NL-Only Hitting Sleepers
I'll be spending the next couple weeks breaking down my favorite sleepers, devoting one column apiece to NL-only hitters, NL-only pitchers, AL-only hitters, and AL-only pitchers. It's important to note that NL-only and AL-only leagues are far different than mixed leagues and require dipping much deeper into the player pool. Because of that the players who qualify as "sleepers" are much smaller names.
In fact, in order to qualify for my AL-only and NL-only sleeper lists a player can't be among the top 250 picks in mixed leagues according to the constantly updated Average Draft Position (ADP) data found in our Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide. In other words most of these guys are going completely undrafted in mixed leagues, but the following 10 hitters are definitely worth targeting in NL-only leagues.
Jeff Clement (C/1B, Pirates) - He's no longer viewed as a long-term option behind the plate, but Clement retains catcher eligibility for this season and has a chance to claim regular starts at first base for the Pirates. He hasn't hit much yet in a few brief stints in the majors, but the former No. 3 overall pick has 20-homer power and batted .280 with an .860 OPS in 359 games at Triple-A.
Alcides Escobar (SS, Brewers) - I'm not convinced that Escobar is ready to show much power or draw many walks as a 23-year-old, but he has the bat control and speed to hit for a strong batting average and swipe a bunch of bases. He also has little competition for playing time at shortstop with J.J. Hardy gone, so Escobar could withstand a slow start and still keep the gig.
David Freese (3B, Cardinals) - He'll probably need a good camp to secure the job, but Freese enters spring training as the favorite to start at third base for the Cardinals. As a 27-year-old rookie he doesn't have much upside beyond his current ability, but Freese hit .304/.363/.542 with 36 homers and 44 doubles in 187 games at Triple-A. He doesn't offer any speed and won't be on a long leash, but .275 with 15-20 homers is doable.
Troy Glaus (1B/3B, Braves) - Glaus missed nearly all of 2009 following shoulder surgery, but he's healthy now and moving across the diamond to first base makes arm strength a non-issue. He batted .270/.372/.483 with 27 homers as recently as 2008 and prior to the injury topped an .800 OPS in nine straight seasons, making him an ideal target for late-round power, particularly in leagues where he has third base eligibility.
Carlos Gomez (OF, Brewers) - Gomez is so fast that he's averaged 32 steals per 600 plate appearances despite getting on base at a putrid .292 clip and being gunned down on 27 percent of his theft attempts. It's easy to see 40-steal potential because at 24 years old he should improve at least somewhat in both areas and Milwaukee figures to play him every day after giving up the aforementioned Hardy to get him from Minnesota.
Conor Jackson (OF, Diamondbacks) - In his first three years Jackson was a consistent .800 OPS producer for Arizona, but he hit just .180 through 30 games last season while battling flu-like symptoms that were eventually diagnosed as valley fever. He didn't play after mid-May, but recovered enough to bat .425 in the Dominican Winter League and the uncertainty surrounding his health should equal a discount on the usual .290-15-75.
Kelly Johnson (2B, Diamondbacks) - Johnson lost his job to Martin Prado during an injury wrecked 2009 season, but batted .282/.362/.451 while logging over 1,200 plate appearances in the previous two years and now moves to a hitter-friendly ballpark in Arizona. His run scoring will get a boost by likely batting near the top of the lineup and Johnson is capable of hitting .280 with 15-20 homers and 8-12 steals.
Cameron Maybin (OF, Marlins) - Florida pulled the plug on Maybin after just 26 games last season, but he returned to hit .293/.353/.500 in September and should stick in the majors for good at age 23. Don't expect big power yet and he's at risk for a poor batting average, but Maybin is a career .302 hitter in the minors despite a high strikeout rate, averaged 32 steals per 150 games, and will likely hit near the top of the Marlins' lineup.
Drew Stubbs (OF, Reds) - Cincinnati cleared the way for Stubbs as the unquestioned everyday center fielder and leadoff man by dumping Willy Taveras' contract on Oakland. His bat looks somewhat shaky thanks to a high strikeout rate and modest power, but the 25-year-old former eighth overall pick stole 10 bags in his 42-game debut with the Reds last season after going 49-for-57 on the bases in 126 games at Triple-A.
J.R. Towles (C, Astros) - Towles has been absolutely brutal in the majors so far and at age 26 this may be his last chance to shed the bust label, but his window to claim the starting job in Houston remains wide open. His struggles have come in just 268 plate appearances spread over three seasons and Towles is a career .300 hitter in 1,442 plate appearances in the minors, including .289/.375/.455 in 117 games at Triple-A.
