Just two weeks ago it looked as though third baseman Brett Lawrie would be called up by the Toronto Blue Jays and be the next top prospect for fantasy baseball players to try and acquire.
Well Lawrie took a pitch to his wrist in what should have been one of his last games at AAA Las Vegas which was initially said to be a bruise and a week later when the swelling went down was shown to be a hairline fracture which would keep Lawrie on the disabled list in the minor leagues.
This week even if he were available he might not be the most expensive free agent addition this weekend. First the LA Dodgers called up Devaris (Dee) Gordon to take over at shortstop while Rafael Furcal gets another staycation on the DL. Gordon’s contributions for fantasy teams will be stolen bases and lots of them.
Two days later the San Diego Padres surprised most by calling up Anthony Rizzo to take his rightful spot at first base. Rizzo, 21, was one of the bright prospects acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the Adrian Gonzalez trade, but wasn’t supposed to be on the Padres roster until 2012. Rizzo had other ideas and literally forced his way onto the roster by hitting .365 with sixteen home runs and sixty three RBI in just over two hundred at bats at AAA Tucson.
One day later the player I thought would be the first of the big time prospects called up to the majors this year – third baseman Mike Moustakas was sent for by the Kansas City Royals who had in fact made Moustakas’ friend and teammate Eric Hosmer the first prospect early last month. All Moose had done at AAA Omaha was hit ten home runs and fifteen doubles while knocking forty four runs with a slash line of .287/.347/.498.
The sluggers should draw the highest bids in FAAB leagues this weekend and it will take several hundred to roster either one in most leagues that use a $1000 budget for the year since most players don’t have half of that left. If I was to bid on one I would spend more on Moustakas. He will face easier pitching in the AL Central than Rizzo will see in the NL West and play his home games in a more hitter friendly stadium.
Gordon is more a function of categorical need coupled with positional need, so there will be fewer bidders for him. Still if you need the stolen bases in an NL only league or can replace him if/when Furcal cuts in for mixed league lineups, he will be well worth a hefty bid as well.
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