The doctor is inside! This is my weekly showcase of players who are likely to be available in your league and could be valuable to your team.
BATTERS
Chase Headley: 3B, San Diego Padres
Headley was called up to the majors Tuesday and went 3-for-8 in his first two games. On Wednesday, he hit his first career home run at Yankee Stadium off Yankees reliever Kyle Farnsworth (minus). In case Headley is a new name to you, he’s a highly touted prospect who hit .330 in Double-A last season, earning Texas League Player of the Year honors. Before the call, he was hitting .305 with 14 HR and 40 RBI in AAA.
Fantasy diagnosis: If you play in a goalie league, I guarantee it’s property. In regular leagues, there is a chance that he is still available. Just don’t expect him to go like Ryan Braun in the league. He’s also played some left field, which adds to his value if he earns position eligibility there.
Jason Kubel: OF/DH, Minnesota Twins
He has as many homers as Justin Morneau (10), including 4 this month. His June average (.326) and OBP (.423) are helped by the fact that he has 8 walks, after having 10 in April and May combined.
Fantasy Diagnosis: Yeah, he’s hitting just .254. However, he does have some power and drives in runs (37), making him a viable option as a fourth outfielder.
Mike Aviles: SS, Kansas City Royals
While most of you have heard of Headley, many of you probably haven’t heard of Aviles. Since he was recalled from AAA on May 29, Aviles has gone 15-for-49 (.306) with 3 HR, 6 RBI, 12 R and 1 SB. He has 4 multi-hit games and a .333 OBP. He’s hitting lefties (.455), but he’s hitting .263 against righties.
Fantasy diagnosis: He just turned 26, was drafted in 2003, and spent the previous two seasons at AAA-Omaha. The Royals were patient with him, as they had Tony Pena Jr. playing SS, and now he’s making the most of his first opportunity to play in the majors every day. He’s listed at 5’9″, 185 pounds, which makes it hard to take him seriously as a fantasy threat. I see him more as a David Eckstein-type player, whose real-life value outweighs his fantasy value. His good start warrants a spot on your watch list though.
Mark Ellis: 2B, Oakland Athletics
Please do not confuse him with New Zealand’s Marc Ellis, the rugby player who won M2 magazine’s Man of the Year award. At .261, Mark’s average is the highest on any given day all season. His June numbers (.326 / 4/12) are already better than any full month he’s had this year. RBIs are a little skewed, as he’s had 2 games with 4 of them this month, but average isn’t. He has had 7 multi-hit games this month and has scored 28 runs this season.
Fantasy diagnosis: It’s easy to forget that Ellis hit .276 with 19 home runs and 76 RBIs last year, when he had the best season of his five-plus-year career. After the upper level of second base, those are pretty solid numbers. Expect similar production again this year.
JUGS
Mike Gonzalez: public relations, Atlanta Braves
Rafael Soriano is on pace to make more visits to the disabled list this year than Lindsey Lohan to rehab. Manny A-cost-a-win-again has imploded (0-3, 2 blown saves, 12.00 ERA this month). John Smoltz is no longer in the picture. Bobby Cox converted to build up Pirates closer Gonzalez, who returned from his own stint on the disabled list and earned a save Wednesday, making him the seventh Braves reliever to earn a save this season.
Fantasy diagnosis: Gonzalez had 24 saves in 2006 and is the only legitimate closing-out option for Atlanta at this point. If they haven’t picked it up yet and you need to save it, go get it right now.
Mark Buehrle: SP, Chicago White Sox
The man with the biggest pick-up truck I’ve ever seen has finally earned the salary that bought that six-ton monster. In four starts in June, he pitched 30 innings, allowed 7 runs, walked 6 and struck out 18. All four have been quality starts that have lowered his ERA to 4.28 and his WHIP to 1.36.
Fantasy diagnosis: His June ERA (.210) and WHIP (1.03) deserve your attention. He’s once again worthy of a spot on the fantasy charts. His 2.04 K/BB isn’t great, but as long as he produces quality outings, he’s in line to win. However, if he starts to fall apart again, don’t be patient with him.
Heath Bell: public relations, San Diego Padres
True story: A friend of mine used to work at a concession stand in one of the minor league parks that Bell played in. They called Bell “Snacks” since he was always eating candy or something and would come into the booth next to the bullpen and help work the gridiron when he got bored during the game (yes, I’m serious). A bit of a latecomer (he’s 30), Bell’s career has really taken off over the past two seasons. In 93.2 innings last season, he posted a 2.02 ERA and struck out 102. This season he is 4-3 with a 2.02 ERA and 33 Ks.
Fantasy diagnosis: He has blown 3 saves but has allowed just one run in his last 14 appearances. There aren’t many middle relievers who prove valuable in fantasy, but Bell is one who does. He’s had wins in relief, struck out batters and is next in line to shut down if something were to happen to Trevor Hoffman.
Aaron Laffey: SP, Cleveland Indians
His 4-4 record doesn’t appeal to you, but maybe this does. Eight of his ten starts have been quality starts. He has a 2.98 ERA in 63.1 innings. In half of his starts, he has allowed one run or less.
Fantasy Diagnosis: His numbers say it all. He doesn’t strike out many (29), but he doesn’t walk many (16). He looks a lot like his teammate Paul Byrd, only much more handsome.
KEEP WATCHED
Andrew Miller: SP, Florida Marlins
The Marlins wanted him from Detroit in the Cabrera and D-Train deal for a reason. He has big league stuff. He’s shown flashes of potential all season, but he’s been terribly inconsistent. Now, in his last two starts, he has allowed a combined 2 runs and has a 3.00 K/BB. Not worth picking up, yet.
Jeff Baker: 2B/1B, Colorado Rocky Mountains
He is 12-30 (.400) in June with his first 3 HRs of the season. His average, OBP and his SLG have increased dramatically this month. However, Clint Barmes will return next week, bringing Baker, who has been playing DH during interleague play, back to playing part-time.
LONG SHOT OF THE WEEK
Elijah Dukes: OF, Washington Nationals
Perhaps no baseball player made as much news off the field as Dukes did last season. Sorry, but there are no fantasy points for getting into fights with teammates, arguing with coaches, threatening to kill your wife, and throwing a bottle of Gatorade at a 17-year-old girl you hooked up with. Now if Fantasy Thuggery existed, he and PacMan Jones would have been co-MVPs last season. Still, Dukes has been a model citizen this season and after hitting .167 in May, he’s hitting .311 in June, along with his first home run of the season and 9 RBIs. He hit 10 HRs in 52 games last year, so we know he has power. It’s good to see his hot month as he is a talented young player.