Guys I’m Targeting-American League
I must be crazy. I must be totally crazy.
Guys like me should never go public with guys we are targeting in Fantasy Leagues.
But part of the game is sharing information. That’s what I do. I try to share my ideas and thoughts as an analyst. If it costs me someone scooping a player from me, so be it.
No, I’m not a martyr. I just think it doesn’t hurt to share.
I like my track record on targets. But this year, I may bust. So beware. I have no certainty these guys will turn your season around. They just happen to be guys I like. You may not. Don’t blame me. Just praise me profusely if I get it right.
I am not including the obvious like Sano and Buxton in keeper leagues. I am reaching a bit. So here goes—these are guys I wouldn’t mind owning shares of this season:
My absolute break out candidate is Henry Urruita of the Orioles. If you follow me, I raved about him last year. I think he’ll be even better as a left-handed designated hitter. I think when he does get to hit, he’ll be a doubles machine with homers to come.
I’m a huge Avisail Garcia fan-especially in keeper leagues. He’s just in his infancy. He’ll keep on keeping on. Especially at that hitter friendly Chicago play pen.
I think the Indians John Axford could be a sleeper as a closer. I believe in Mickey Callaway’s ability to fix pitchers. I like Axford this season.
Speaking of Indians, I’ll take my shares of first baseman Jesus Aguillar in a keeper league. I think he’ll play and hit-eventually. May be in 2015.
A surprise here: I’m very bullish on Grady Sizemore making a comeback with Boston. He’s still a good athlete. He’s healthy. And he’s getting a chance. I’ll take him.
Norichika Aoki is underrated. I think the Brewers made a mistake letting him slip away. He will score runs for the Royals. I want those runs.
Off that same Royals club, I’ll take Yordano Ventura in a keeper league and stash him. Not big. Just a big arm. When he finds the strike zone, watch out.
Another keeper to stash: I really like Taylor Lindsey of the Angels and I don’t think it’ll be too long until he’s playing 2B for them. A couple years at the most.
I think Alex Colome will be pitching in Tampa at some point this year. I wouldn’t mind having him on my bench.
Oh, I have more. Many more. But I’ll save them for another day.
There you have a few. Let the debates begin.
I’ll be at three Spring Training games in Phoenix this week. I leave for Florida on Saturday. Please follow me on twitter. I hope to bring you the goods
Up next: My National League targets.
And thanks so much for reading my work on MLBPipeline.com and following me on twitter @BerniePleskoff.
That’s it. I’m done.
Now that the Orioles have signed Nelson Cruz, that has to impact Urruita’s plate appearances dramatically at DH making him more of a pinch hitter type. I can’t see Cruz playing regularly in LF/RF unless someone gets hurt. Thoughts?
Urrutia will likely be a left-handed DH if he makes the squad. I think Cruz will play as a regular.