the Padres are hoping for Myers to stay on the field.

So why invest in Myers this year? Moving to San Diego is not a move that typically inspires a spike in offensive production, particularly in the power category. Switching defensive positions might do the trick though. Instead of moving around the outfield,  he can focus on one position - a relatively stationary one at that. The main issue here is his wrist. Nothing saps power from a hitter like a wrist injury. Even after coming back presumably healthy in 2014, he wasn't quite the same hitter. After experiencing similar issues last year, it is obvious he wasn't 100% upon his return. Given his track record in the minors and early success in the majors, we know Myers can hit. The good news? Even playing with the wrist issues in a pitcher-friendly park, Myers' .174 ISO is above average. If he can stay on the field, this may be the year he puts it all together. 25 homers might be his ceiling at Petco, but for a first baseman currently ranked in the 30s for his position, that's a pretty good value.

 

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Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jahmyr Gibbs

Scores Three Times on Thursday Night Football
Josh Jacobs

Remains Limited with Knee Injury
CeeDee Lamb

Suffers Concussion in Week 14 Against Detroit
Jhostynxon Garcia

Pirates Acquire Jhostynxon Garcia From Red Sox
Draymond Green

Won't Return on Thursday Night
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Remains Limited on Thursday
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Limited Again with Ankle Injury
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Limited in Practice on Thursday
Cody Bellinger

Yankees Pushing Hard to Re-Sign Cody Bellinger
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Penn State Eyeing Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell For Coaching Vacancy
Alex Bregman

Cubs Have Renewed Interest in Alex Bregman
Quinten Post

Set to Suit Up Versus Philadelphia
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Will Play on Thursday Night
Joel Embiid

Back on Thursday Night
Al Horford

Available on Thursday
Jonathan Kuminga

Cleared for Action on Thursday Night
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Out of Action Thursday
Terance Mann

Available Versus Utah
Kirill Marchenko

Returns From Four-Game Absence
De'Anthony Melton

to be Capped at 20 Minutes on Thursday
Carter Verhaeghe

Ready to Return Thursday
Scott Wedgewood

Skips Thursday's Game
Paolo Banchero

Upgraded to Questionable for Friday Night
Danila Yurov

Misses Second Straight Game
CFB

Billy Napier Finalizing Deal to Become James Madison's New Head Coach
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Unavailable Thursday
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Buster Faulkner Set to Become Florida's New Offensive Coordinator
Dereck Lively II

to Seek "Multiple Opinions" on Right Foot Treatment
David Pastrnak

Still Out Thursday
Ryan McDonagh

Lightning Sign Ryan McDonagh to Three-Year Extension
Trayce Jackson-Davis

Set to Suit Up Thursday
Ja Morant

Considered Day-to-Day
Tee Higgins

Ready to Return After Full Practice?
Jimmy Butler III

Sidelined Thursday
Jayden Daniels

Practices in Full on Thursday
Jaylen Brown

Ruled Out Thursday Against the Wizards
Lamar Jackson

Expected to Play Against Steelers
Quentin Grimes

Is Ready to Return on Thursday
Deshaun Watson

Not Expected to Play This Year
Paul George

Will Not Play Against the Warriors
Joel Embiid

Upgraded to Questionable for Thursday
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Joe Sloan Expected to be Kentucky's New Offensive Coordinator
Justin Herbert

Chargers "Really Optimistic" That Justin Herbert Will Play on Monday
Michael Porter Jr.

Will Not Play Thursday
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Lane Kiffin Working to Keep Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker at LSU
Noa Essengue

Out for the Season
Mike Evans

has "Real Chance" to Return in Week 14
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Expected To Miss 2-4 Weeks
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Realistic Expectation is for Amon-Ra St. Brown to Return Next Week
Jalen Carter

Won't Play in Week 14 After Having Shoulder Surgeries
Justin Herbert

Expected to Practice Either Thursday or Friday
Mike Evans

Practicing Again Thursday
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Questionable With Rib Contusion
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Brian Daboll a Candidate for Penn State Head-Coaching Job?
Karel Vejmelka

Records Impressive Shutout
JJ Peterka

Rocks Ducks With Four-Point Effort
Cole Caufield

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Matvei Michkov

Delivers Two Assists Wednesday
Jake Oettinger

Grabs Fourth Consecutive Victory With Shutout
Ryan Leonard

Tallies Four Points in Wednesday's Win
Cam York

Exits Win Early
Kyren Williams

Expected to Play in Week 14
Davante Adams

Expected to Play Despite Missing Wednesday's Practice
Kyle Tucker

Visits With Blue Jays
Woody Marks

Texans Say Woody Marks Will be Fine
Rasmus Ristolainen

to Miss at Least One More Week
Drew Doughty

Logs Full Practice Wednesday
Emilio Pagán

Reds Bring Back Closer Emilio Pagan on Two-Year Deal
Jeff Skinner

Remains Sidelined Wednesday
Petr Mrazek

Out 2-3 Weeks
Tyler Seguin

Likely Done for the Season
Neal Pionk

Returns to Jets Lineup
J.J. McCarthy

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Brewers Considering Trading Freddy Peralta
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Reds Serious About Adding Kyle Schwarber in Free Agency?
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Brent Key Signing Five-Year Deal to Remain at Georgia Tech
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Brian Hartline Expected to Land USF Head-Coaching Job
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Collin Klein Expected to be Top Target for Kansas State if Head-Coach Job Opens
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Chris Klieman Considering Stepping Down at Kansas State
Alexander Wennberg

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
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D.J. Durkin Staying at Auburn Under Alex Golesh
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Charlie Weis Jr. Permitted to Coach Ole Miss Offense in College Football Playoff
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Five-Star Quarterback Jared Curtis Flips Commitment From Georgia to Vanderbilt
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Florida Hiring Brad White as Defensive Coordinator
Kyle Schwarber

Giants Have Checked in on Kyle Schwarber
Willson Contreras

Willing to Waive his Full No-Trade Clause?
Edwin Díaz

Mets Still Interested in Re-Signing Edwin Diaz
Devin Williams

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Mets
Cole Ragans

Red Sox Targeting Cole Ragans in a Trade?
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Kentucky Hires Oregon Offensive Coordinator Will Stein As Head Coach
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Kalani Sitake the Top Target for Penn State Coaching Job
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Josh Heupel Says He's Not a Candidate for Penn State Head Coach Job
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Will Stein, Brian Hartline the Top Candidates for Kentucky Job?
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Nebraska Fires Defensive Coordinator John Butler After One Season
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UCLA Expected to Hire Bob Chesney as Next Head Coach
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Lane Kiffin to Make $13 Million Salary, Ties Kirby Smart
Zack Wheeler

Likely to Return in May
Ryan Helsley

Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Orioles

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