Freddy Garcia $12.
Garcia entered 2009 battling for a rotation spot on the Mets. He stunk up the joint so badly that the Mets cut bait. The White Sox picked him up, allowed him to rehab and work his way into shape in the majors, and here he is. Garcia had an OK start against the Yankees this week, which I'm sure will prompt many to pick him up. I didn't get to see him pitch, but reports were positive, indicating that Garcia has regained a lot of the movement on his pitches that makes him tough to hit. I'd take a wait-and-see approach, but given where we're at in the season, you probably don't have that luxury. At the very least, this is a decent place to go fishing for wins, though maybe not this week as Garcia draws the Red Sox.
Alexi Casilla $11.
When is a player with a 537 OPS worth picking up? When he's hitting .300 for the month of August, has put up eight of his nine steals in July and August, and you're desperate for a middle infielder. Casilla's been so putrid for most of the season that his solid August (345/420/765 slash line) has gone unnoticed by most. Casilla's been the Twins starting 2B for the last week and a half and has put up a 9-for-29 (.310) line during that time. The downside is that he's 0-for-12 in his last four starts and probably doesn't have any wiggle room. He's worth a stab for the steals but beware if your BA hangs in the balance.
Paul Byrd $8.
Is Paul Byrd the solution to the Red Sox fifth starter dilemma? Maybe he is, rabbit. Maybe he is. Byrd had a solid 2009 debut against the Blue Jays yesterday and will get the White Sox in Chicago in his next start. Byrd relies on pinpoint control and deception to get outs. Generally he does fairly well, but when his sub-pedestrian stuff isn't working it can be ugly. He's an above average wins play on the Red Sox, but the possibility of an ugly start always lurks with Byrd...
Clete Thomas $2.
Thomas has shuttled back and forth between Detroit and Toledo this season. The 4th OF is starting to show some power potential, but a poor August and a logjam in the outfield has left Thomas riding the bench recently. He has to play to have any value, and right now that PT just isn't there.
Ryan Langerhans. Claimed by 7th place team.
Langerhans picked up a couple of starts for the Mariners on Friday and Saturday but like Thomas has fallen into mostly a bench role. Langerhans is a poor man's Russell Branyan. He could hit 20-25 HR given a full time opportunity, but he'd probably strike out 250 times and hit .230. While it's true Branyan outhit expectations this year, Langerhans isn't nearly as talented as Branyan. I'd pass for now.
2 comments:
I nabbed Billy Wagner in my league for $1 and it looks like someone could have had him for that in yours. My team has had a second half collapse, so it seemed like a good time to search for a potential 2010 keeper. Maybe Wagner will be a closer in Tampa, Toronto, or Arlington next spring.
Someone bid $16 on Wagner but had already bought Garcia for $12 and Wagner would have put him past the salary cap. I'm in contention and there's no room at the inn for Billy, but I agree that some non-contender should have taken a flier on Billy.
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