Brennan Boesch $10. Other bids $7, $6, $5, $3, $2, $1, $1.
With Carlos Guillen hitting the DL, the 25-year-old Boesch gets a rather unexpected opportunity with the Tigers. His power numbers last year at AA Erie came out of nowhere; the U. Cal product didn't even hit for this kind of power in college. The power could stick in the majors, but Boesch has a huge hole in his swing and swings at everything. He was not considered a prospect entering this year and was old for AA last year. That being said, the Tigers look like they're going to stick him on the good side of the platoon with Ryan Raburn, so Boesch should have at least a brief window to hit. Beware if you don't want to take a BA hit, but he could provide some good pop with a few steals thrown into the bargain.
Darnell McDonald $8. Other bids $2, $1, $1, $1.
McDonald was a first round draft pick by the Orioles way, way back in 1997. He didn't pan out and has spent most of his professional career in the minor leagues. Injuries to Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury opened up plenty of spots, and McDonald burst through in a big way, with two big games right off the bat. He should be a good play in the short term, as he'll split time with Jon Van Every and Bill Hall in center field. He'd probably be good for 10 HR/10 SB if he were given a full-time shot, so expect a HR and a SB here and there if you buy him. The Sox are being somewhat nebulous on when Cameron and Ellsbury are coming back, but I'd guess McDonald will be useful for a week or two and then go back to the minors.
Rhyne Hughes $8. Other bids $8, $7, $5, $2.
Like Boesch, Hughes broke through in the minors in the power department last year, smashing 25 HR between AA and AAA last year. Hughes doesn't even have the quasi-prospect label, though, and whiffed and incredible 171 times in 2009. He got back starts this weekend over struggling Garrett Atkins at 1B and hit well, so he might have a brief window to put up some numbers for the struggling O's. He's a very poor bet, but if you have a hole at 1B certainly worth a low bid gamble.
Brett Cecil $6.
An injury to Brian Tallet gave Cecil another shot at the majors and he debuted against a tough Rays line-up on Friday. He cruised his first time through the line-up and then got hit a little bit when the Rays got a second look at him. Cecil is a fastball/slider pitcher who definitely has major league potential, but it's unclear whether or not he'll eventually develop into a stud or "just" a #3/4 MLB starter. He's worthy of a bid, but he'll have to pitch well to keep his slot after Tallet comes back.
Luis Montanez $5. Other bids $1, $1.
Montanez is another first round prospect washout. He had a big 2008 in AAA that earned him a shot with the O's at the end of that year, but 2009 was mostly lost due to injury. He's up now getting a fair amount of AB in left field while Nolan Reimold continues his slow recovery from off-season surgery. Montanez is off to a very poor start with the bat and is more likely to fill the Felix Pie role of fourth OF than start unless the Orioles completely clean house. If he does play, hope for some of the '08 AAA power but recognize that MLEs for these older minor leaguers often don't pan out.
Jason Vargas $3.
For now, it looks like Vargas will stay in the Mariners rotation upon Cliff Lee's return from the DL. Vargas survives with less-than-overpowering stuff because he hits his spots and makes good use of his change-up. Having the Seattle defense behind him makes him worth owning, though he's going to have games where he just doesn't have it and gets hit. He's only 27, though, so it's possible that he's taken a step forward. I dig the much improved K/IP rate thus far.
Shawn Kelley $1.
Kelley is a serviceable middle reliever who gave up too many long balls last year. He should put up solid numbers out of the pen for the Mariners, but I wouldn't roster him hoping for a closer-in-waiting.
Jayson Nix $1.
Nix is the White Sox jack-of-all-trades utility infielder. He has some power, but isn't going to play much and isn't a good batting average play. He needs an injury to be more than a temporary A.L.-only fill-in.
Lance Cormier $1.
Cormier is a cutter/curve ball pitcher who doesn't strike a lot of guys out but gets by on deception. He's an OK middle relief play in 4x4 but is probably pretty far down in the pecking order behind Rafael Soriano for saves.
Manny Delcarmen $1.
Delcarmen fell off the cliff Post All-Star last year, putting up a 7.27 ERA and a 14.14 ERA in September. His traditional numbers thus far look fine, but he's got a 1/6 K/BB ratio and his FIP suggests a negative course correction is in order soon if he doesn't start getting more punch outs.
Tyson Ross $1.
Entering 2010, Ross profiled as a pitcher with nasty raw stuff but poor control/command. Thus far, he's been quite successful transitioning from the rotation to the bullpen. His walk rate is still too high, but he's continuing to generate the grounders he did in the minors. Ross is a nice little sleeper for deep leagues who could move up the CIW pecking order in short order, particularly in Oakland.
Matt Carson $1.
A strong showing at AAA Sacramento last year turned Carson from a AAA lifer into a Quad-A occasional fill-in. He's up now with the A's because Travis Buck is on the shelf, but only has one start in the four games he's been up. If things shake out well for Carson, he could start 3-4 days a week and offer some low grade power potential, but it's more likely he's just an extra bat off of the bench.
Jon Van Every $1.
The Red Sox reacquired Van Every from the Pirates to fill a hole in their suddenly porous OF. Van Every is yet another non-prospect career minor leaguer (he's 30) who has HR power but is incredibly whiff prone. He'll get some starts in the Boston OF while everyone else recovers, but is unlikely to provide a lot of value unless he gets really, really lucky.
Mitch Maier $1.
Maier joins this week's less-than-impressive former prospect busts (ex-first rounder) on the FAAB rolls. He might get some starts this week with Rick Ankiel nursing an injury, but offers next to no power and next to no speed. He's a Roto placeholder.
Bill Hall. Claimed by 11th, 8th and 3rd place teams.
Hall should theoretically be the most likely candidate to benefit from the Red Sox myriad OF injuries, but he hasn't shown even a semblance of power since 2008 and would be worse than worthless to the Red Sox if not for his six walks thus far. Like McDonald and Van Every, he could get a fair amount of AB this week, but since Terry Francona is likely to play the hot hand, Hall is going to sit if he doesn't start to hit.
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