I could have lumped these guys in to another position (OF maybe), but I thought I'd allow myself to write a nice, short piece today.
THE "EXPENSIVE" OPTIONS
Vladimir Guerrero $16, Hideki Matsui $12, David Ortiz $11.
DHs are often bargains because they lock up an entire slot on your team and also lock you out of all other DH-onlies. Vlad's the only guy here who isn't a bargain based on what he earned last year. A lot of touts are hoping for the Arlington bounce back. At Vlad's age and given his bad-ball predilection, I wouldn't go much higher than this price. Based on what he earned last year, Matsui represents the biggest profit potential. His age is something of a concern, but he should DH all year and even if he only gets 400-450 AB there is potential for moderate profit. I like Ortiz better as a bounce back candidate this year than Vlad. Whatever was ailing him in April/May seemed to be fixed by June, and it's not hard to envision a 25-30 HR walk year with a .260-.270 batting average. Don't pay him like he's in his prime, but don't skimp too much either.
THE CHEAP OPTIONS
Pat Burrell $4, Jim Thome $3, Travis Hafner $3, Andruw Jones $2, Ken Griffey $1.
Despite the signing of Hank Blalock, Burrell should still get the lion's share of AB at DH, and is probably due for some kind of bounce back season. He's fine at this price...though there is the slight risk that the Rays decide to cut bait entirely if he flounders again early. I've seen Thome listed as a back-up on some of the depth charts for Minnesota, but I think the Twins will find a way to get him a healthy chunk of playing time. He's a nice, cheap power source at $3. Hafner should also be a nice, cheap power source at the same price but given how rickety he was last year I'm not as confident in him as I am in Thome. With most of the ambiguous free agent situations resolved, Jones should get a good chunk of PT at DH. I like him at this price, but the dilemma in keeper leagues is that locking him up at $2 may lock you out of someone better like Burrell. Griffey is yet another power source, but I do wonder how willing or able Seattle will be to push him aside. He shouldn't play against lefties anymore, but that doesn't mean that the M's will have the courage to make him sit.
2 comments:
Mike,
Thanks for posting these great recaps for the AL. I too play mostly in AL, so these have been a big help to read. Keep 'em coming!
Good stuff this week, Mike!
Thanks for your efforts. You deserve a break today.
Look at the names on this list! Just a few years ago, these were some of the hitters that owners loved. Now, these guys are struggling to find homes on roto rosters.
A confluence of factors -- advancing age, health issues, a lack of performance enhancers, general ineptitude, roto players' desire for position flexibilty -- have conspired to drive down prices for these former roto darlings. Even here in Boston, Big Papi is getting no love.
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