I'll be spending the next couple weeks breaking down my favorite sleepers, devoting one column apiece to NL-only hitters, NL-only pitchers, AL-only hitters, and AL-only pitchers. It's important to note that NL-only and AL-only leagues are far different than mixed leagues and require dipping much deeper into the player pool. Because of that the players who qualify as "sleepers" are much smaller names.
In fact, in order to qualify for my AL-only and NL-only sleeper lists a player can't be among the top 250 picks in mixed leagues according to the constantly updated Average Draft Position (ADP) data found in our Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide. In other words most of these guys are going completely undrafted in mixed leagues, but the following 10 hitters are definitely worth targeting in NL-only leagues.
Jeff Clement (C/1B, Pirates) - He's no longer viewed as a long-term option behind the plate, but Clement retains catcher eligibility for this season and has a chance to claim regular starts at first base for the Pirates. He hasn't hit much yet in a few brief stints in the majors, but the former No. 3 overall pick has 20-homer power and batted .280 with an .860 OPS in 359 games at Triple-A.
Alcides Escobar (SS, Brewers) - I'm not convinced that Escobar is ready to show much power or draw many walks as a 23-year-old, but he has the bat control and speed to hit for a strong batting average and swipe a bunch of bases. He also has little competition for playing time at shortstop with J.J. Hardy gone, so Escobar could withstand a slow start and still keep the gig.
David Freese (3B, Cardinals) - He'll probably need a good camp to secure the job, but Freese enters spring training as the favorite to start at third base for the Cardinals. As a 27-year-old rookie he doesn't have much upside beyond his current ability, but Freese hit .304/.363/.542 with 36 homers and 44 doubles in 187 games at Triple-A. He doesn't offer any speed and won't be on a long leash, but .275 with 15-20 homers is doable.
Troy Glaus (1B/3B, Braves) - Glaus missed nearly all of 2009 following shoulder surgery, but he's healthy now and moving across the diamond to first base makes arm strength a non-issue. He batted .270/.372/.483 with 27 homers as recently as 2008 and prior to the injury topped an .800 OPS in nine straight seasons, making him an ideal target for late-round power, particularly in leagues where he has third base eligibility.
Carlos Gomez (OF, Brewers) - Gomez is so fast that he's averaged 32 steals per 600 plate appearances despite getting on base at a putrid .292 clip and being gunned down on 27 percent of his theft attempts. It's easy to see 40-steal potential because at 24 years old he should improve at least somewhat in both areas and Milwaukee figures to play him every day after giving up the aforementioned Hardy to get him from Minnesota.
Conor Jackson (OF, Diamondbacks) - In his first three years Jackson was a consistent .800 OPS producer for Arizona, but he hit just .180 through 30 games last season while battling flu-like symptoms that were eventually diagnosed as valley fever. He didn't play after mid-May, but recovered enough to bat .425 in the Dominican Winter League and the uncertainty surrounding his health should equal a discount on the usual .290-15-75.
Kelly Johnson (2B, Diamondbacks) - Johnson lost his job to Martin Prado during an injury wrecked 2009 season, but batted .282/.362/.451 while logging over 1,200 plate appearances in the previous two years and now moves to a hitter-friendly ballpark in Arizona. His run scoring will get a boost by likely batting near the top of the lineup and Johnson is capable of hitting .280 with 15-20 homers and 8-12 steals.
Cameron Maybin (OF, Marlins) - Florida pulled the plug on Maybin after just 26 games last season, but he returned to hit .293/.353/.500 in September and should stick in the majors for good at age 23. Don't expect big power yet and he's at risk for a poor batting average, but Maybin is a career .302 hitter in the minors despite a high strikeout rate, averaged 32 steals per 150 games, and will likely hit near the top of the Marlins' lineup.
Drew Stubbs (OF, Reds) - Cincinnati cleared the way for Stubbs as the unquestioned everyday center fielder and leadoff man by dumping Willy Taveras' contract on Oakland. His bat looks somewhat shaky thanks to a high strikeout rate and modest power, but the 25-year-old former eighth overall pick stole 10 bags in his 42-game debut with the Reds last season after going 49-for-57 on the bases in 126 games at Triple-A.
J.R. Towles (C, Astros) - Towles has been absolutely brutal in the majors so far and at age 26 this may be his last chance to shed the bust label, but his window to claim the starting job in Houston remains wide open. His struggles have come in just 268 plate appearances spread over three seasons and Towles is a career .300 hitter in 1,442 plate appearances in the minors, including .289/.375/.455 in 117 games at Triple-A.
