FAAB Factor - AL: Many Options To Sort Through

FAAB Factor - AL: Many Options To Sort Through

This article is part of our AL FAAB Factor series.


Starting Pitchers:

Ross Detwiler, Rangers - A starter once again, this time with the Rangers, Detwiler shouldn't be forgotten about in AL only formats where he's still available. The last time we saw him as a starter was in 2013, when he had a 4.04 ERA (3.82 FIP) with 39 strikeouts and 14 walks over 71.1 IP. The weak ability to miss bats and the home park should give owners reason for pause, as things could sideways for Detwiler if he doesn't show good command of his pitches. Fortunately, he has shown good control and kept the ball in the park, both of which will be vital to him surviving in Texas, something not all starters can do. He's to be avoided in mixed leagues, as the risk is too great this early in the season. Those in AL only formats though will want to at least give him a shot. Mixed: No; AL: $4.

Kendall Graveman, A's - Graveman won the fourth starters spot in the A's rotation after a strong spring and should be picked up in all AL only and deeper mixed leagues. Last season with the Blue Jays he jumped from Low-A all the way up to Triple-A, and in the process made himself a desirable commodity, enough so that he was included in the Josh Donaldson trade. At Triple-A Buffalo last season he started six games and produced a 1.88 ERA (2.78 FIP) with 22 strikeouts and five walks over 38.1 IP. Given


Starting Pitchers:

Ross Detwiler, Rangers - A starter once again, this time with the Rangers, Detwiler shouldn't be forgotten about in AL only formats where he's still available. The last time we saw him as a starter was in 2013, when he had a 4.04 ERA (3.82 FIP) with 39 strikeouts and 14 walks over 71.1 IP. The weak ability to miss bats and the home park should give owners reason for pause, as things could sideways for Detwiler if he doesn't show good command of his pitches. Fortunately, he has shown good control and kept the ball in the park, both of which will be vital to him surviving in Texas, something not all starters can do. He's to be avoided in mixed leagues, as the risk is too great this early in the season. Those in AL only formats though will want to at least give him a shot. Mixed: No; AL: $4.

Kendall Graveman, A's - Graveman won the fourth starters spot in the A's rotation after a strong spring and should be picked up in all AL only and deeper mixed leagues. Last season with the Blue Jays he jumped from Low-A all the way up to Triple-A, and in the process made himself a desirable commodity, enough so that he was included in the Josh Donaldson trade. At Triple-A Buffalo last season he started six games and produced a 1.88 ERA (2.78 FIP) with 22 strikeouts and five walks over 38.1 IP. Given that he'll call Oakland home, he should benefit from the home park, which is reason enough to go after him in AL only formats where he's still available. In mixed leagues, you may want to take a wait and see approach, as he's never started a game in the majors and has only seven starts about High-A to his name. Still, there is upside here as the home park is so forgiving. Mixed: $2; AL: $7.

Zach McAllister, Indians - McAllister won a spot in the Indians rotation this spring after a series of strong outings. Last season he posted a 5.67 ERA (3.80 FIP) as a starter, with 60 strikeouts and 26 walks over 73 IP. The Tribe is hoping for improved results, as they opted to send Danny Salazar to the minors and give McAllister another shot at starting. That'll likely change at some point this season, as Salazar is too talented to remain in the minors, but first the team wants to see what McAllister can offer. In 2013 he had a 3.75 ERA (4.18 FIP) with 101 strikeouts and 49 walks over 134.1 IP, so he could be useful as a back-end starter on most AL only staffs. Mixed: $1; AL: $5.

Drew Pomeranz, A's - Going from Colorado to Oakland is about the best thing that could've ever happened for Pomeranz and in 2014 it showed, as he posted a 2.58 ERA (3.67 FIP) with 50 strikeouts and 20 walks over 52.1 IP as a starter. Based on that and a strong spring, he was able to earn a spot in the A's rotation. Much like with Kendall Graveman, Pomeranz is worth a look because he calls O.Co home, but there should be more confidence in Pomeranz, as he has more experience in the majors with 31 starts already behind him. He doesn't have elite velocity, but does well to miss bats and if he can carry over the improved command he showed last season will be a real asset to owners and the A's. If for some reason he's still available in your AL only format, be prepared to bid up on him. Mixed: $5; AL: $15.

