This week we’re starting a new weekly column that will be here every Thursday, it will be all about fantasy baseball keepers. Since many fantasy baseball keeper leagues don’t decide on their keepers until the start of the new season, I figured I’d go over some fantasy baseball keepers from now until next spring. These aren’t guys that are obviously keepers. You won’t find Hanley or Pujols here. These are guys that you might be able to grab in deep leagues and hold onto for next year on the cheap. Who doesn’t love a bargain?! My dead grandmother loved a bargain. Her death and bargains were in no way related. Filene’s Basement was completely acquitted in that case. Though me and Grandpa we believe. We believe…
I don’t think Neftali Feliz will have much value this year as he’s currently being used. But this isn’t about this year. This is about fantasy baseball in the year 2010, when we’ll be able to take a pill that tastes like a four course dinner. The lack of Neftali Feliz value this year is actually making him even more attractive for next year. The Rangers are going all anti-Dusty up in this mug and limiting Feliz’s innings. In 2008, Feliz threw just over 127 innings. This year he’s on pace for nearly the same amount of innings. Nice. We don’t want him worn out in 2010. I see the worst case scenario being the Rangers hold him down in the minors next year until May. Best case, he’s up from jump street and gives you numbers comparable to Johnny Cueto pre-All-Star Break with more Ks. In deep leagues, I’d absolutely keep Feliz if the price were right. Anyway, here’s some more fantasy baseball keepers for 2010:
Carlos Gonzalez – Sure, he’s hot right now. But let’s put that aside. Because as I tell my girlfriend, beware the small sample size. Gonzalez has been a five-tool prospect for a while now. (Five-tool doesn’t mean he should make some weird fetish porn.) He can hit 20+ homers and steal 20 bags as early as next year.
Billy Butler – Butler’s moobs seem like they’ve been in puberty forever. Sprout some hairs and mature already! I don’t think Butler’s going to explode for 40 homers next year or suddenly have any speed, so don’t take this the wrong way, but Butler’s an early favorite to be on all of my teams next year like Reynolds this year. If he can get out of his training bra next year, he could be a cheap 90/25/110/.320 guy.
