- Eric Hz at Fake Teams has six sleepers for deeper AL/NL only leagues.
Two interesting names on the list are RP Dennis Safarte and OF Fred Lewis who could end up having value in mixed leagues if they are given enough playing time.
Since I'm counting on Lidge to provide 30 saves this year, I'm hoping that his stay on the DL keeps him fresh and healthy and doesn't serve as a precursor for more stays to come.
I like Smoltz and had him last year, but I don't know how long he can continue to be a top ten or fifteen pitcher. There's no way that each injury doesn't continue to nag him throughout the year.
- Bob Taylor of Fantasy Hurler bemoans the Jarrod Saltalamacchia demotion, which results in him having to pick up "Gerald Fucking Laird".
I like Saltalamacchia and think he'll have a great career, but it doesn't seem that he's ready to be a major league catcher. It may be better to move him to first base to get his bat in the lineup, but he still struck out 75 times in just 308 at bats in his first season in the major leagues. He probably needs a bit more time in AAA, but I expect he'll be back up in Texas before the season is over.
As for Laird, I'm glad I don't have to rush to the waiver wire to pick him up, but it was only a year ago that Laird was the player being mentioned as a sleeper at catcher after hitting .296 with seven home runs in 243 at bats in 2006. Laird has some good pop, so he's not a bad choice, especially if you are in a league that requires two catchers.
I do agree that we overpaid for Juan Pierre, who might be overtaken by Andre Ethier as the starting leftfielder, and Jason Schmidt, but I have to disagree with his other opinions.
Colletti signed Rafael Furcal for three years/$39 million, which is a lot of money, but Furcal was one of the Dodgers best players in his first season with the team, hitting .300/15/63/37. It's likely that Furcal could have repeated those numbers in 2007, but a spring training collision with teammate Jason Repko left him with an ankle sprain that hindered him throughout the year. Now that he's healthy, Furcal should be one of the top ten shortstops in the league.
Nomar Garciaparra has little to no value now, but he was the Comeback Player of the Year in his first year with the Dodgers, hitting .303/20/93 in 2006. Garciaparra is just taking up space now that James Loney is ready to take over at first, but he was one of the team's better offensive players in 2006.
I liked that the Dodgers were able to get Luis Gonzalez for 2007; he was a decent insurance policy in case Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier faltered. Gonzalez's 15 HR were actually tied for third on the power deficient team. It was just a one-year deal, so Gonzalez allowed the Dodgers to bring their young outfielders along slowly without blocking them long term.
Derek Lowe has been the Dodger's most consistent starting pitcher over the last three years; he's pitched nearly 200 innings every year that he's been on the team, and he's averaged 13 wins with an ERA between 3.61 and 3.88. I don't see how you can go wrong with having a rotation stalwart like that on our team.
Edinson Volquez, acquired from the Rangers for Josh Hamilton, has beaten Bailey out for a rotation spot by striking out 26 batters in 20 innings this spring training with a 2.70 ERA. Volquez is starting to pique everyone's interest and he's definitely someone to stash away if you can.
