Fantasy Baseball's Same Faces, New Places: Outfielders

It is finally time for fantasy baseball again, or at least time to talk about it.

While there is still time in the offseason, let's take a look at some of the players who changed teams.

This article will just cover the outfielders, with infielders, starting pitchers, and relief pitchers to follow. 

Jason Bay, OF, New York Mets

Although for the longest time it didn't seem that he wanted to, Jason Bay took the big bucks to go to the Big Apple and anchor the Mets' batting order. Everyone on the Mets will be undervalued this year after their atrocious offensive seasons in 2009, and now the questions will come about Bay and how Citi Field will affect his statistics.

Bay has hit at least 30 home runs and driven in at least 100 runs in four of the last five seasons, but I think you have to assume that those numbers will take a dive this season, but not as much as others might think. I can see him hitting 25 to 28 home runs, driving in 90 runs, and hitting around .270. 

Curtis Granderson, OF, New York Yankees

This one has garnered some mixed opinions about how big of a deal this trade will be. Granderson cracked 30 home runs for the first time in his career in 2009, but his batting average was a horrendous .249. He has always been a better than average base stealer, but not a total burner.

Many people are concerned about that average and the fact that he strikes out an awful lot (141-plus times in three of the last four seasons). However, Granderson is an above average talent and should flourish wherever the Yankees put him in that amazing batting order. He should be able to hit around .265 with 22 to 25 homers, 70 RBI, score 100 runs, and steal 15 to 20 bases.

Juan Pierre, OF, Chicago White Sox

I think Pierre made it clear that he still had plenty left in the tank when he was filling in for the suspended Manny Ramirez in 2009. In just 380 at-bats, Pierre scored 57 runs, stole 30 bases, and hit over .300. He goes to a White Sox team that doesn't run a whole lot, but Scott Podsednik stole 30 bases for Chicago last season, so the right guy can put up good speed stats up on this team.

If Pierre is able to keep his average around .300 (which he has in the past), he should be able to steal between 45 to 50 bases for the Pale Hose. Pierre is going to have great value in roto leagues and should be a third outfielder on your team. He obviously has no power but will help you in runs scored, batting average, and of course, stolen bases. 

Hideki Matsui, OF/DH, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

As much as Matsui wants to play the outfield, I think it is in the Angels' best interest that he is the DH on the vast majority of days. He has proven when he is healthy that he is still able to hit, but I think if you expect him to equal his 28 homers and 90 RBI from 2009, you will be sadly disappointed. Matsui will be 36 years old in June and has the knees of a 60-year-old.

Just be prepared to have a backup plan if you draft Matsui, and I would really suggest staying away unless he is a fourth outfielder. He is a huge risk and one I would let someone else take. 

Marlon Byrd, OF, Chicago Cubs

This one has all the makings of another free agent bust signing for the Cubs in the outfield. Byrd has never been an everyday player in his career, but because of injuries and other factors, he was able to get 547 at-bats in 2009, and he did have a pretty solid season with 20 homers and 89 RBI.

However, I said it last year: Guys don't usually break out when they are 31. Byrd always hit for a pretty good average, but the power he showed last year was just not really shown at other points in his career. Not sure if it was the lineup around him, the ballpark in Texas, or what it was. Now sure, Wrigley is not a cavern, but Texas is a different story in the summertime.

I still think that Byrd will have a decent season, but if he was to surpass 16 homers and 70 RBI, I would have to say I would be a little surprised. 

Vladimir Guerrero, OF, Texas Rangers

While he is not the player that he once was, Guerrero still has something left in the tank if he can just stay healthy. The former MVP hasn't been able to play a full season in quite some time, but even in just 100 games last year he still hit 15 home runs. A former first round fantasy pick, Vlad is now best served as a fourth outfielder or maybe someone in a utility spot.

It definitely helps his waning value that he goes to Texas. Not only will he be able to sit in the middle of a potent lineup, but he will also be able to continue to DH some, and when it gets hot in Texas, that ball seems to fly. Still an amazing bad ball hitter, Guerrero is a shell of his former fantasy self but still belongs on a roster. 

Mike Cameron, OF, Boston Red Sox

Let's be honest—at this point in his career I think it is safe to say that you know what you are getting from Cameron no matter where he plays. He is going to hit somewhere between 22 to 26 home runs, probably drive in 85 to 90 runs, hit around .240, and strike out a ton.

That being said, in leagues where you don't lose points for strikeouts, he does have some value in the fact that he brings some power to your lineup. Unfortunately in roto leagues, he really hurts your average and doesn't score or drive in enough runs to make up for the number of homers he will hit.

Cameron isn't a guy that I typically have on my team just because I try to stay away from a guy who really only helps you in one category. 