Erasmo Ramirez, Rays - Ramirez was traded from the Mariners to the Rays this past week and now might have a shot at cracking their rotation, as the team deals with a slew of injuries. In Seattle last season he posted a 5.26 ERA (5.38 FIP) with 60 strikeouts and 34 walks over 75.1 IP and hasn't been useful to owners as a starter since 2012. At this point no one should be holding their breath to see if the change of scenery helps him and as such the bidding should be very light on Ramirez, who may not even be a starter with the Rays, as he could pitch in long relief. Mixed: No; AL: $2.

Hector Santiago, Angels - For a starter who has posted back-to-back season with an ERA 3.75 or better, Santiago hasn't gotten much love this spring from owners. It's understandable, as his command is shaky and his FIP those last two seasons was 4.60 and 4.35, neither of which point to underlying skills that we just haven't seen translate to better results. Still, he'll be in Anaheim, which is a decent pitcher's park and on a team that figures to score plenty of runs in support of their pitchers. His strikeout rate has been on the decline and last season he finished at a 7.63 K/9, so don't expect him to miss too many bats. Andrew Heaney was sent to the minors, but if he impresses down there, it could be Santiago that loses his spot, so keep that in mind when bidding. Mixed: $1; AL: $4.

Alfredo Simon, Tigers - After a 3.44 ERA (4.40 FIP) with 127 strikeouts and 56 walks over 196.1 IP in 2013 with the Reds, it seems many have forgotten about Simon, now that he is with the Tigers. He hasn't done himself any favors this spring, as he has been hit around a fair amount too. Still, he's going to be on a team that should be in contention for a playoff spot and will need him to step up and eat innings. Last season he started out great with a 2.70 ERA (4.33 FIP), but regressed in the second half with a 4.52 ERA (4.34 FIP). Expect more of the latter than the former, as he pitches back in the AL, though he could find himself helpful to fantasy owners as a streaming option. Mixed: $1; AL: $4.

Adam Warren, Yankees - Warren won the fifth starter job this spring, as he looks to convert from a reliever back to a starter, where he spent all of his days in the minors. He throws five pitches with a slider and curve, so it'll be interesting to see how he goes about attacking hitters, but at least he has options to keep them guessing. In 2012, when he was a starter, at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre, he had a 3.71 ERA (3.68 FIP) with 107 strikeouts and 46 walks over 152.2 IP. With Chris Capuano (quad) and Ivan Nova (elbow) out for at least the first month of the season, Warren has some time to show if he belongs. Mixed: $2; AL: $8.

Asher Wojciechowski, Astros - Wojo won a spot in the Astros rotation this spring, beating out Roberto Hernandez, and injuries to Brett Oberholtzer (finger) and Brad Peacock (hip) didn't hurt either. Last season at Oklahoma City he had a 4.74 ERA (4.34 FIP) with 59 strikeouts and 21 walks over 76 IP. Just a season before though, he posted a 3.56 ERA (3.63 FIP) with 104 strikeouts and 44 walks over 134 IP, before a strained lat muscle and flexor strain robbed him of most of his 2014 season. He should be a helpful back-of-the-rotation starter for the Astros, but he doesn't miss bats at an elite rate, so he'll need to rely on his control and defense to help him out. He'll start the third game of the season for the Astros and from there it'll be up to him to keep his rotation spot, as Oberholtzer and Peacock will be back soon enough. Mixed: $1; AL: $5.

Relief Pitchers:

Brad Boxberger, Rays - Jake McGee (elbow) is likely to miss all of April, leaving the Rays to find someone to replace him as the team's closer. That replacement figures to be Boxberger, who new manager Kevin Cash seems to have faith in, based on what he did for the team in 2014, when he posted a 2.37 ERA (2.91 FIP) with 18 holds and two saves over 64.2 IP. With a great ability to miss bats, Boxberger will hold value, no matter his role and if he proves to be just as effective in 2015 as he was in 2014, there's a chance he might keep the closer roll for more than just the first month of the season. Mixed: $5; AL: $15.

