clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Fantasy Baseball Links 2-21-12

Getty Images

James Paxton Stats, Statistics and Fantasy News - RotoWire.com

Paxton is a young arm to watch for 2012. In Dynasty leagues he should be owned but buy now while he he not yet a household name...


Paxton has already drawn comparisons to Michael Pineda with his overpowering fastball-slider repertoire and improving change-up. "As good as Michael Pineda was, I've seen two bullpens this year with Paxton and I'm very impressed with his ability to repeat," Willis said. " ... [H]e really repeats his delivery, and that's a key. Because control and command come right off of that." Like Pineda last season, Paxton could force is way into the rotation with a strong camp. Fellow prospect Danny Hultzen is in the same boat, which should make for a great battle in spring training.

Colby Rasmus 2012 Fantasy Sleeper | The Fake Baseball

Players like Rasmus can win leagues. His ADP is all over the place. I am expecting a bounce back...


Currently, Rasmus has an ADP of 206 according to the latest mockdraftcentral.com data. That is behind outfielders Carlos Lee, Juan Pierre and Josh Willingham. With a pick that late in the game you could do worse for a player who I think could produce .260 BA, 16 HR, 85 R, 75 RBI, 10 SB, and he is only 26 years old. Plus, there will be plenty of lineup protection for him and he plays in one of the most hitter friendly parks in baseball. Colby has the tools to make his fantasy owners winners, his dad proud and prove his old manager wrong.



BaseballPress.com

Teheran still has a lot of development left before he reaches is #1 potential, but could provide some value in 2012. He could grab the #5 gig out of spring training or shortly thereafter.


Julio Teheran - SP/RP, Atlanta Braves Since signing as a 16-year-old, Braves pitcher Julio Teheran has been one of Atlanta's best pitching prospects, and the now 21 year-old Teheran has put together a 28-17 record with a 2.96 ERA and 8.6 K/9 in four minor league seasons. Julio spent most of 2011 pitching at the Triple-A level, where he posted a 15-3 record (and led the International League in wins) with a 2.55 ERA in 25 games. He also made a few spot starts for Atlanta last season, logging 19 2/3 innings along with a 5.03 ERA. Atlanta has depth in their starting rotation, so there's no reason for the Braves to rush Teheran to the big-league level. He'll start spring training in the Braves big league camp, but he should start the regular season at Triple-A. Given his power fastball and terrific change-up, Teheran could see an extended look in the bullpen before eventually moving to the starting rotation. He just needs a spot.

Potential Profit: Deep NL Outfielders


3. Alex Presley - Pittsburgh Pirates: Presley put together a very nice .298/.339/.465 line, with 4 home runs, and 9 steals in 52 games for the Pirates in 2011. His .349 hit rate should drop, but he always sustained high hit rates in the minors, so it may not fall too far. His .167 isolated power was above league average, indicating some potential power upside if he is able to slightly increase his 27% fly ball rate. Speed will be Presley's main fantasy asset, and with a 7.0 Spd rating (Fangraphs), he could offer some stolen base upside. He is unlikely to be valued and drafted as a player who will get a full season of at bats, so if he does hold down an outfield spot for the whole year in Pittsburgh, we could see plenty of profit. Presley looks to be a good fit in the two spot in the Pirates lineup, which would be an obvious positive for his counting stats. A 10/20 season for Presley shouldn't be too difficult to imagine in 2012, but he has the upside for something closer to 15/30 with a good batting average.

Quick Hit: Why Jair Jurrjens Is A Pitcher To Avoid In 2012 | Rotoprofessor

I agree with the article below... Pass on Jurjens.


Sure he has good control, but the lack of strikeout potential and the significant risk for a regression in the luck departments make him a player that I am hesitant to draft as a starting option in 2012. As a reserve or a spot starter he has tremendous upside, but outside of that the risk far outweighs the potential reward. At the end of the day is it likely that I am going to be able to draft him as a reserve? Not likely, meaning he’s not a pitcher I am planning on owning in 2012.

Fantasy Baseball Blog at Razzball.com | Ryan Braun, Fantasy Baseball 2012

Not to mention the fact that we have to wonder where Braun's mind will be when he returns from a hypothetical suspension. Will he just jump right back into the game? Will he be pressing? I am waiting till the 6th round...


So $22 minus $3.50 = $18.50 which is about the 60th most valuable player from last year (Carlos Beltran, Adam Jones). So end of 5th round/early 6th round SHOULD be Ryan Braun’s ADP. Right now, ESPN has him at 39, Yahoo has him at 48, Fleaflicker has him at 83 and Grey has him at 119.

2012 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper Shortstop: Zack Cozart | LestersLegends.com

Great value pick in Zack Cozart


Last year he began to figure some things out. Besides what he did for the Reds, he hit .310 with a .824 OPS for Triple-A Louisville. He hit seven home runs in 323 at bats. While I wouldn’t expect 20 HRs from him, 15 wouldn’t be a reach should he stay healthy. . Cozart did not steal a base for the Reds, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have potential. He stole nine bases for the Louisville Bats before getting the call. He swiped 30 bases for them in 2010. . Zack doesn’t come with much of a risk. His Mock Draft Central ADP is 360, which would make him the last pick of the 30th round in 12-team leagues. Given his age (26) and upside, he’s definitely worth a roll of the dice at the end of your fantasy baseball draft.

Mat Latos still has plenty of fantasy value after move to Cincinnati Reds - Fantasy Baseball - ESPN

I stay away from pitchers with injury question marks that you have to draft so high, but that's just me...


I'm not one to select more than a starting pitcher or two in the first 10 rounds of a draft to start with, but Latos made my preseason top 100 rankings as a top-25 starting pitcher, which I'd call pretty good. It's impossible to project wins, because even on the Reds, run support was hardly predictive. Mike Leake was the only Reds pitcher to win double digits. Johnny Cueto certainly pitched better, but he won only nine times. Don't think about wins. Latos is a good bet to flirt with 200 good innings and keep his team in games, and fantasy owners should enjoy him after the eighth or ninth round.

Hanley Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia in top 10 of Eric Karabell's top 100 fantasy options for 2012 - Fantasy Baseball - ESPN