Andruw Jones, OF, Chicago White Sox

Jones proved that he still had some pop left in his bat in 2009, but he still failed to show any sort of consistency. He goes to Chicago, where he will likely be a fourth outfielder or DH type.

Jones is a guy who is only going to help you in the home run category, so he is not someone that I would stretch for in any fantasy draft. Jones is going to be drafted most likely in many leagues, but I would not be the one to do it. Let someone else take the risk and be disappointed. 

Austin Jackson, OF, Detroit Tigers

Jackson was one of the more highly touted prospects in the Yankee system before he was shipped over to the Tigers in the Granderson deal, and he has an outside chance of starting on Opening Day for Detroit. Jackson is supposed to be a man of many talents, but going by his minor league numbers, I'm not sure there is a ton to be too excited about just yet.

He was able to pound out 13 homers in two levels of the minors is 2007, but he hit just four over 82 games at AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre last season. Jackson has consistently hit over .300 while on the farm and has the potential to steal 25 to 30 bases.

Like I said, he has the chance to win a job in Spring Training and try to take over for Carlos Granderson, and while those are the kinds of things people expect from him, don't expect him to do it in 2010.

Jeremy Hermida, OF, Boston Red Sox

As it sits right now, Hermida looks to be the fourth outfielder in Boston, but between J.D. Drew and Mike Cameron, there is a pretty good chance that Hermida will have a good opportunity to play a decent number of games. He has had an interesting major league career so far, and one that has been held back by injury itself.

Unless something happens in Spring Training, Hermida is only worth having in the deepest of leagues, but if he were to get an opportunity to have an everyday job, he could hit 20 to 23 homers with around 80 RBI. Definitely a guy to have on the radar for after the draft. 

Ryan Church, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

Church has talent, but it has been his inability to stay healthy that has been his undoing. He dealt with concussion issues while with the Mets and just fell out of their good graces after that.

Church has had some good stretches in the past but has never been a consistent performer. With Garrett Jones, Andrew McCutchen, and Lastings Milledge in the outfield, he might not get consistent playing time, but Jones could also play first base, so be aware of the Pirates' plans in Spring Training.

All that being said, Church is still not someone that I would target on draft day, unless it is very late in the day and you are in a 16-plus-team league. 

Carlos Gomez, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

Gomez has one thing going for him, and that is speed. However, like the old saying goes, you can't steal first base. Gomez hasn't shown any ability to get on base regularly, and that severely limits his fantasy value. Perhaps a move to the National League will help him out, but I wouldn't put too much stock into that.

If he does turn the corner and start to hit the ball consistency, he could be able to steal 40-plus bases. The good news for Gomez is he doesn't really appear to have anyone pushing him for playing time, so he should get a fairly long leash to be successful.   

Coco Crisp, OF, Oakland Athletics

Crisp isn't exactly a guy to get excited about from a fantasy perspective, but he is a decent guy for stolen bases, and his move to Oakland could help a little. The A's are a loosey-goosey team, and Crisp could have the green light to run when he wants to.

The cavernous outfield is also good for him to drive the ball into and get a good number of doubles and triples. He isn't a power hitter (career high in homers: 16), so the change to Oakland won't affect him there.

He is a bench guy/injury insurance to have, so don't consider him on draft day, but pay attention to how he starts the year and how the Athletics might use him. 

Melky Cabrera, OF, Atlanta Braves

There is something to be said for moving from the American League to the National League and your statistics improving, but I don't see it moving the needle that much on Melky Cabrera that he becomes some all of a sudden a more valuable fantasy player.

Cabrera had a couple of nice stretches last season but really lacks consistency, and being an outfielder, he doesn't bring much to the table or enough to be anything more than a bench guy in case of injury to your starters. He did have 13 home runs in 485 at-bats, but don't expect him to get far past 15 dingers on the year, if he even reaches that, and you won't be disappointed.

Unfortunately for fantasy players, he is a much better defensive guy than he is a fantasy player. 

Milton Bradley, OF, Seattle Mariners

Hmm, is there anything good I can say about Bradley? Um, nope, nothing comes to mind. Let's see here. He is a suspension waiting to happen, and when he isn't getting in trouble with the league, he is always getting injured. Bradley has played more than 125 games just twice in his entire career.

On top of all that, he just doesn't bring all that much to the fantasy table. Of course, these numbers are skewed by the fact that he misses so many games, but he has only hit over 20 home runs once and driven in more than 70 runs once. Bradley's average has been all over the map in his career, with a low of .249 and a high of.321.

So, with the uncertainty of how much he will play, the inconsistency of his numbers, and the fact that he goes to Seattle, which isn't exactly a hitter's park, Bradley is someone that I would stay far away from.

You can always email me at [e-mail] about any fantasy question (draft advice, keeper picks, strategy, etc.), and I guarantee an answer within 18 hours.