Andrew Miller, Yankees - Coming into spring training Dellin Betances was the odds on favorite to start the season as the Yankees closer. As we enter the season that is still true, but Betances was shaky all spring and had a noticeable dip in velocity as well. His velocity has come back around as of late, but that still leaves him on somewhat shaky ground, as he has yet to display the dominance that made him so effective last season in a setup role. That shakiness makes Miller a great player to own, as he's expected to set up for Betances at worst and at best could steal some save opportunities or even the job outright for himself. Miller is a LHP, so he could be asked to face a tough LHB in the eighth inning or early in the ninth, leaving the final out(s) for Betances. Either way, it's clear that Miller has an opportunity in the early going to show that he can handle whatever is asked of him and that he deserves the closer gig or at least a share of it. Formerly a starter, Miller has flourished as a reliever, with a 2.64 ERA (3.20 FIP) in 2013 and a 2.02 ERA (1.37 FIP) in 2014. No matter what size your league, make sure Miller is owned, as he will figure into late inning situations for the Yankees, whether he has the label of closer or not. Mixed: $4; AL: $12.

Edward Mujica & Junichi Tazawa, Red Sox - With closer Koji Uehara (hamstring) on the DL and not expected to be activated for at least another week or so, Mujica is the team's presumed closer on Opening Day. Last season with the team he had a 3.90 ERA (3.77 FIP) with eight saves, five of which came in September. Not a high-strikeout pitcher, Mujica isn't likely to be lights-out, though he may do a fine job holding down the fort until Uehara is back. It's just unlikely in my view that he takes the job and keeps it as his the whole season, while Uehara serves in a setup role. Likely Mujica will setup for Uehara as he did last season, for so long as Uehara is healthy. For now though, Mujica needs to be one in all leagues. As for Tazawa, he will setup for Mujica and will step in, should something happen to Mujica or Mujica prove ineffective. It should be noted that Uehara should be back by the middle to latter part of April, so what value Tazawa has is likely to be fleeting. Still, it wouldn't be a bad idea to throw at least a dollar at him, just in case. Mujica Mixed: $7; AL: $20. Tazawa Mixed: $1; AL: $5.

Joakim Soria, Tigers - After posting a 4.81 ERA (4.01 FIP) last season, it's tough to envision Joe Nathan keeping the Tigers closer role all season long. Last season he basically only kept it because of his sterling reputation as one of the game's best closers for most of the 2000s. This season though, he's another year older at 40 and his declining velocity and lack of effectiveness are likely to cost him his role as closer at some point. When that happens, expect Soria to be there ready to take over. Last season he had a 3.25 ERA (2.09), while showing a good ability to miss bats, limit walks, and keep the ball in the yard. Even in mixed leagues, it's likely a good idea to roster Soria, while we all wait to see how long Nathan can tread water as the closer yet again. Mixed: $3; AL: $12.

Catchers:

Ryan Hanigan & Sandy Leon, Red Sox - With the news that Christian Vazquez (arm) is out for the year, following Tommy John surgery, the Red Sox will now start the season with Hanigan as their starting backstop and Leon his backup. Both get the benefit of hitting in what figures to be a potent lineup, though they'll likely be hitting near the end of it. For Hanigan, he'll likely be a drain on your batting average and/or OBP, as he hit .198/.306/.261 in 2013 and .218/.318/.324 in 2014. There is very little power upside here too, so don't bid much. As for Leon, he's almost a decade younger than Hanigan and yet possesses many of the same offensive skills. Again, don't invest much into either to help your team. Expect prospect Blake Swihart to arrive sooner rather than later this season to help provide some offensive upside to this group. Hanigan Mixed: $1; AL: $4. Leon Mixed: No; AL: $1.

John Jaso, Rays - If you're in a shallower mixed league and looking for a second catcher, Jaso is a good name to consider, as he's eligible at catcher, yet is set to be the Rays starting DH and will play in the outfield some too. Last season he hit .264/.337/.430 with nine home runs over 344 PA. He'll likely sit against LHP, of whom he really struggles against (career .169/.289/.221). Still, there's upside in his ability to be in the lineup most games without the wear and tear of playing catcher. Mixed: $5; AL: $15.

