Now that most fantasy drafts have been completed, it’s time to take one last look at your roster and give it a little touch-up by possibly adding a few options that are emerging as key contributors on their respective teams.
Rickie Weeks (MIL): Is this the year Weeks finally becomes someone you can count on from April through October instead of just giving you flashes of high-caliber production?
I, for one, certainly hope so since I’m stuck with the boom-or-bust second baseman in a couple of my leagues.
The reasons for optimism are there, however. For one, Weeks is only 26 years old, and has yet to reach his prime. Secondly, the potential-filled middle infielder offers fantasy owners an interesting cocktail of power, patience and speed.
If you’re willing to live with a subpar batting average, Weeks can realistically put together a 25 home-run/30-to-40 steal campaign.
In addition to finishing the year on fire last season, Weeks has come out of the box all guns blazing this spring with a .333 batting average to go with three homers and two steals. The young Brewer may still be in your free agent pool in deeper leagues.
Marcus Thames (DET): The release of Gary Sheffield opens the door to Thames for a 500-at-bat season. The big slugger is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing names on the fantasy scrap heap due to his tremendous home-run production despite limited at-bats over the past three years.
To recap, Thames has produced 69 round-trippers over his last 933 at-bats. That means 35 home runs plus over the course off 500 plate appearances.
The one-time Yankee will strike out...a lot, but using him intermittently as a power source off your bench in can definitely pay off in daily leagues.
Josh Fields (CHISOX): The competition at third base is officially over, and Fields has staked his claim on the hot corner.
Much like Thames, the 26-year-old infielder is a power bat who’ll strike out with the best of them, but in conjunction to offering you some serious sock at third base, Fields also has plus speed to steal about 12 to 15 bags.
In fact, he actually swiped 28 bases in 2006 as a Triple-A player.
Combine the fact that 18 to 20-percent of Fields’ flyballs have resulted in home runs in the majors, and you have yourself a multi-dimensional sleeper, who happens to play in a very hitter-friendly ballpark.
Those who may be turned off by his disappointing season in 2008 should be reminded that he battled significant knee issues for most of the year.
Alexi Casilla (MIN): If you’re looking for steals, well you’ve come to the right place. Casilla, who’s projected to hit second in Minnesota’s lineup, has a history of being a top-notch base swiper.
Scowering through his minor league numbers, you’ll notice that the 5’9” Dominican has 49 and 50-steal seasons on his minor-league ledger, and he can also hit for average.
His 84-to-88-percent contact rate along with his propensity to hit groundballs are all encouraging signs for him get on base frequently enough to be a factor in the steals department.
Thanks to a new batting stance this spring, Casilla has been driving the ball a lot better. Overall, he’s hitting .306 with four steals during preseason play.
Rickie Weeks (MIL):
