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We have completed Outfielder Week at Fake Teams, and we couldn't end the week without offering some outfielder sleepers for the 2015 season. This list will include some outfielders that may not be drafted in 12 team mixed leagues, and maybe even deeper leagues, but who could outperform expectations in 2015.
Before I get to the pitching sleepers for 2015, here are links to the articles covering sleepers at each position:
AL/NL Only Sleepers
Here is a look at a few outfielders who will be available late in drafts, or on your league waiver wire, who could outperform their draft day value in 2015:
American League
Jesse Hahn, Athletics
Hahn was traded to the A's in the deal that sent catcher Derek Norris to the Padres. When he was in the sometimes camouflage uniform, he pitched well, winning 7 of his 12 starts with a 3.07 ERA, 3.40 FIP and a 3.59 xFIP. He struck out just under a batter per nine innings, but he walked too many, walking almost four batters per nine. He showed better control in the minors, so maybe that improves in Oakland. Pitching vs the Astros a few times this year should help.
Trevor Bauer, Indians
Bauer gave up back to back to back home runs in a spring training game on Tuesday, but he is a sleeper this year. One, he was once a top pitching prospect, so he has the pedigree. Two, he showed improvement in 2014, improving his ERA, K/9 and BB/9, but still walked 3.50 batters every nine innings. He also hit 11 batters and gave up 16 home runs in 153+ innings. But, one other thing he has going for him is that he pitches in Cleveland under the tutelage of Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway. Callaway has turned around the careers of several major league starters. Just ask Carlos Carrasco, who was one of the best pitchers in basebal in the second half last season. Just ask Corey Kluber. All he did was win the AL Cy Young award last year. Bauer could be next.
Danny Duffy, Royals
Duffy had a decent 2014 season, winning 9 of his 25 starts, with a 2.53 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 4.42 xFIP and a 1.11 WHIP. He doesn't strike out many batters, as his 6.81 K/9 indicates, and he walks more than most, but he is very tough to hit, holding hitters to a .206 average, and is money pitching at home, where he held hitters to a slash line of .183-.294-.263. If he can limit the walks, he could move into our top 40-50 starters in 2015.
National League
Brett Anderson, Dodgers
Anderson can't stay healthy, plain and simple. The Dodgers gave him a one year, $10 million contract this offseason, which many writers questioned. If this was the old Dodgers front office, I would agree with questioning the signing. But the new Dodger front office are a lot more analytical than the previous one. And Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi knows Anderson from his days in Oakland, so I have confidence that Anderson will pitch well in Los Angeles, especially after they improved their infield and outfield defense with some offseason deals.
Jarred Cosart, Marlins
Cosart is another starter who doesn't strike out too many batters and walks too many as well. But he does do one thing very well: he keeps the ball on the ground at a 54% rate. He also calls Marlins Park home, so when hitters aren't killing worms when they do make contact on him, the balls won't be flying out of that pitchers park too often. That said, he won 13 of his 30 starts with a 3.69 ERA last season, and he comes very cheap this season.
Fantasy Rundown
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