Over the next nine days or so, I am going to provide 5 or 6 sleepers per day in the run-up to fantasy baseball drafts occurring on the next couple weekends. It is my intention to provide one per team through Saturday, and start over on Sunday. While this schedule will account for 60 possible sleepers in a variety of formats, it will be in no way exhaustive.
- RP Scott Patterson New York Yankees: Assuming the Yankees are honest about moving Joba Chamberlain into the rotation mid-season, then someone has to emerge as a reliable arm/ Patterson dominated AA to the tune of 91 Ks in 74.1 innings with a mere 45 hits allowed and 15 BBs. A .170 BAA says something, no?
- OF Franklin Gutierrez Cleveland Indians: Man, he has seemed like a failed prospect for a long time. I recall drafting him in the days following his acquistion by the Indians in the Milton Bradley trade. With two OF jobs up for grabs in Cleveland, his 2007 season offers fantasy studville over a full season (13 HRs and 8 SBs in just 271 ABs). He is just 25-years-old.
- SP Justin Duchscherer: A heavily-used reliver from 2004-2006, and a successful one, Duchscherer missed most of 2007 with a hip injury. In those healthy years his had WHIPS of 1.21, 1.00 and 1.10 respectively. For a player likely available in the free agent pool in every format, he could surprise in a good way - good ratios/high innings.
- 3B Pedro Feliz Philadelphia Phillies: He is going undrafted in most mixed leagues and will be a good injruy-replacement at 3B thanks to the move from Pacbell, or whatever the Giants currently call their home ballpark, to the Phillies' Citizen Bank Ballpark. Hitting 20+ bombs in SF could translate to 30 in CBP.
- OF Brian Barton St. Louis Cardinals: A Rule V selection, he has to make the team or be offered back to the Indians. I cannot see that happening when the last-place-destined Cardinals have less skilled players like Skip Schumaker and Ryan Ludwick competing for OF jobs. In all likelihood, all three will make the Cards' Opening Day roster.
- C Chris Iannetta Colorado Rockies: A complete bust in his rookie season, Iannetta returns as a back-up to Yorvit Torrealba. Power and OBP aside, one really only needs to know Torrealba is ahead of Iannetta to see his potential opportunity as a catching sleeper.