MLB Dirt

Well, we’re approaching another fantasy baseball season.  Every year, we draft players who end up being disappointments.  Here now is my list of players I would be wary about drafting/bidding on this upcoming season.  They may not kill your team results, but you could end of overspending/drafting these players.

Jacoby Ellsbury – If you need SB, draft him.  But don’t expect the 2011 power numbers he put up.  He never came close to putting up those numbers in the minors, even when he stayed healthy.  He is injury-prone which hurts his stock.  He may worth having on your team, but don’t overspend or draft him too high.

Phil Hughes – Which Hughes are you going to get?  He gives up far too many hits, and last season he gave up a whopping 35HR.  He’ll give you strikeouts, but the potential is there for him to hurt your team ERA.  And with the Yankees looking like a weaker version of themselves, the win total may take a hit as well.  Hughes needs runs to win, and with no Swisher, Martin, A-Rod, and Granderson to start the season that could spell trouble.  Back issues cloud the picture even more.

Jeremy Hellickson – This may be an unpopular pick, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m way off here, but his strikeout totals seem to be low, his batting average against rose last season, and his HR allowed went up slightly.  He knows how to pitch, but he needs to reverse those trends in order to become an elite pitcher.  Right now he resembles an average pitcher, though his ERA has been pretty impressive.  As the title suggests…no need to avoid him, but I don’t think he’s ready to break out just yet.

James Loney – If you want singles, he’s your guy.  If you want decent production…look elsewhere.  Last year he hit 6HR in 434AB.  He is declining rapidly.

Gavin Floyd – Over the past four years, he’s two games under .500.  His ERA continues to rise, and now he will be without Pierzynski to call his games.  Can Tyler Flowers call the right pitches for Floyd?  Stay tuned.  I’d let another owner find out the answer to that question.

Brennan Boesch – Is there room in the Detroit outfield for him?  He came into camp with minor injuries, and that never helps.  Last year, he was awful in the second half of the season.  He looks like a 4^th outfielder at best.  If he is traded and starts, take a flyer on him.

Luke Hochevar – He’s not going to get me this year.  Last year, he was the pick to click, and in typical Hochevar fashion, he was a bust.  For his career he’s 21 games under .500, and he owns a career ERA of 5.39.  It’s almost time to bump him from the rotation.  Leave him for someone else.

Chris Getz – Even if he wins the 2B job, there’s nothing to like about him.  If you need 20 cheap steals go get him.  Otherwise, there’s no need to look in his direction.

Anthony Swarzak – Look at his stats and tell me I’m wrong.

Jason Vargas – He pitched pretty well last year.  What’s his excuse for the previous years?  He’s pitching for a good team, so his win total may be decent, but he gives up too many HR (35 last year) and his strikeout totals won’t help you much.  For his career, he’s 8 games under .500.

Hank Conger – The prospect tag is gone.  He is young and doesn’t have many major league at-bats, but for his career he’s flirting with the Mendoza line.  His defense is also questionable.  Be wary.  Even if he were handed the starting gig, there’s no guarantee of success.

Casper Wells – There won’t be much playing time for Wells with the Mariners off season acquisitions.  When he does play, he hits an occasional bases-empty HR.  He won’t do much for your fantasy team.  Pass on him.

Geovany Soto – That great rookie season is long gone.  He hit just .198 last season, and with Pierzynski in Texas, how much will he play?  Stay away unless you need a cheap backup catcher.

Filed under: Digging Deep - Analysis, Fantasy Tagged: | Anthony Swarzak, Brennan Boesch, Casper Wells, Chris Getz, Fantasy, Gavin Floyd, Geovany Soto, Hank Conger, Jacoby Ellsbury, James Loney, Jason Vargas, Jeremy Hellickson, Luke Hochevar, Phil Hughes