Fantasy Baseball: Prospects To Watch

It's beginning to look a lot like... Fantasy Baseball time. Well for most people that starts a whole lot closer to Spring, but for me, that starts the moment Fantasy Football starts to wind down. So... it's time for a preliminary list of PROSPECTS TO WATCH. Those names in Red are people who I'd advise drafting in a standard 12 team league if you are looking for a sleeper. I've given some notes. Please note that I am never trying to insult a prospect or how succesful they might be as a pro athlete. These notes are written from the perspective of, "I'm drafting for the 2012 Fantasy Baseball season." Fantasy Baseball is not ACTUAL baseball.

Also keep in mind that I play in a league with 20 teams, 25 players per team and 12 keepers a year. So... my values are a little skewed, but I'll try to keep things in check.

1. Matt Moore – LHP (SP) – TB: Moore is going to be drafted too high in your league. I can guarantee that. He might go higher then some established top 20 starting pitchers. That is not a smart move. He is going to be very good... just not a sleeper.

2. Mike Trout – CF – LAA: Trout is aided by his lack of traction leaving the gate in 2011. He should improve in 2012, but the name recognition still makes him a tough sleeper pick in leagues that aren't shallow.

3. Jesus Montero – C – NYY: Fantasy really doesn't care about defense and neither should you. He deserves to be drafted around the time that Buster Posey is and becomes a steal if you find him hanging around when Wieters is the top catcher available.

4. Shelby Miller – RHP (SP) – Stl: Some leagues will have over-eager owners who dive in for Shelby in the middle rounds. Some leagues will see him fall through the draft entirely. Do NOT expect him to be Michael Pineda in his first season. He's a guy to have on the radar for your last 2 picks in leagues with less than 15 teams.

5. Julio Teheran – RHP (SP) – Atl: PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR LEAGUES SCORING RULES!!! Teheran could be a GREAT pitcher... who is lackluster in the world of fantasy baseball. I also am not sold on success in 2012.

6. Jacob Turner – RHP (SP) – Det: Turner will be up eventually in 2012 but unless you are also in a twenty team league that sees 500 players drafted... like me. He's not likely to be a player you need to worry about ON DRAFT DAY. Keep him on your watch list for the waiver wire.

7. Anthony Rizzo – 1B – SD: Rizzo scares me for two reasons... 1) San Diego is not a power hitter's paradise and 2) Kyle Blanks. Blanks has had injury issues and been shifted about but I could see Rizzo losing the battle in Spring Training. He's a dangerous choice until you see him hit this Spring.

8. Wil Myers – C/LF – KC: Pay attention to his catcher elligability. Catchers who produce like non-catchers (Carlos Santana, Victor Martinez, Brian McCann, Mike Napoli, Joe Mauer, Buster Posey and Jesus Montero) are not something to fall asleep on. BECAUSE he's not likely to break camp with the Royals and he IS a Royal... I'm hesitant to suggest drafting him in standard leagues... even as a last pick sleeper.

9. Brett Jackson – CF – CHC: By the end of Spring Training he'll have a job in the Cubs outfield. I'm not sold on an amazing success but he should be a fairly safe late pick by the middle of Spring Training.

10. Zack Cozart – SS/2B – CIN: So you have drafted a pretty good SS (Alexei Ramirez or worse) and you've filled most of (all) your roster spots. It's time to look up Mr. Cozart. He's a great guy to be holding in the wings to take over a position with mediocre or WORSE production.

11. Brad Peacock – RHP (SP) – WAS: Washington SHOULD hold Peacock in AAA for at least half a year. If I was given the choice I'd prefer to take Matt Harvey or Jeurys Familia as my sleeper starter (Only for deep leagues) instead of Brad who I'm betting doesn't perform in the majors until 2013.

12. Randall Delgado – RHP (SP) – ATL: Don't tell Braves fans but I'm not hyped about their top pitching prospects. I might select them in the later rounds of MY LEAGUE's (Once again 500 player) draft, but I'm not advising you to spend a pick on him.

13. Arodys Vizcaino – RHP (SP) – ATL: Another name to simply add to the waiver wire follow list.

14. Devin Mesoraco – C – CIN: Devin is going to be drafted in most standard leagues... but where is he a bargain and where did you over-spend. Consider that Brian McCann is a GREAT catcher and you could get similar production out of Nick Markakis (who I'm a fan of) in a much later round. Because catcher is not a deep position look for Mesoraco around the time your looking for your third OF.

15. James Paxton – LHP (SP) – SEA: I'm going to add him to the waiver watch list and advise against drafting.

16. Ryan Lavarnway – C – BOS: The potential for Lavarnway is blocked by Salty. If Ryan has a good spring and Salty doesn't... pay attention. Lavarnway can hit.

17. Leonys Martin – CF – TEX: Depending on his Spring I'd say you can pass on Martin. Now... I'd bet that the Rangers end up trading Martin as Kinsler and Andrus give them enough speed, but in case that doesn't happen... don't draft him.

18. Drew Pomeranz – LHP (SP) – COL: Pomeranz will play in the majors for most of 2012 and I actually rank him ahead of a number of pitchers on this list. Frankly... everyone not named Shelby Miller belongs below him.
19. James Darnell – 3B/OF – SD: Darnell is a guy who with a strong spring might earn him a role on some teams as that CI (Corner Infielder) HOWEVER... he's not the guy you WANT unless your league is deep.

20. Jarrod Parker – RHP (SP) – ARI: I expected Parker in the majors much earlier and he's probably also much too low on this list, (why does everyone gush over Braves prospects?) below Miller and Pomeranz, Parker has pretty high potential and will serve you better than a safe backup.

21. Tyler Skaggs – LHP (SP) – ARI: Then we change gears to Skaggs who belongs... much lower on the list. He'll probably pitch in the majors... but this is fantasy baseball and he doesn't have the cut of a high performer.

22. Henderson Alvarez – RHP (SP) – TOR: Alvarez is a name to watch through the year but not likely someone you'd need to draft.

23. Wade Miley – LHP (SP) – ARI: When a pitcher is described as not being a heavy strikeout guy, you can bet that he's also not destined for fantasy stardom.

24. Wilin Rosario – C – COL: I'm a Rosario fan but on the Rockies he's not a name to watch through 2012. They have Ramon Hernandez and Rosario's playing time will not be great. He COULD be traded... to the Mets... AHEM!

25. Wily Peralta – RHP (SP) – MIL: Wily Peralta isn't SUPER likely to make a MLB debut Before August. If he does he's worth watching but put more stock into what he does in the minors to start the year than what the scouts say. REMEMBER a right-handed Ted Lilly is LESS valuable than Ted Lilly.