Caleb Joseph & Ryan Lavarnway, Orioles - Starting catcher Matt Wieters (elbow) is set to begin the season on the DL, which means the Orioles will start the season with Joseph as their main backstop and Lavarnway his backup. Last season Joseph hit nine home runs with a .207/.264/.354 batting line over 275 PA. The power is not a surprise, as he hit 22 homers at Double-A Bowie in 2013, though don't mistake him for a prospect, as he's already 28 years old. His numbers probably won't improve from there, so expect him to be a batting average/OBP liability for as long as Wieters is out. His backup, Lavarnway offers more offensive upside, but has been exposed, when given any prolonged playing time. Over 301 PA, while with the Red Sox, he hit .201/.249/.315 with five home runs. Winters should be back sometime in April, so don't get too carried away bidding on either player. Joseph Mxed: $1; AL: $4. Lavarnway Mixed: No; AL: $2.

James McCann, Tigers - The backup to starting catcher Alex Avila, McCann may find himself playing more than your typical "backup." He hit .295/.343/.427 with seven home runs over 460 PA last season at Triple-A Toledo. For now he'll start against LHP, which isn't a bad place to start his career, as he learns how to call games at the MLB level. Avila isn't an ironman by any stretch, so don't be surprised to see McCann work his way into more at-bats as the season goes along. Mixed: No; AL: $3.

Josmil Pinto, Twins - Currently in the minors at Triple-A Rochester, Pinto is getting at-bats there, as he missed time this spring due to a concussion he suffered. If he can show he's found his timing at the plate, he could be back up relatively soon. He has hit .257/.339/.445 with 11 homers over 280 PA in the majors, showing his ability to hit for power. The team currently has Kurt Suzuki and Chris Herrmann as their backstops to open the season and for whatever reason continue to see Suzuki as their best option at the position, when giving Pinto a chance would seem to be in their best long-term plans. If you can stash minor-leaguers, give Pinto a look; he has offensive upside. Mixed: No; AL: $2.

Blake Swihart, Red Sox - Now that Christian Vazquez (arm) is out for the season following Tommy John surgery, the Red Sox are set to start the season with Ryan Hanigan and Sandy Leon as their backstops, neither of whom offers much upside offensively. Swihart is a touted prospect that offers the potential to hit for average and some power, so don't be surprised if he arrives on the MLB scene sooner rather than later. The team even considered bringing him up to start the season, before trading for Leon to backup Hanigan. Last season between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, Swihart hit .293/.341/.469 with 13 homers and eight stolen bases over 451 PA. If you have room to stash prospects in your AL only league, Swihart is great name to consider, as it might not take much from him and/or Hanigan/Leon to see him up with the Red Sox this season. Mixed: No; AL: $4.

Corner Infielders:

Mark Canha, A's - A relative unknown, Canha hit six home runs with a .297/.342/.635 batting line over 74 AB this spring. Those numbers are to be taken with a grain of salt, but they were enough to earn him a spot on the Opening Day roster. Last season at Triple-A New Orleans he hit 20 home runs with a .303/.384/.505 batting line over 537 PA. At 26 years old, he's not a prospect and figures to backup Ike Davis and Billy Butler at first base, so playing time may be slim for him. Still, he should be in there most days against LHP and the A's are creative with their lineups and position flexibility, so he may have more upside than your traditional backup. Give him a look if you're in need of some depth at corner infield or want to take a flyer on someone who had a hot spring. Mixed: No; AL: $3.

Conor Gillaspie, White Sox - If you're in a shallower AL only or mixed league, there's a chance that Gillaspie is still available on your waiver wire. It's understandable, considering how poorly he played in the second half of last season, when he produced a .228/.284/.330 batting line over 222 PA. In the offseason he quit chewing tobacco and added muscle to his frame, in hopes of preventing another second half slump, like the one he endured in 2014. He doesn't do well against LHP, so expect him to be platooned, which should help his batting line. He has been playing through plantar fasciitis this spring, which may slow him down some, but he hasn't complained about the pain, at least not publicly. The 2015 White Sox figure to field a more potent lineup than they did in 2014 and as long as he's not buried in the lineup, he should have his share of run and RBI opportunities. Don't forget about him, as he did post a .326/.377/.484 batting line in the first half of 2014. Mixed: $2; AL: $8.

