Jeremy Accardo $21. Other bid $2.
Yikes. Accardo was the closer for the Jays in 2007 when B.J. Ryan went down early, but he was sent down at the end of Spring Training this year after a poor spring and there's nothing in the Toronto media or blogosphere to indicate that Accardo is in the mix to close. My guess is that Jason Frasor is probably the guy right now for the Blue Jays, followed by Ryan. In any bullpen that's in flux, it's certainly worth bidding a couple of bucks to see if someone will close. Just don't bid one fifth of your budget.
Mike Carp $11. Other bid $10.
Long-term, I don't know what to make of Carp. He's never been viewed as a top prospect by any of the touts, but he's always put up solid power numbers and could at the very least be a 15-20 HR guy in the majors given a full-time opportunity. I'd worry a little about his batting average; he's never hit over .300 in the minors, and could profile as a mere .250 hitter in the majors. Still, at his age (he turns 23 next week), I think he's got a decent shot to become a productive major league regular. All that being said, I don't see where he fits in for the Mariners this year. Russ Branyan is hitting the snot out of the ball, the M's aren't going to release Ken Griffey Jr., and Carp is probably better served getting a season's worth of AB at AAA Tacoma than he is leading cheers from the Seattle bench. This bid is only useful as a next year bid - and the Carp buyer here is presumably still playing for 2009.
Alfredo Figaro $5.
Figaro wasn't regarded as a prospect entering 2009, and entering '09 had had 19 good starts...at A-ball as a 23-year old. His numbers at AA Erie this year (68 IP, 4.10 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 59 K, 17 BB, 8 HR) were OK but nothing that screamed breakout. But Figaro put together a solid major league debut, allowing 2 ER in five IP and whiffing seven (although he did allow 10 baserunners). Figaro looks like a two-pitch pitcher in need of refinement. He throws hard and pounds the zone, but he's mostly a two pitch pitcher; his change isn't a plus pitch. Even though Figaro was hitting 96 on the gun, I don't think he's going to be as fortunate as he was against the Brewers long-term with the stuff he has. I like him long-term as a bullpen arm, but not as a starter, and for this year you're most definitely taking a risk.
Matt Guerrier $2. Other bid $1.
Despite his tendency to give up the long ball, Guerrier's been an extremely solid middle innings option for the Twins. Much of that is fueled by an atypical .199 BABIP, though. Guerrier's OK, but I don't think his interiors support him being this dynamic the rest of the way. He's a decent vulture candidate, but beware the long balls.
Brandon Lyon $2.
I talked a little bit about the Tigers bullpen last week. Lyon's been very reliable in June and Rodney's walks make me very nervous, but there doesn't seem to be any kind of indication that the Tigers are going to make a switch here, as Rodney's still a stellar 13-for-13 in save opportunities. Lyon's worth grabbing if you need a set-up on a good team who might vulture some wins, but don't expect a mid-season closer here.
Don Kelly $1.
Kelly was putting up some solid numbers at AAA before the Tigers called him up, but he's a 29-year-old non-prospect who is more of an organizational soldier than someone to watch. He does run a little bit and the Tigers are playing him now and again, so he might be worth $1 in very deep leagues where you're dying for speed. Otherwise, he's not worth it.
D.J. Carrasco $1.
Carrasco's a 32-year-old journeyman who revived his career in AAA for the White Sox last year. He's a middle reliever/mop up man, though, and is of very limited value even in 4x4.
Derek Holland. Claimed by 9th, 5th (tie), 4th, and 12th place teams.
An impressive prospect who I wrote about earlier this year, Holland had really struggled in his first few turns through the rotation but looked like a different pitcher against the Giants. Holland credited the strong start to working more efficiently in the strike zone (which has been the Rangers' philosophy all year), but I think part of it was that he was facing a weaker N.L. offense. Holland still has a good deal of long-term potential, but in leagues where you must bid and can't make a waiver claim, I'd be wary of completely buying into a turnaround based on one start.
Ramon Santiago. Claimed by 8th and 4th place teams.
After a torrid May where Santiago slugged over 600, he's come crashing down to Earth in June, slugging about 350. His versatility will give him 2-3 starts a week, but even at middle infield Santiago is a third MI at best in deeper leagues.
1 comment:
I got Accardo for $1 in my 12 team AL and think it was a good buy. Accardo was a reserve pick for me in 2007 when he picked up 30 saves for dirt cheap. Last year, he closed 4 games in April before getting hurt -- and before B.J. Ryan reclaimed his job.
I would note that Accardo also got a save last week, after Frasor entered the game in the 8th (with runners on base; the Jays then had to PH for Frasor). Accardo also had 9 saves in AAA, for what those are worth.
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