May 25, 2012
  • 6/11/09

    garrett atkins

    By Max J. Dickstein

    Fantasy Reality 5 players who are still buy-low opportunities

    Photo credit: Game Face

    The Colorado Rockies' Garrett Atkins (Getty Images)

    By Kyle Stack

    Special to amNewYork

    Fantasy baseball owners looking for a way to jump-start their teams will often probe their league's free-agent list. Instead, they should be looking at opposing rosters for an underperforming player. Here are five:

    Geovany Soto, C, Chicago Cubs

    .218 AVG, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .622 OPS

    Coming off his first three-hit performance of '09 on Tuesday, last year's National League Rookie of the Year has been perhaps the most disappointing of a crop of struggling catchers.

    That said, he has one major factor in his favor: plate discipline. He's striking out less (21.1 K percentage vs. 24.5 in '08) and walking more (13.9 BB percentage against last year's 11.2 mark).

    Think of plate discipline as baseball's version of karma. The more discerning eye a batter shows at the dish, the more likely he is to reap the offensive benefits down the road.

    Scott Baker, SP, Minnesota Twins

    4-6, 5.59 ERA, 1.17 WHIP

    The buy-low window is closing for the righty, who's won three of his past four starts in part by maintaining a 28/2 K/BB ratio in 29 innings.

    In trade talks, never mention his recent surge. Maintain a level of skepticism and hope that the Baker owner in your league is still freaked out by his losing record and meteoric ERA.

    It's likely he's undervalued anyway, given his status as a Minnesota Twins pitcher not named Francisco Liriano. To that point, the talented Liriano (2-7, 6.12 ERA, 1.58 WHIP) is a good buy to stash for when he turns it on later in the year.Howie Kendrick, 2B, Los Angeles Angels

    .235 AVG, 4 HR, 22 RBI, .640 OPS

    His minor league career batting average (.360) and his average through his first three big league campaigns (.306) suggest he's hit near rock bottom.

    What's ironic is that Kendrick's hitting ability was never in doubt in past years — his ability to stay healthy was. Now that he's been relatively injury-free, the bat is holding him back. He might never be even a 15/15 player, but he should be a .300 hitter the rest of his career.

    Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (.230 AVG, 4 HR, 20 RBI) is another buy-low candidate, although his name recognition might preclude owners from trading him below market value.

    Ricky Nolasco, SP, Florida Marlins

    2-6, 8.17 ERA, 1.82 WHIP

    There are times when the price for a player is so low that the benefit of his potential is worth more than the player(s) you would have to give up. In regards to 26-year-old, who was hyped as a sleeper pick by many experts during the preseason, his lowly '09 numbers can't get much worse.

    The potential he showed last year (3.52 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 7.9 K/9) makes it worth taking a chance on him. Unless your league's Nolasco owner has Zen-like patience, it's likely he's very much available.

    Garrett Atkins, 1B/3B, Colorado Rockies

    .194 AVG, 5 HR, 21 RBI, .578 OPS

    Talk about a Rocky Mountain Horror of a season. The third baseman hasn't seen his batting average climb into the .200s since May 13.

    Yet, there are two significant reasons you should trade for him: 1) He's been incredibly unlucky, sporting just a .203 batting average on balls in play (his career average is .312), and 2) He's averaged 25 homers and 110 RBIs the last three seasons.

    A cynic would validate his current slump by pointing out his numbers have declined each of the past two years. Cynics don't often win fantasy championships, though. Owners with the sensibility to recognize and acquire underperforming players do.

    Home/away splits

    John Maine, SP, New York Mets

    4-1, 2.48 ERA, 1.07 WHIP at home; 1-3, 6.34 ERA, 1.65 WHIP on road

    Melvin Mora, 3B, Baltimore Orioles

    .320 AVG, .791 OPS, 12 RBI at home; .194 AVG, .511 OPS, 3 RBI on road

    Gavin Floyd, SP, Chicago White Sox

    3.00 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 at home; 7.97 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 6.7 K/9 on road

    Nick Swisher, 1B/OF, New York Yankees

    .190 AVG, 3 HR, 7 RBI at home; .303 AVG, 9 HR, 28 RBI on road

    A.J. Pierzynski, C, Chicago White Sox

    .202 AVG, .581 OPS at home; .375 AVG, .931 OPS on road