Brock Holt, Red Sox - Holt played everywhere but pitcher and catcher last season for the Red Sox and is likely to reprise his role as a super utility player once again in 2015. In most leagues he's eligible at third base and outfield only, though he'll see time everywhere. Last season he started out hot, hitting .327/.371/.463 in the first half of the season, only to regress significantly in second half, hitting .219/.278/.271. He was a decent hitter for average in the minors, but never showed any power, so don't expect much growth from the four home runs he hit in 2014, when he saw more playing time than anyone was expecting. He stole 12 bases last season and stands to build on that, as he led the team in stolen bases this spring with six and was not caught once. As a fill-in you could do worse. Mixed: No; AL: $3.

Jon Singleton, Astros - No fooling, Singleton was sent back to the minors this week on April 1st, as he was overmatched this spring and was facing the reality of backing up Chris Carter at first base. He needs more at-bats to refine his approach, which was strikeout heavy this spring and much of last season. In 2014 he hit .168/.285/.335 with 13 home runs over 362 PA. The power is nice, but his contract rate was an abysmal 57 percent. Still, he makes for an interesting stash if you can hold minor leaguers in AL only formats. Obviously he needs to work on his plate approach, so stashing him might not be for everyone, especially if batting average is an area of concern for your squad. Only 23 years old, he'll be back up this season at some point. Mixed: No; AL: $3.

Justin Smoak, Blue Jays - Smoak made the Blue Jays Opening Day roster as their primary DH and backup first baseman. A former top prospect with the Rangers, he performed poorly with the Mariners the last five seasons, so perhaps this change of scenery to Toronto will do him some good. Last season he hit just .202/.275/.339 with seven home runs over 276 PA. He'll need to do much better than that or he'll find himself on the bench or worse in 2015. If you've quit on him of think of him as dead to you, I don't blame you, but the change of scenery to offensive friendly Toronto is real and shouldn't be dismissed. Mixed: $1; AL: $5.

Rickie Weeks, Mariners - Weeks isn't eligible at first base yet, but that should change at some point in April, as he's the Mariners backup to Logan Morrison at the position, in addition to backing up second base and playing in the outfield. Last season he saw his fewest plate appearances (286) since 2009, when he was injured, and his batting line rebounded to .274/.357/.452. Though because the Brewers limited his exposure, he only hit eight home runs and stole three bases. In 2015 he hopes to produce a similar batting line, though over more playing time, which should come as he backs up three different positions. Mixed: No; AL: $3.

Middle Infielders:

Everth Cabrera, Orioles - J.J. Hardy (shoulder) is currently on the DL, though there is some optimism that he could return in as soon as a week. For now, shortstop will be manned by Cabrera, who is a career .248 hitter, but does have plenty of speed to offer owners and those still looking for a replacement to Hardy. In 2014 he stole 18 bases over 391 PA, but in 2012 and 2013, he stole a combined 81 bases, so there is upside here, even when Hardy returns. Changing leagues and home parks should benefit Cabrera, though he's not a power hitter by any stretch. He'll back up second base as well, once Hardy is back, so he should be in the lineup enough to use his speed, as the season progresses. If he hits leadoff, his short-term value goes up a bit, but either way, he should be viewed as cheap source of speed. Mixed: $1; AL: $6.

Delino DeShields Jr., Rangers - The Rule 5 pick from the Astros made the Rangers roster as a bench player, a role that while initially not the best for his fantasy value, at least gives him a way to showcase his best skill, his speed, as a pinch runner and backup. Last season at Double-A Corpus Christi, he hit just .236, but he had a .346 OBP and stole 54 bases over 507 PA. If he can get on base enough or just take advantage of his pinch running situations, he might end up being a great source of stolen bases for owners. In OBP leagues, go an extra dollar on him, though no one should be surprised if he's back with Houston by the time summer rolls around. Mixed: No; AL: $3.

Logan Forsythe, Rays - Nick Franklin (oblique) is starting the season on the DL, which means that Forsythe will start the season opener. Had Franklin been healthy, he would be there to handle his side of the platoon that is likely to exist in which Forsythe faces LHPs. A platoon, while not the best for fantasy owners, is likely best for the Rays, as Forsythe is a career .215/.283/.296 hitter against RHPs over 693 PA. Being on the weak side of said platoon limits his value, but then again he didn't have much fantasy upside to begin with, as he doesn't hit for much power and lacks speed. Owners can likely do better than to settle for Forsythe. Mixed: No; AL: $3.

Johnny Giavotella, Angels - Giavotella has won the Angels second base job, giving him a good shot at helping owners in the runs scored department. As for everything else, we'll see because as a career .238/.277/.334 hitter over 465 PA, he hasn't really shown any other skills with four home runs and eight stolen bass over that time. Formerly with the Royals, who never really gave him a shot to keep the second base job with them, he showed some speed in the minors, though it never really translated to the majors. With the Angels, he'll likely hit at the bottom of the lineup, but it could be worse, as the Angels figure to score plenty of runs this season. In OBP leagues he might be worth an extra dollar or two, as he showed good on base skills in the minors with a career .384 OBP over 1,840 PA at Triple-A Omaha. Mixed: $2; AL: $7.

Robert Refsnyder, Yankees - Though he did not make the Yankees Opening Day roster, it won't be surprising to see Refsnyder up with the team sooner rather than later, as Stephen Drew is a low barrier to cross to playing time. At Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre last season, he hit .300/.389/.456 with eight home runs and four stolen bases over 333 PA. Only 24 years old, he's not a power/speed threat, but he could hit for a decent average and grow into more power in his later years. He makes for a good stash as a minor leaguer for 2015 and at the moment seems like the future of the organization at second base. Mixed: No; AL: $2.

Devon Travis, Blue Jays - Travis won the Jays second base job and will start on Opening Day, despite only playing 100 games above High-A in the minors. Last season at Double-A Erie he hit .298/.358/.460 with 10 home runs and 16 stolen bases over 441 PA. Given the offensive environment he'll be in, he should be owned in all AL only and deep mixed formats. He presents more offensive upside than those he was competing with for the job like Maicer Izturis (groin), who is currently hurt, but again is relatively inexperienced, having only played those 100 games above High-A. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to see Travis back in the minors at some point this season to get more seasoning, but at this point he's in the majors and is in a lineup that should score plenty of runs. Mixed: $2; AL: $8.

Jonathan Villar, Astros - A year ago some were touting Villar as a sneaky stolen base threat, after he swipped 17 bags over 241 PA in 2013. In 2014 he struggled to a .209/.267/.354 batting line over 289 PA, though still produced 17 stolen bases. He is no longer the starter at shortstop, but will be a backup there and at second base and in the outfield, as super utility player. As a cheap source of speed, Villar can help owners, it's just a matter of how much, as the Astros don't have a lineup or offensive friendly park like that of Toronto or the Angels. Mixed: No; AL: $3.

Outfielders:

Billy Burns, A's - With Josh Reddick (oblique) out for a week and Coco Crisp (elbow) out for the next 6-to-8 weeks, Burns was able to secure a spot on the A's Opening Day roster. It also didn't hurt that he also had the most hits of any player in spring Training. One area where he could've improved though was in his stealing of bases, as he swiped five bases, but was also caught four times. Stealing bases is what Burns does best though, so perhaps he was just a bit rusty this spring. Last season between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Sacramento he hit .237/.315/.302 with 54 stolen bases over 542 PA. If he can find his way on base enough, he'll be a real asset to owners. If he can't however, he'll be a tease and likely find himself back in the minors. One reason for optimism that his hot spring is for real is that he switched to a larger bat, which he credits for his improvement. Given his elite speed, expect him to be a hot commodity on the waiver wire, if he's still available in your AL only league. In mixed leagues, you can likely wait and see how things turn out, once Reddick is back in a week and playing time is scarce for Burns. Mixed: $4; AL: $12.

Rusney Castillo, Red Sox - Sent down to Triple-A Pawtucket this week, Castillo should not be a forgotten man in AL only formats. He battled an oblique injury, which cost him some time, had to deal with the continued emergence of Mookie Betts, and the continued health, for now, of Shane Victorino. Should Victorino get trade or injured, the latter is more likely to come sooner, though a trade is always a possibility. Until then Castillo will need to bide his time in the minors and continue to adjust to life in America. Skills wise he should be a nice source of speed with moderate power and a decent batting average. Last season in only 40 plate appearances he hit .333/.400/.528 with two homers and three stolen bases. It's a very small sample size and we'll likely learn more about Castillo in the coming weeks in the minors than we did from his playing time in the majors last season. At any rate, stash him if you can in any league, as the Red Sox believe in him as part of their long-term future. Mixed: $3; AL: $10.

Craig Gentry, A's - As with Billy Burns, Gentry is the beneficiary of injuries to Josh Reddick (oblique) and Coco Crisp (elbow). He doesn't have the speed that Burns does, but he does have a much more established history of being able to hit for average and get on base, which counts for something. Once Reddick is back in a week, Gentry will likely be platoon-mates with Sam Fuld in centerfield, though that may change, as Fuld is a weak hitter and Burns, depending upon how well he adjusts to the majors, may further complicate playing time. Still, being the most established hitter of the trio should leave Gentry on solid footing. The fact that he is a good base stealer, when he decides to go should benefit his owners as well. Last season he hit .254/.319/.289 with 20 stolen bases over 256 PA. Mixed: $2; AL: $8.

Jake Marisnick, Astros - With Jonathan Singleton optioned to the minors, Chris Carter will move back to first base, Evan Gattis will be the Astros primary DH, and Colby Rasmus will start in left field, leaving Marisnick with the opportunity to be the team's everyday centerfielder. Last season, after being traded from the Marlins to the Astros, he hit .272/.299/.370 with three home runs and six stolen bases over 186 PA. In the minors at Triple-A New Orleans, he hit .277/.326/.434 with 10 home runs and 24 stolen bases over 377 PA. Entering his age 24 season, he figures to have more speed than power, but getting on base will be the name of the game for Marisnick and his owners, as if he's able to do that, he'll likely be able to keep a starting job. Mixed: $3; AL: $12.

David Murphy, Indians - Nick Swisher (knee) is set to start the season on the DL, though he could be back in the middle of April, if his rehab goes well. While he's gone, Murphy figures to be the Indians starting right fielder. In 2014 Murphy hit .262/.319/.385 with eight homers and two stolen bases over 462 PA. Depending upon how much playing time he sees in 2015, he should surpass those counting stat figures. However he's not likely to age well, so don't expect anything special most nights when you look at the box score. For now, he needs to be owned in all AL only formats or at least as long as Swisher is out. In mixed leagues, there are likely more options that present more upside. Mixed: $3; AL: $10.

Kevin Pillar, Blue Jays - With Michael Saunders (knee) out to start the season, Pillar is the starting left fielder for the Blue Jays. Last season at Triple-A Buffalo Pillar hit .323/.359/.509 with 10 home runs and 27 stolen bases. Saunders' injury isn't expected to keep him out past April, so don't bid too much on Pillar, in hopes of him keeping the job all season long. Skills wise, Pillar isn't likely to hit for much power, but he could provide some stolen base upside and depending upon where he hits in the lineup, some runs scored upside as well. Mixed: $2; AL: $8.

Ryan Rua, Rangers - Rua earned the Rangers starting left field job in spring training and for that reason alone, he should be snapped up in the AL only formats where he's still available. Last season between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock, he hit .306/.378/.488 with 18 homers and six stolen bases over 529 PA. Once in the majors, he hit .295/.321/.419 with two homers and one stolen base over 109 PA. If he can hold the job all season long, double-digit homers and a handful of steals seems likely. What kind of batting average and on base skills come with that are to be determine, as he's 25 years old, with likely little room for more skills growth. Still, as long as he's getting playing time, he needs to be owned in most AL only formats. Mixed: $1; AL: $5.

Jordan Schafer, Twins - Now that Aaron Hicks has been sent to Triple-A Rochester, Schafer is set to start the season as the Twins starting center fielder. The question now becomes, will Schafer hit enough to keep the job? The answer to that question is likely no, as he is a career .229/.311/.310 hitter over 1,396 PA, but while he does have the job, he figures to help owners out with his ability to steal bases, as he stole 30 last season in 240 PA. This season he'll likely do more of the same, which means if you can take the hit your batting average is likely to suffer, you should get a fair number of steals out of Schafer. Anything past that should be considered gravy, as the Twins figure to have a below average lineup and their park is not going to help the light hitting Schafer either. Pick him up in AL only formats and take a wait and see approach elsewhere. Mixed: $2; AL: $7.

Note: If you have anyone else you'd like me to discuss, just drop a line in the comments section.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Martinez
Andrew Martinez writes about baseball and football. He is a native Texan and roots for the Astros, Rockets, Texans, and Rice Owls.
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